Tag Archives: Tatiana Maslany

FRONT

First Look: Orphan Black 3×01

The clones find themselves in all sorts of trouble this season on Orphan Black. Source: Provided
The clones find themselves in all sorts of trouble this season on Orphan Black. Source: Provided

It’s very easy to get lost within the world of Sarah Manning and her ‘seestras’.  Through a multitude of clones – Sarah, Alison, Cosima, Rachel, Helena and even Tony (all played by Tatiana Maslany) and secret government corporations and shady religious cults, words like Dyad, Proletheans, Leekie and Castro all began to become intertwined with one another.  For serious Clone Club card carrying Orphan Black fans, it’s easy to follow and understand but for fans like myself, we love the show but get to a point where we begin to ask “wait….is Dyad good?”

Oddly enough, with that surprise introduction of the male clones and the military based ‘project Castro’ in the closing moments of season two, the season three opener swiftly brings everyone and everything into place making it easy enough for fans like myself to know who stands where – for now.

Without offering spoilers, the season three opener can be described with a few simple words ‘sweet dreams are not made of these’ as we reconnect with a kidnapped and heavily pregnant Helena adjusting to her new surroundings with the help of a little stingy friend.

Sarah, Felix (Jordan Gavaris) and Kira (Skyler Wexler) are still none the wiser regarding Helena’s disappearance, Cosima (who received a stem cell transplant from Kira) looks to be on the mend, Rachel…well we know she’s one eye down now, Delphine (Évelyne Brochu) has made the move up the Dyad ladder while Alison is delving headfirst into re-instating her former social standing.  it’s not long however before we find our clones doing something we all love watching them do – play each other!

I’ts a general consensus that Maslany is a true talent, and it becomes cemented when we get to see her play Alison playing Sarah while Sarah plays Rachel all in the one scene.

Between the clones playing dress up, the male clones wanting information, Dyad trying to hold off cleaners, Delphine being all powerful and something called ‘Helsinki’ taking place, the season three opener could feel a bit hectic and trying to juggle too much at once, but without sounding like a broken record, it actually felt very easy to follow and continued with the quality of story-telling we’ve come to expect with Orphan Black.

Now it’s just a waiting game as to where this third season will take us.

Check out the extended preview below:

Orphan Black Season Three begins in Australia Tuesday, 21 April at 9.35pm on SBS 2

Awards, FRONT

Golden Globes 2015 Snubs, Surprises and Nominations

Scandal's Kerry Washington once again misses out on a nomination.
Scandal’s Kerry Washington once again misses out on a nomination.

There’s a whole lot of WTF floating around social media and Hollywood at the moment and it’s all aimed around the recent Golden Globe nominations announced today.  The general consensus is that is a mix of “did they finally get it right?” and “Did [insert name here] really miss out again?”.

This years nominations brought fourth a change in what to expect for nominees.  No Modern Family (gasp) nominations, new shows such as How to get away with Murder and Transparent finding themselves with big time nods, Game of Thrones’s Peter Dinklage mysteriously absent from the list and a small show about virgins getting everyone talking thanks to two serious nominations.

Along with Modern Family’s surprise omission, Scandal and star Kerry Washington were both amiss along with favorite Tatiana Maslany (Orphan Black) and even Park’s and Recreation lead (and Globes host- AND last years winner for best actress in a comedy) Amy Poehler missed out.

Other notable omissions include Big Bang’s Jim Parsons (nominated three times with one win) and HBO’s Veep which only landed a nom for lead Julia Louis-Dreyfus and just like last years best actress comedy winner Poehler, last years best actor comedy winner – Andy Samberg (Brooklyn Nine Nine) is also missing from the list.

Perhaps (to me) the biggest omission is any mention of Lisa Kudrow and The Comeback.  How is it possible that Kudrow, who has the inane ability to play both hysterical and utterly tragic, not even get a look in for her work as the completely jaded Valerie Cherish?

Moving along from the snubs, perhaps the biggest surprise this year is the inclusion on the CW’s Jane The Virgin.  The show picked up two nominations (best lead actress comedy and best comedy) and is the first time the network has ever received a nomination. While I’m yet to indulge in the world of Jane and her virginity, the general feeling around these nominations is one of good and much deserved – perhaps I may need to binge this over the Xmas break!

