Orphan Black

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helenaassarahasbeth

I’m going to be living up to part of my blog name this morning and going on a little rant. After all, this IS RantsReviewsandReels. The 2014 Emmy nominations were announced this morning, and it begs the question that rabid fans of the show Orphan Black have been shouting from their rooftops: HOW?! How was Tatiana Maslany, who just WON the Critic’s Choice Award for best  actress, NOT nominated for an Emmy?! How? More importantly, why? Who was it on the Best Actress in a Drama list to bump her off? Fans of the show who have been devoted watchers from the start, or even more recent converts were SHOCKED this morning. Even Entertainment Weekly said it best: How many different characters does Tatiana Maslany have to play to score an Emmy nomination? Seriously now, how many characters does it take? She’s already been playing 5 regular clone characters since season 1, and they added more for season 2. To top it all off, ALL of them have different personalities, looks, and one of them is even a female to male transgender character all of whom are played by ONE actress. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, Tatiana Maslany’s performance on Orphan Black is some of the best acting I have ever seen. Ever. And if you thought her playing different characters was a trip, try playing a character who is pretending to be someone else who is pretending to be someone else. Then, there’s the technical aspect of acting with acting doubles, tennis balls, and then nothing–literally nothing, and giving a full-out believable performance. Season 2 was quite a ride, and I can only guess which episode the Orphan Black team submitted for Emmy consideration, as it only got more complex. But seriously, given the other actresses on that list, no one can hold a candle to the work that Maslany does. She would need her own category, and about seven different Emmys to take home.

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Unless you live under a rock, you’ve probably heard that the second season of Netflix’s hit series Orange is the New Black went live on June 6th. And, if you’re a fan, you’ve binge-watched the entire series in just a few days. Personally, I did not start watching the second season until I had a day off from work, for fear that I wouldn’t want to leave the house. Well, I started the second season on Tuesday, and between errands and various different obligations, I finally completed watching the 13 episodes that make up the stellar second season. #OITNB is filmed in NYC and features various friends and colleagues of mine. Watch out for Olga Merediz in episode 5 (heartbreakingly serious with all her dialogue in Spanish. She’s amazing. Seriously.) and Hamilton Clancy in the last 7 episodes as CO Kowalski (He’s hilarious.)

It’s weird because unlike other popular series such as Game of Thrones or others that are released weekly, on-demand, streaming shows let the viewer experience an entire season all at once. It can be a little overwhelming–after all, they call it binge-watching for a reason. Some suggest to spread out the season as you would a weekly televised show. Others just say to take the plunge and indulge. Well, the good thing about Orange is the New Black is that the story is rather continuous, so it can help to watch it all at once. However, now that it’s over, I don’t really know what to watch. Good thing season 2 of Orphan Black still has some episodes in the season left.If you haven’t seen Orange is the New Black, sign up for Netflix and watch it, you won’t regret it.

 

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This year brought some amazing performances. Both performers I thought gave the performances of the year are amazing actors. One was at the end of a five year run on Breaking Bad, and the other, in her premiere season on Orphan Black. Today, both Bryan Cranston and Tatiana Maslany received much deserved Golden Globe nominations for their outstanding work on television. As Walter White, Cranston took a character who should have been your run of the mill chemistry teacher, and turned him upside down throughout the course of the Breaking Bad run. Due to incredible writing and acting, this series will be one of the greatest ever and they sure went out with a bang. On the other end of the spectrum is Tatiana Maslany. She doesn’t just play one character, she plays seven. Often acting against herself or portraying a character who is masquerading as another, her talent is undeniable and I’m glad the HFPA noticed which will bring more viewers to an amazing show.  Orphan Black will definitely be getting more people tuning into BBC America in April for the season 2 premiere. 

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BBC America has always pushed the envelope when it comes to programming. From imports like Doctor Who and Sherlock to its original content like Copper,  it has some of the best shows on television. The new show Orphan Black which premiered in March of this year, is an actor’s dream job. Star Tatiana Maslany plays seven, count’em, SEVEN DIFFERENT characters. Much of the time, she is acting against herself. Her approach is reminiscent of the chameleon-like qualities of Meryl Streep, with the visceral intuitiveness of Angelina Jolie. Here’s the catch though. Her training is heavily improv based. Acting throughout her native Canada as a child, she became involved with an improv troupe and acted with them for ten years. As an actor, I think the series, especially the first season, is a master class for other actors. Watching the show makes me want to study more and work harder at my craft. Honestly, it makes me want to hone my skills as an actor and I don’t think any television show has done that for me.  Tatiana Maslany is definitely an actor’s actor. The characters are so vastly different that people may forget that they are watching the same person act. It’s amazing, and honestly, I can’t talk much about details without giving away the plot. But check out the clips below: