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The Best Episodes of Orphan Black Season 1

Every episode of Orphan Black Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Orphan Black Season 1!

Binge this in 7h 26mPeaking at 8.9/10

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

Seasons5

Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    Orphan Black Season 1 Episode 1 - Natural Selection
    8.1/10(3045 votes)

    #1 - Natural Selection

    S1:E1

    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.

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  2. Orphan Black Season 1 Episode 2 - Instinct
    8.0/10(2485 votes)

    #2 - Instinct

    S1:E2

    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.

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  3. Orphan Black Season 1 Episode 3 - Variation Under Nature
    8.1/10(2321 votes)

    #3 - Variation Under Nature

    S1:E3

    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.

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  4. Orphan Black Season 1 Episode 4 - Effects of External Conditions
    8.2/10(2200 votes)

    #4 - Effects of External Conditions

    S1:E4

    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.

    Director:Grant Harvey

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  5. Orphan Black Season 1 Episode 5 - Conditions of Existence
    8.2/10(2140 votes)

    #5 - Conditions of Existence

    S1:E5

    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.

    Director:T.J. Scott

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  6. Orphan Black Season 1 Episode 6 - Variations Under Domestication
    8.4/10(2183 votes)

    #6 - Variations Under Domestication

    S1:E6

    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.

    Director:John Fawcett

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    The 20 BEST Episodes of Orphan Black

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  8. Orphan Black Season 1 Episode 7 - Parts Developed in an Unusual Manner
    8.1/10(2059 votes)

    #7 - Parts Developed in an Unusual Manner

    S1:E7

    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.

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  9. Orphan Black Season 1 Episode 8 - Entangled Bank
    8.5/10(2069 votes)

    #8 - Entangled Bank

    S1:E8

    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.

    Director:Ken Girotti

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  10. Orphan Black Season 1 Episode 9 - Unconscious Selection
    8.6/10(2057 votes)

    #9 - Unconscious Selection

    S1:E9

    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.

    Director:T.J. Scott

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  11. Orphan Black Season 1 Episode 10 - Endless Forms Most Beautiful
    8.9/10(2305 votes)

    #10 - Endless Forms Most Beautiful

    S1:E10

    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.

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Season 1 Ratings Summary

"Natural Selection" is the best rated episode of "Orphan Black" season 1. It scored 8.1/10 based on 3045 votes. Directed by John Fawcett and written by Graeme Manson, it aired on 3/30/2013. This episode is rated 0.1 points higher than the second-best, "Instinct".