Check out the full list of nominee’s below. (I’ve underlined my suggested wins)

Best TV Series, Drama
Downton Abbey (Masterpiece)
The Affair
Game Of Thrones
House of Cards
Good Wife, The
Best Actress in a TV Series, Drama
Viola Davis
(How to Get Away With Murder)
Claire Danes
(Homeland)
Julianna Margulies
(The Good Wife)
Robin Wright
(House of Cards)
Ruth Wilson
(The Affair)
Best Actor in a TV Series, Drama
Kevin Spacey
(House of Cards)
Clive Owen
(The Knick)
James Spader
(The Blacklist)
Dominic West
(The Affair)
Liev Schreiber
(Ray Donovan)
Best TV Series, Musical or Comedy
Orange is the New Black
Girls
Jane The Virgin
Transparent
Silicon Valley
Best Actress in a TV Series, Musical or Comedy
Julia Louis-Dreyfus
(Veep)
Edie Falco
(Nurse Jackie)
Gina Rodriguez
(Jane The Virgin)
Lena Dunham
(Girls)
Taylor Schilling
(Orange is the New Black)
Best Actor in a TV Series, Musical or Comedy
Don Cheadle
(House of Lies)
William H. Macy
(Shameless)
Ricky Gervais
(Derek)
Jeffrey Tambor
(Transparent)
Louie C.K.
(Louie)
Best Actress in a Mini-Series or TV Movie
Jessica Lange
(American Horror Story: Freak Show)
Maggie Gyllenhaal
(The Honorable Woman)
Frances McDormand
(Olive Kitteridge)
Allison Tolman
(Fargo)
Frances O’Connor
(The Missing)
Best Actor in a Mini-Series or TV Movie
Martin Freeman
(Fargo)
Matthew McConaughey
(True Detective)
Woody Harrelson
(True Detective)
Billy Bob Thornton
(Fargo)
Mark Ruffalo
(The Normal Heart)
Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Mini-Series or TV Movie
Kathy Bates
(American Horror Story: Freak Show)
Uzo Aduba
(Orange is the New Black)
Joanne Froggatt
(Downton Abbey)
Michelle Monaghan
(True Detective)
Allison Janney
(Mom)
Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Mini-Series or TV Movie
Bill Murray
(Olive Kitteridge)
Jon Voight
(Ray Donovan)
Matt Bomer
(The Normal Heart)
Alan Cumming
(The Good Wife)
Colin Hanks
(Fargo)

The Golden Globes will be handed out on Sunday Jan 11th 2015.

FRONT

HBO Lead SAG Award Nominations

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HBO has once again taken lead with the Screen Actors Guild Awards nominations among all networks with the cable channel walking away with 14 nominations thanks to standouts like The Normal Heart, Veep and Game of Thrones.

ABC’s Modern Family will try for a record breaking fifth win in the best ensemble comedy category while first time nominee’s include the often over-looked Tatiana Maslany (Orphan Black) and surprise entry for How to get away with murder‘s Viola Davis.

