Orphan Black (TV Series) Conditions of Existence (2013) User Reviews

This show just gets better and better.

[TouchTheGarlicProduction · 8/10 · 18 June 2015]

This episode ratchets up the intensity in a really cool way. This is the first episode where I was interested in the Vic plot line. He finds out that Sarah is still alive. I thought that it was really funny how he found this out by mistakenly thinking that Alison was Sarah. He made a mistake that happened to be correct. That was also an intense scene. Then, Vic gets his finger cut off. At first I thought it was his whole hand. I thought Orphan Black had gone full Game Of Thrones. Then, of course, the main plot line of the episode. Sarah and Alison begin to suspect that their lovers are actually spies, working for whoever made the clones. This was a very well handled storyline, that slowly built the tension like a twisting knife. I'm honestly not sure whether Alison's husband is really a spy, but Paul definitely is. I loved the way he figured out that she isn't Beth, and the final scene between Paul and Sarah was beautifully written and acted.

The series is gaining traction and the tension mounts

[DVD_Connoisseur · 8/10 · 29 November 2018]

The first episode of "Orphan Black" only hinted at the goodness around the corner. By this fifth episode, the layers of this tale are starting to increase and thicken, and there's a lot to keep the viewer engaged.

Tatiana Maslany is extremely watchable and her distinct portrayal of each Orphan is nothing short of stunning. I particularly like the bookish and extremely cute Cosima.

8 out of 10. I'm so pleased this show was recommended to me. It's very clear why this has such a cult following. Mesmerising.

Observing the Observers

[SJulien12 · 8/10 · 3 May 2021]

The idea of the monitors makes all the clones suspicious of their loved ones, as Vic unfortunately returns in Sarah's life. It looks like Alison was right and the clones are part of an experiment without their consent. At least Sarah got to see her daughter again, but the problem is that it gave Paul one last proof that he wasn't dealing with Beth.

[8.1] Where's Beth?!

[cjonesas · 8/10 · 23 July 2021]

A semi intense episode with some twists and turns and some discoveries. Good overall but mild. Would like to see more of Yelena! She's the more intense and crazier one.

Mutual Consent.

[jamericanbeauty · 9/10 · 4 July 2023]

While this remains one of my favorite episodes in the series, one thing always bothered me about it during its original run and upon my repeat viewings: The episode's writer failed to acknowledge that Paul's right to consent to sleep with Sarah was taken away from him. He's sleeping with Sarah who he thinks is his girlfriend Beth. It's not consensual sex. If the roles were reversed, this would not be ignored. The writer made sure we understood Sarah (and Beth while alive) were being physically inspected without consent and against their will by a medical team of strangers and also monitored unbeknownst to them by Paul. Paul is a victim too and that should not be erased just because he's pretending to be a boyfriend when he's a hired monitor. Sarah's pretending to be his girlfriend Beth when she's initially there for the hustle a/k/a cleaning out Beth's bank account and banging Paul to distract him.

Not Beth?!

[ZegMaarJus · 7/10 · 26 July 2021]

This episode begins with Helena, she just got captured by Tomas. Paul discovered that Beth (Sarah) her scar dissapeared. Vic finally sees Sarah back again. Paul points a gun to Sarah. Sarah tells Paul the truth. Nice episode of Orphan Black Season 1, little bit dissapointed by this episode. Storyline got a little bit stuck this time.