Right now you can watch Orphan Black in Australia on Stan, and in the US on Netflix and Philo — and it goes further with its ideas than most genre entertainment bothers to. 5 seasons in, and the quality has not slipped. An 8/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Tatiana Maslany sets the tone, and the world-building does the rest. Put it on tonight on Stan and see for yourself.

Orphan Black arrived without much fanfare and built its audience the hard way — through word of mouth. Orphan Black treats its concept seriously enough to follow it all the way through. A streetwise hustler is pulled into a compelling conspiracy after witnessing the suicide of a girl who looks just like her. Tatiana Maslany and Jordan Gavaris lead a cast that never lets the concept overwhelm the characters. 5 seasons (2013–2017) gave the story room most shows never get. What separates Orphan Black from lesser genre entertainment is a willingness to let the concept cost the characters something. It rarely drops the ball, and when it does, it recovers fast.

Sci-fi fans who want ideas alongside the spectacle will find Orphan Black genuinely rewarding. Viewers who responded to Altered Carbon will find a lot to like here too. It is a manageable watch, easy to fit into a single week. Tatiana Maslany anchors it with a performance that makes the more abstract moments feel personal. If you have been burned by ambitious sci-fi before, this is the exception.

Orphan Black wrapped up in 2017, created by Graeme Manson and John Fawcett — and 5 seasons are available to watch from start to finish. Find exactly where it's streaming below, and TV Butler Pro makes it effortless to track your progress as you go. Just search the name, and Butler finds it instantly, tells you which service has it, and remembers exactly where you left off.