Check out the full list of the TV nominations below. (I’ve underlined my picks for the win)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
ADRIEN BRODY / Harry Houdini – “HOUDINI” (History)
BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH / Sherlock Holmes – “SHERLOCK: HIS LAST VOW” (PBS)
RICHARD JENKINS / Henry Kitteridge – “OLIVE KITTERIDGE” (HBO)
MARK RUFFALO / Ned Weeks – “THE NORMAL HEART” (HBO)
BILLY BOB THORNTON / Lorne Malvo – “FARGO” (FX)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
ELLEN BURSTYN / Olivia Foxworth – “FLOWERS IN THE ATTIC” (Lifetime)
MAGGIE GYLLENHAAL / Nessa Stein – “THE HONORABLE WOMAN” (Sundance TV)
FRANCES McDORMAND / Olive Kitteridge – “OLIVE KITTERIDGE” (HBO)
JULIA ROBERTS / Dr. Emma Brookner – “THE NORMAL HEART” (HBO)
CICELY TYSON / Carrie Watts – “THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL” (Lifetime)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series
STEVE BUSCEMI / Enoch “Nucky” Thompson – “BOARDWALK EMPIRE” (HBO)
PETER DINKLAGE / Tyrion Lannister – “GAME OF THRONES” (HBO)
WOODY HARRELSON / Martin Hart – “TRUE DETECTIVE” (HBO)
MATTHEW McCONAUGHEY / Rust Cohle – “TRUE DETECTIVE” (HBO)
KEVIN SPACEY / Francis Underwood – “HOUSE OF CARDS” (Netflix)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series (6 nominees)
CLAIRE DANES / Carrie Mathison – “HOMELAND” (Showtime)
VIOLA DAVIS / Annalise Keating – “HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER” (ABC)
JULIANNA MARGULIES / Alicia Florrick – “THE GOOD WIFE” (CBS)
TATIANA MASLANY / Sarah/Cosima/Alison/Rachel/Helena/Tony/Jennifer and Various Others – “ORPHAN BLACK” (BBC America)
MAGGIE SMITH / Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham – “DOWNTON ABBEY” (PBS)
ROBIN WRIGHT / Claire Underwood – “HOUSE OF CARDS” (Netflix)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series
TY BURRELL / Phil Dunphy – “MODERN FAMILY ” (ABC)
LOUIS C.K. / Louie – “LOUIE” (FX)
WILLIAM H. MACY / Frank Gallagher – “SHAMELESS” (Showtime)
JIM PARSONS / Sheldon Cooper – “THE BIG BANG THEORY” (CBS)
ERIC STONESTREET / Cameron Tucker – “MODERN FAMILY” (ABC)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
UZO ADUBA / Suzanne “Crazy Eyes” Warren – “ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK” (Netflix)
JULIE BOWEN / Claire Dunphy – “MODERN FAMILY” (ABC)
EDIE FALCO / Jackie Peyton – “NURSE JACKIE” (Showtime)
JULIA LOUIS-DREYFUS / Vice President Selina Meyer – “VEEP” (HBO)
AMY POEHLER / Leslie Knope – “PARKS AND RECREATION” (NBC)

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
BOARDWALK EMPIRE (HBO)
DOWNTON ABBEY (PBS)                                                                           GAME OF THRONES (HBO)                                                               HOMELAND (Showtime)                                                                HOUSE OF CARDS (Netflix)

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series

THE BIG BANG THEORY (CBS)                                                        BROOKLYN NINE-NINE (FOX)                                                   MODERN FAMILY (ABC)                                                           ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK (Netflix)                                          VEEP (HBO)

LIFE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Screen Actors Guild 51st Annual Life Achievement Award
DEBBIE REYNOLDS

The SAG Awards hill be handed out on Sunday Jan 25th, 2015.

Drama, FRONT, Orphan Black, SBS, Sci-Fi, TV

Orphan Black Season 2 Continues to Shine.

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Paul (Dylan Bruce) finds himself torn between two waring groups Source: Supplied

It’s only been a few short weeks since the end of the awesome Orphan Black season one which aired on SBS2 (thank you!) and now, on Tuesday night, our memberships to the ‘Clone Club’ will earn a gold star as Sarah, Cosima, Alison and the rest of the characters return to our screens for a kicker brand new season.

Season one was all about who the clones were and now, season two will look at who created the clones and just who is the original clone.

When we last checked in, Sarah Manning (Tatiana Maslany) was standing at her daughter’s bedroom window with the realization that Kira had been kidnapped and needless to say, when Orphan Black returns on Tuesday night, no time is left wasted as Sarah blasts into overdrive to find her kidnapped daughter.

We are literally back with Sarah as she was when we first met her in season one, on the run and separated from her daughter, but this time round the stakes are much higher as we (the viewers) are utterly and wholly invested in Sarah and Kira.

The opening scene alone is filled with so much tension and action – and there’s only four characters involved – and we only know one of them…it’s the perfect opening to continue the head first ride we were dragged along with the first season.

