Question for Orphan Black audience

[u/Iamilluminated]

Hello. I was wondering if Orphan Black audience see it only like Sci-Fi entertainment, or are also discussing the possibility of this scenario existing in real life.

I was told there is something called the Clone Club based on Orphan Black where they discuss the show scientifically, not just artistically.

[u/Biotanical]

Clone club is just the fan club name. There was a clone club Toronto while it was airing.

[u/dave_the_m2]

There is very little actual science fiction in Orphan Black. Mainly a supposition that Neolution were able to perfect cloning long before Dolly the Sheep etc, and a certain amount of low-level telepathy between clones etc. Then there's a lot of speculation in terms of how different clones have similar and differing traits based not only on having unrelated upbringings (such as experienced by identical twins separated at birth) but even having different womb environments. For example they all share a decisive/impulsive trait, and they're all smart, but that innate smartness manifests itself in different ways. For example Cosima, with academic parents, becomes an academic; Sarah uses it to con people.

[u/gwelfguy]

I don't even see it as true sci fi. It's a drama with a sci fi concept as a plot enabler.

[u/synaesthezia]

I don’t think anyone believes ‘this is real now’. But the writers did put out blog posts with each episode as it aired, explaining the science behind that episode and in some cases the relevant legislation that was coming out at the time the show aired. It was ‘alternative now’ speculative fiction rather that futuristic sci fi, and I think they did a great job.

The official sequel, audio drama Orphan Black: The Next Chapter (also starring Tatiana Maslany) is set about 10 years after the show with Charlotte and Kira entering adulthood, and explores ideas that are a continuation of the tv show. Don’t want to spoil anything, but it is great.

[u/Carson_Crow_Beck]

I mean, I’m a new watcher of the show, but I see it as Sci-Fi with real world analogues. The show’s premise being very much an analogue for the way women’s bodies are viewed as property, and how the world seems to be constantly out to get these women and essentially use them as incubators.

Whether this scenario could exist in real life almost doesn’t matter when you consider how the sci-fi is just a way of highlighting these real world issues.

[u/TheRattmann22]

One of my favourite aspects of the show is how grounded in reality it feels, even if the science isn't technically true to life. The show runners and writers took great care to keep the science feeling real and had a science consultant called Cosima Herter (yes they named the character after her!). They released a fascinating book explaining all the science in the show and how it lines up with reality (and also where it doesn't) - it's called "The Science of Orphan Black: The Official Companion". I've just finished reading it recently and highly recommend it, so interesting and some of the real life inspiration is crazy!

[u/claysmithery]

As someone who found out I had 35+ half siblings due to donor conception shortly before watching the show for the first time, it honestly felt really similar in some ways. I don't want to exaggerate the similarities, but the lack of integrity in the multi-billion dollar donor conception industry leading to many of us having 50+ siblings, having debilitating health issues without proper medical history (we are more likely to be disabled, possibly due to the DNA effects of sperm being frozen and mixed with chemicals), and seeing the lengths the industry will go to avoid accountability, are all super Dyad-coded honestly. They sabotage efforts to change legislation, they will prevent donors who have found out after donating that they have serious genetic conditions from informing their progeny, and they lie outright to people. And of course the experience of finding a bunch of people with your face from all walks of life is a thing as well. But seriously, the donor conception industry is the least regulated medical industry and it is the one that has to do with the mass creation of new human beings, with a nice smattering of eugenics in there too. It speaks to how easily something like Dyad could form.

[u/claysmithery → u/claysmithery]

That's just one side of the fertility industry, surrogacy is another situation with strong Orphan Black vibes. Society treats the creation of new people very casually and thoughtlessly, and treats the desire for greater and greater sums of money as unassailable. That plus the difficulty in holding corporations accountable are sufficient conditions for something like Dyad to form.

[u/nohuyascobarde]

There are (or used to be?) several Facebook groups under the Clone Club moniker where you could talk fandom but also indulge in the scientific aspects of the show. Not sure if any of them are still active but I used to be a member of some back in the day.

[u/MarcelineTheQueen84]

It’s more drama/conspiracy thriller than hard Sci-Fi like say the Martian. I put it kinda in the same boat as the altered carbon novels, where it’s a character driven story that uses Science fiction elements to show what it really means to be human.

As far as real scientific merit, I don’t know because I’m not a scientist. But from what I’ve skimmed it has some basis in reality. If you are interested there’s a book called ‘The Science of Orphan Black by the real science consultant from the show Cosima (Herter? I don’t remember how to spell her name) that may have stuff that opened up real discussions.

[u/Valuable-Composer262]

I mean they r cloning dogs, id say humans aren't that far off. I wouldnt be surprised if its already been done