Why Orphan Black: Echoes is An Impressive Revival of the Sci-Fi Franchise
The highly anticipated revival of the beloved Orphan Black franchise has finally arrived in the form of Orphan Black: Echoes, diving right back into the intricate world of clones, conspiracies, and moral dilemmas.
Created as a brand-new story with plenty of in-universe connections, Orphan Black: Echoes (now airing in the US via AMC) we’re already convinced that it has everything required to be considered a must-see streaming event — so here’s how this new chapter pays homage to its predecessor and carves out its own path to become a standout addition to the sci-fi genre.
Orphan Black: Echoes | BBC America and AMCA Fresh Story in the World of Orphan Black
One of the most compelling aspects of Orphan Black: Echoes is its brand-new story that establishes itself with a post-Orphan Black backdrop of 2052 (30 years after the original series). Echoes quickly introduces viewers to a fresh protagonist by the name of Lucy, a young woman who wakes up and promptly uncovers her unexplainable clone origins before escaping the facility that “printed” her.
Sometime later, she’s seen living in seclusion, still grappling with a few unique challenges and secrets regarding her uncommon circumstances — all while navigating the complex web of intrigue that surrounds this layered clone lore. By presenting a new narrative set within the same universe as the popular flagship series, Echoes taps into enough of its impactful legacy, but still offers enough originality (via clones and timeline) to feel like a worthwhile follow-up story.
Solid Sci-Fi Concepts
On a fundamental level, Orphan Black: Echoes is also a solid sci-fi mystery that remains true to the tone of the original series. The intricate plot twists, ethical dilemmas, and technological advancements woven throughout the story bring a sense of familiarity to fans while offering a new set of thrilling mysteries to unravel.
Moreover, with its massive time jump, we get to witness how some of these technological ideas in the earlier series have progressed or developed over time — feeling more aesthetically ambitious in the execution of its sci-fi themes and visuals.
Another Krysten Ritter Gem
Another huge selling point for Orphan Black: Echoes is its ability to offer audiences the return of Krysten Ritter, comprised of everything you could ever want from an Orphan Black title (which is impressive given the substantial impact of Tatiana Maslany ).
Having already portrayed several iconic roles in titles like Jessica Jones and Don't Trust the B Apartment 23, Ritter effortlessly delves into yet another compelling character role through the recent spin-off series, bringing everything from comedic bluntness to heightened emotions, reminding the world of her incredible range as a lead actor. She fits into this high-stakes universe perfectly.
Endless Potential for Exploration
Considering that there’s already a multitude of potential that comes with a return to Orphan Black, there’s simply no denying the fact that there’s plenty of room for even more in-universe exploration. As of now, the first season of Echoes has boldly opened up a myriad of possibilities for ongoing storytelling, progressive character development, and immersive world-building, just waiting to be unleashed.
With its fresh story, solid sci-fi mystery, recognizable cast, and endless potential for more, the series not only pays respect to its predecessor but also blazes a trail as a revival done right.
Orphan Black Echoes starring Ritter, Avan Jogia, and Keeley Hawes, is currently streaming on AMC+.