Where the emphasis on Orphan Black’s first season was to identify and individualize each and every clone, we’re now in a comfortable enough place with the clones to focus on developments of certain outer characters in Sarah’s life including Paul (Dylan Bruce), Felix (Jordan Garvais) and Leekie (Matt Frewer) thus closing a glaring void that was very evident in the shows incredible first season.

Felix was the witty sidekick to Sarah’s urban grit, Paul was the ‘is he bad?  Is he good?’ guy and Leekie was your stock standard evil genius who was up-to no good but now that Cosima and Alison and the other clones have been so clearly identified we’re allowed a glimpse into these side players that are playing a bigger part in Sarah’s world than we could have ever imagined.

Tatiana Maslanay as clone Cosima. Source: Provided
Tatiana Maslanay as clone Cosima. Source: Provided

But this is not to say there will be any less focus on our favorite clones.  We’ll start to see dynamics change between the three main clones – Sarah, Alison and Cosima, who all find themselves dealing with the fallout of their actions from season one.  Alison is trying to move on with her life, trying to repair her image within her picture perfect white picket fence neighborhood, Cosima is torn between her love for Delphine and trying to find a cure to her illness while Sarah wants answers….but it she looking in the right direction?

Continuing in this second season, is the subtle touches of intentional light humor scattered among each episode.  From Alison’s shining moment in a community theater production to Felix’s positively on spot outfit choices to a moment between Sarah and a child on a bus – it’s evident these glimmers of light have become an integral part of the show allowing a slice away from the full force of darkness and intensity.

Orphan Black never really stopped hitting all the right marks in season one.  There was always something happening, something being revealed, something to grab your attention and force you to watch the next episode and after watching the first four episodes of season two, this fearlessness to give doesn’t stop.

Orphan Black season 2 begins Tuesday Night, 8:30pm – April 22nd on SBS 2 or for those who can’t wait till then, is now available via SBS on demand now!

Drama, FRONT, Local TV, Orphan Black, SBS, Sci-Fi, TV

Orphan Black Season 2 Fast Tracked by SBS2

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Express from the US!  That’s what SBS2 have said in a statement released yesterday revealing that they will be fast tracking the second season of cult hit Orphan Black to our screens!

In a move that should have many Aussie fans excited, SBS2 have teamed up with SBS on demand to make the new series of Orphan Black available to viewers as soon as it’s aired in America meaning each episode will be available to watch via their On Demand service each and every Sunday at 12pm – what better way to spend a casual Sunday afternoon than with our favorite clones?!

SBS2 will also air the new series the following Tuesday at its usual 8.30pm with the premier episode starting April 22nd. It is a classic win win for viewers!

Watch: Season 2 Trailer for Orphan Black.

For those silly enough to have not yet seen this brilliant series, SBS 2 will run a Season 1 marathon screening over two nights on Sunday  April 13 and Monday April 14 from 10:30pm.

“The new season hits the ground running with Sarah (Tatiana Maslany) in a desperate race to find her missing daughter – a wild pursuit  that brings her head-to-head with ruthless pro-clone, Rachel (Maslany). Sarah’s bond with her clone sisters Alison (Maslany) and Cosima (Maslany) remains strong as they struggle to keep their clone world a secret. They have all made choices that have dire consequences, leaving Sarah to navigate a dangerous world of new enemies and shifting allegiances.”

Great to see SBS2 continuing with great programming decisions and making Orphan Black so readily available to Aussie viewers!

Drama, Fantasy, FRONT, Orphan Black, SBS, TV

Orphan Black Full Length Season Two Trailer Released

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Cosima (Tatiana Maslany) searches for clues into her illness

It’s here!  After several teaser videos via the BBC America Instagram account, the network have finally released a first look trailer of what’s coming up in the highly anticipated second season of Orphan Black.

From action, romance, kidnappings, knife fights…this trailer has got a lot of members of the clone club excited!

Check out the trailer below:

Orphan Black Season 2 kicks off April 19th on BBC America with a date to be announced for Australia on SBS2

Drama, FRONT, Orphan Black, PayTV, SBS, Sci-Fi, TV

Orphan Black Season 2 Mini Trailer Surprises

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Tatiana Maslany as Neolutionist pro-clone Rachel

Talk about making us all anxious for the new season of Orphan Black!  The show is releasing season 2 mini trailers every day for 8 days through the official Orphan Black Instagram page.

