Orphan Black: The Best Character In Each Season | Screen Rant
It's not often that the best characters to appear on a show are all played by the same actress but Orphan Black is certainly unique in that aspect. Tatiana Maslany delivered incredible performances every time out as Sarah, Alison, Cosima, Helena, and the rest of the LEDA clones in every episode.
While the show's supporting characters like Donnie and Felix are also beloved, there's no doubt that each season saw one of the main clones standing out as the best character. Some were consistently good throughout even if they weren't the best of a particular season and all are part of why the show is iconic.
In the case of most shows, the protagonist is the standout character of the inaugural season. That was how it went with Orphan Black, mostly because the audience was getting involved in this world at the same time as Sarah Manning. That made her the perfect stand-in for them as they went on the journey with her. Sarah immediately comes off as a stand-offish woman who doesn't want to get involved in any of this.
She just wants to keep her head down and escape to a better life with her brother and her daughter but that's not how it works. She makes the choice to be there for her sestras and it makes her an endearing character to follow. You can see the love for her fellow clones grow in a way that captivates the viewers. She proves herself as tough while working as a cop disguised as Beth, goes toe-to-toe with her violent sister Helena, and does her best to be a good mother through it all.
One of the best things to see on a TV show like Orphan Black is a character arc that takes someone from being the villain to being a beloved person to root for. In season 1, Helena was the homicidal clone who acted as the main antagonist and the person Sarah had to put down in the finale. Her return in the season 2 premiere was shocking but welcome as it gave her the chance to grow.
Helena spent season 2 becoming a member of the family of clones. She escaped a horrible place and took out multiple despicable villains while also showing that she has a caring heart for children, which made Helena more likable. The scenes she shared with Sarah as their sister bond grew were remarkable and when she finally joins up with Alison and Cosima as well, it was one of the show's most heartwarming moments.
In the eyes of a lot of fans, season 3 of Orphan Black is the worst though it's still considered good overall. Some of the issues included moving Helena so far away from the rest of the cast and giving Alison a storyline where she's simply running for office at her children's school. That gave Cosima Niehaus the chance to feel like a standout character even though she pretty much always was.
Cosima rebounded from a deadly illness in the early installments of season 3 before focusing on trying to learn more about the Castor clones. It might not have always been the most engaging storyline but it was just what the characters needed to get past this potential threat. It was upsetting to see her without Delphine but that only made their eventual reunion better.
The entire show is set into motion when Beth Childs takes her own life right in front of Sarah Manning. It's literally the first scene of the show, so nobody expected that Beth would be one of the best characters in season 4. Interestingly, the season 4 premiere is all about Beth and how she got involved in the Clone Club mess in the first place.
This was a welcome change of pace that shined a light on an important character who didn't have a lot of screen time beforehand. The season also showcased Beth's skills as a detective, her relationship with M.K., and the tragic descent she had emotionally before her death thanks to her relationship with Paul and everything she was getting involved in. This was exactly the kind of thing the show needed to boost it after a somewhat disappointing season.
A cool aspect of the final season was that the show gave each of the main five clones an episode that was mostly centered on them. While it did often keep them apart, it was good to see each lady get the opportunity to further their character down the stretch. While all of them shine at different points, it is Rachel Duncan who manages to arguably go through the most and come out a different person.
As soon as she debuts in the season 1 finale, Rachel becomes the show's main antagonist. Later seasons saw her struggle mightily but it looked like she was back on top in the end, only for her to change her position. Rachel makes one of the bravest moves during her final season arc, ripping out her own prosthetic eye and exposing Westmorland, officially helping her sestras even if she never fully sides with them.