Orphan Black

10 Best Episodes of Orphan Black - Season 1

A streetwise hustler is pulled into a compelling conspiracy after witnessing the suicide of a girl who looks just like her.

Written by Sophie and last updated on feb 02, 2023.

PS: The following content contains spoilers!

PPS: I will admit that parts of this page was written with the help of AI - it makes my work so much easier to not start from a blank page!

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Orphan Black - S1E1

#10 - Natural Selection (Season 1 - Episode 1)

Sarah, a streetwise hustler on the run from a lifetime of bad decisions, witnesses the suicide of a stranger who looks just like her. Sarah assumes her identity, hoping that cleaning out the dead woman’s bank account will solve all of her problems. Instead, the street smart chameleon is thrust headlong into a kaleidoscopic mystery. After taking on the new identity, Sarah quickly finds herself caught in the middle of a deadly conspiracy and must race to find answers.

The episode was rated 7.88 from 3795 votes.

Orphan Black - S1E2

#9 - Instinct (Season 1 - Episode 2)

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With a body in her car and nowhere to turn, Sarah is forced to continue her con and earn “Beth” a second chance on the force. But with a killer on her tail, her only hope of finding answers lies with another apparent ‘identical,’ Alison.

The episode was rated 7.96 from 3102 votes.

Orphan Black - S1E3

#8 - Variation Under Nature (Season 1 - Episode 3)

Rocked by the revelation that she and her fellow "Orphans" are clones, Sarah just wants to get her hands on the money and skip town. But Sarah’s fake detective ruse stretches thin when the cops find the body she buried and assign “Beth” to the case. As Sarah closes in on the killer, the hunter becomes the hunted.

The episode was rated 7.97 from 2868 votes.

Orphan Black - S1E4

#7 - Effects of External Conditions (Season 1 - Episode 4)

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Sarah realizes that the Orphans’ survival is going to take more than police work. But tracking the killer threatens Sarah’s long awaited reunion with her daughter, Kira. As Sarah gets closer to the killer, the killer gets closer to the truth – the ensuing showdown threatens to expose her ruse as a cop.

The episode was rated 8.01 from 2717 votes.

Orphan Black - S1E6

#6 - Variations Under Domestication (Season 1 - Episode 6)

Sarah’s hunt for answers is interrupted by a trip to the suburbs. Alison’s paranoia has boiled over, putting all the Orphans at risk. But when Sarah, Alison and Beth’s worlds dangerously collide, Sarah must decide who to trust with her secret.

The episode was rated 8.13 from 2549 votes.

Orphan Black - S1E7

#5 - Parts Developed in an Unusual Manner (Season 1 - Episode 7)

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With Paul missing, Sarah is forced to confront the conspiracy head on. But when Paul learns Sarah has kept essential information from him, the fragile trust between them threatens to shatter. Meanwhile, Cosima grows closer to Delphine and the dangerously fascinating Dr. Leekie.

The episode was rated 8.13 from 2496 votes.

Orphan Black - S1E5

#4 - Conditions of Existence (Season 1 - Episode 5)

When terrifying evidence suggests the Orphans are part of a sinister ongoing experiment, Sarah’s suspicions turn to Paul, Beth’s boyfriend. But her probing inadvertently triggers Paul’s own investigation, bringing him dangerously close to the truth. Meanwhile, paranoid Alison piles on a whole new level of complication.

The episode was rated 8.13 from 2610 votes.

Orphan Black - S1E8

#3 - Entangled Bank (Season 1 - Episode 8)

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Sarah's actions pit the Orphans against each other as she tries to plan her next move. As Paul tries desperately to cover up Sarah’s existence, Alison takes vengeance on her suspected monitor, which could cost her everything she holds dear.

The episode was rated 8.24 from 2469 votes.

Orphan Black - S1E9

#2 - Unconscious Selection (Season 1 - Episode 9)

After Kira’s life is threatened, Sarah is on the warpath, but Dr. Leekie makes her think twice about her plans for revenge. Meanwhile, Cosima faces the truth about Delphine, forcing her to choose sides. Now, it’s up to Sarah to decide the killer’s fate, but the truth about where Sarah came from changes everything.

The episode was rated 8.30 from 2443 votes.

Orphan Black - S1E10

#1 - Endless Forms Most Beautiful (Season 1 - Episode 10)

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Sarah’s last chance to bring her nemesis back to sanity slips away as Art intervenes to get answers of his own. Meanwhile, the Orphans must decide whether to make peace with their creators, as Sarah is forced into a deadly confrontation with their enemy.

The episode was rated 8.54 from 2540 votes.

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