The first mini trailer, posted on Wednesday, shows Sarah (Tatiana Maslany) having a fisty cuff fight (with guns included) with Neolutionist pro-clone Rachel.  “Nobody lays hands on me,” Rachel warns. “You don’t own us,” Sarah replies as she points a gun to Rachel’s head.

While in yesterdays (Thurs 27th Feb) clip sees Cosima (Tatiana Maslany) narrating “This is my biology. This is my decision” with inter-cut scenes of needles and swabs.

Both mini trailers can be found below:

Season 2 of Orphan Black premieres April 9th on BBC America (USA)

Season 1 of Orphan Black is currently on repeats on SBS2 (AUS)

Drama, Fantasy, FRONT, Orphan Black, SBS, Sci-Fi

Orphan Black Season 2 News and Spoilers!

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Tatiana Maslany from BBC’s Orphan Black

When BBC America’s Orphan Black returns on April 19th (for Aussies, season one airing on SBS2 – no date for season two yet), expect to see an extended cast roster as Sarah, Cosima and the other clones fight to save their lives and identities from the Neolutionists.

Actress Michelle Forbes (The Killing, True Blood) has signed on to appear in the sci-fi hit show’s second season and recently spoke with BBC about the role – although, keeping very tight lipped about what to expect.

When asked about her role as Dyad Agent Marion Bowles for the second season, Forbes says “Marion Bowles has lot invested in the clones. In their science. I’ll leave it at that.”  Forbes added that she hadn’t seen the show before being cast, but has since watched and adored and is in awe of lead Tatiana Maslanay’s performance of all the clones.

Rachel and Sarah face off in season 2
Rachel and Sarah face off in season 2

In addition to Forbe’s as Marion Bowles, Season 2 will introduce new characters to the clone world including Cal Morrison (played by Michiel Huisman) and Henry ‘Hank’ Johanssen (Peter Outerbridge) who is a modern day cowboy leading a gang that have broken off from the Prolethean brotherhood.

Orphan Black’s second season will kick straight into Sarah’s frantic search for her kidnapped daughter Kira while a season length story-line will see a power struggle between Rachel Duncan and Sarah (both played by Tatiana Maslany).

Also expect some tension to rise between Sarah and Felix (Jordan Gavaris) as Felix’s back story is delved into and we learn more about Sarah’s best friend and confidant.  Orphan Black creator Graeme Manson stated we will learn more about Sarah’s past while Alison will find herself consumed by bthe mystery surrounding Aysnleys (Natalia Lisinska) death and Cosima will find herself in a heart-breaking situation while battling a mystery illness.

Orphan Black Season 2 premiere’s on BBC America on April 19th

SBS2 premiere date to come!

Comedy, Crime, FRONT

TV To Be Excited About in 2014

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Heather Graham in Lifetime’s Flowers in the Attic

The new year is officially here and we’ve got some new TV projects and returning favourites hitting the small screen that will make us all very excited!  From The Walking Dead to Flowers In The Attic, American Horror Story Coven to True Detective, here’s a look at some of what to expect in 2014!

Where to start?  How about returning shows?

The Walking Dead – Returns Feb 9th (USA)/ Feb 10th (Australia)

I’m pretty sure the internet almost went into meltdown after the mid season finale aired.  The governor attacking the prison, Hershel’s death, baby Judith missing….so what can we expect to see when it returns?  Well the last we saw, the survivors were scattered, running in all kinds of directions.  Word has it that father and son duo Rick and Carl will be on their own for some time, and we can expect to see a darker side to both Beth and Maggie who witnessed their father being almost beheaded by the governor.  In this second half, we’ll be treated to more Daryl Dixon including an episode centred on our brooding hero and the long speculated and recently confirmed news is that Carol will return!  Presumably with the group split up, she’ll bump into some of the survivors.

And what about those rats in the prison?  Apparently, we will finally learn who had been feeding them to the walkers and lastly, we’re being told to brace ourselves for another death of a major character.  Clearly, there’d be no word of who, but it wouldn’t be a Walking Dead season finale without someone we love being killed off!  Check out the promo for the next episode below!

