Orphan Black: Season Four

Tatiana Maslany has earned two Emmy nominations for her multi-character performances as clones created in a secret genetics experiment in this high-concept series produced for BBC America. This season, Maslany adds a new character to her growing repertoire: M.K. (aka Mika), a lone-wolf agent investigating the corporation who first made and then sentenced to death the cloned sisters, and it brings back Beth (via flashbacks and visions), the police detective who commits suicide in the first episode of the show. Beth becomes a kind of conscience from beyond the grave to help Sarah—who has since evolved into the de facto leader of the clone sisters—to reconnect with her mission and her responsibility to her family. Meanwhile, Sarah's foster brother (Jordan Gavaris) finds his own birth sister—a lawyer with a taste for party drugs—who is pulled into everything when a corrupt cop targets clone Alison and her husband Donnie (Kristian Bruun). The show remains complicated—Cosima (the scientist) reluctantly works with the traitorous Rachel to find a cure for the genetic disease, and Helena (the half-mad assassin turned loyal little sister) is pregnant—and the conspiracy continues to twist with revelations, schemes, and double-crosses that are cleverly plotted (yet also are starting to feel as if they don't really seem to go anywhere). The versatility and ingenuity of Maslany, who invests all of her roles with great depth of character, is still the best reason to watch this sci-fi thriller. Presenting all 10 episodes from the 2016 fourth season, extras include behind-the-scenes featurettes. A strong optional purchase. (S. Axmaker)