American Horror Story: COVEN- Returns Jan 8th (USA)/ Soon after (Australia)

Getting right into it, the war between the voodoo witches led by Marie Laveau and the Miss Robichaux’s Academy led by Fiona Goode is over.  The two witches will form a truce to seek out the hive of witch hunters, but the truce wont come easily.  Also, with the next episode to air titled “The Magical Delights of Stevie Nicks” I’m’m pretty sure our twirling songstress will be making an appearance!  Check out the trailer below!

Orphan Black – Season 2 starts April 19th (USA)

We’re not being told much and the two season 2 promo trailers reveal NOTHING!  The fact this small show has garnered such a cult following in such a small time plus Tatiana Maslany’s lead actress Golden Globe nomination will ensure season two will be bigger (if it’s possible!) than season one!

Winners and Losers – Returns 2014

We’ve got 13 more episodes of this Aussie favourite to go for season 3 before season 4 kicks off!  Let’s not forget, when we last left off, psycho trainer Shannon had attacked Zac and dumped him in the boot of his car and judging by the promo below, he’s found but in trouble and it looks like love may blossom between Flynn and Sam (and I see the writers took note of my requests for Flynn in less clothing!)

What’s new for 2014?

HELIX – Starts Jan 10th (USA)

True Detective – Starts Jan 12th (USA)

8 part series one sees Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey on screen together.  Looks like if a season two happens, it will follow an entirely new cast and storyline.

Love Child – Early 2014 (Australia)

Looking – Starts Jan 19th (USA)

This 8 episode mini series is being touted as the gay version of Lena Dunham’s GIRLS and stars GLEE’s Jonathan Groff and Scott Bakula.

LEGENDS – Coming Mid 2014 (USA)

Those Who Kill – Starts March 2014 (USA)

Chloe Sevigny stars in A&E’s newest drama which centers on a female police detective and a profiler (forensic psychiatrist), on the hunt for serial killers.

Flowers In The Attic – Airs Jan 18th (USA)

Lifetime Network have taken V.C Andrews campy tale of child abuse, incest and well….attics and put Heather Graham and Ellen Burstyn in the lead roles.  Not sure how Lifetime (known for their midday movies staring Meredith Baxter-Birney) will handle such a scandalous tale, but you can check out the promo below!

and while we’re at it, Lifetime have also given the tale of Lizzie Borden a crack with Christina Ricci taking the lead.

Lizzie Borden Took and Axe – Airs Jan 25th (USA)

Crime, Drama, Fantasy, FRONT, Orphan Black, SBS, TV

Orphan Black Season 2 Air Date Announced

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Card carrying members of the clone club can rejoice!  Orphan Black’s long awaited season 2 air date has finally been announced! Bad news is that we will have to wait until April 19th next year before catching with Sarah and her clones.

The news was revealed during BBC America’s screening of “Doctor Who’s” “The Day Of The Doctor” 50th anniversary special along with a very quick teaser trailer (which can be watched below!)

The official synopsis of season two states: Season 2 of the series hits the ground running with Sarah (Tatiana Maslany) in a desperate race to find her missing daughter Kira (Skyler Wexler, Carrie). Her scorched earth tactics spark a war with pro-clone, Rachel (Maslany), dividing and imperiling all the clones. As Sarah discovers more about her past, mysterious newcomers appear, but can they be trusted?

Back in September, it was revealed that production on season two had begun with lead Tatiana Maslany back along with Jordan Gavaris, Dylan Bruce and Maria Doyle Kennedy all returning for the new episodes.   “We’re truly amazed at the incredible response we received from TV critics and fans alike since the beginning of this series,” David Fortier and Ivan Schneeberg, executive producers and co-presidents at Temple Street Productions, said in a statement. “We’re delighted to have the opportunity with our supportive partners BBC America and Space to continue on this amazing journey and to answering some of the impending questions fans were left with from the end of last season.”

Orphan Black season 1 is set to air for the first time in Australia on SBS2 in early 2014.

 

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