The many faces of ‘Orphan Black’
Are the Emmys pointless? If they meant anything, Tatiana Maslany would have been nominated for best actress last year. In fact, she should have been nominated several times.
For the uninitiated, she is the star, or stars, of “Orphan Black” (9 p. m., BBC America). In a dystopian future not terribly far off, she plays a set of cloned women produced by a shadowy organization. First she was Sarah, the strong outsider who slowly discovered her own past and the fact that she had many “sisters.” These include the volatile Helena, a Ukrainian wild woman raised by nuns; Alison, the ultimate soccer mom; and Cosima, the genius who actually understands the science behind the cloning project.
That Maslany can pull off these characters and others in a seamlessly credible fashion deserves recognition. Some social critics have begun to consider her juggling act on “Orphan Black” to be the most serious meditation on female identity in today’s popular culture.
Maslany’s performance( s) aside, I find “Black” a tad too grim, violent and filled with dread for my tastes. Season three kicks off on a brighter note. Helena is seen on a sunny day in a suburban backyard surrounded by her sisters as a Ukrainian singer covers the Beach Boys’ “Wouldn’t It Be Nice.” But nice it’s not, because we quickly realize that she’s only dreaming and she’s really trapped in a box and she’s not alone. There’s a scorpion to keep her company.
Among the familiar faces on “Orphan Black” is Dutch- born actor Michiel Huisman. He may not be a household name or play a “family” of clones, but he portrays Cal, the father of Sarah’s daughter. He can also be seen as Daario Naharis on “Game of Thrones,” and he was Liam, the edgy music producer who romanced Rayna during the first two seasons of “Nashville.”
MORE AWARDS
Terry Crews is also a busy guy. The star and host of Fox’s “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” and “World’s Funniest Fails” hosts the TV Land Awards ( 9 p. m., TV Land), an annual celebration of TV’s past. Among those shows honored tonight is the just completed “Parenthood,” along with the more vintage “Ally McBeal” and “The Wonder Years.”
Look for Betty White and Donny and Marie Osmond to accept awards. The late Joan Rivers will also receive a tribute.
The TV Land Awards may not occur during awards season or carry the prestige of the Oscars, but it’s one of the first such shows that was hosted by Neil Patrick Harris before he went on to host the Emmys, the Tonys and the Oscars.
TONIGHT’S HIGHLIGHTS
› The town unites on the season finale of “Good Witch” ( 8 p.m., Hallmark, TV-PG).
› A woman begins to doubt her boyfriend’s motives in the 2013 shocker “Deadly Revenge” (8 p.m., Lifetime).
› Claire and Geillis face sorcery charges on “Outlander” ( 9 p. m., Starz, TV-MA).
› You only die twice on “CSI” (8 p.m., CBS, repeat, TV-14).
› Ultimate fighting ( 8 p. m., Fox).
› Two helpings of “20/20” ( 8 p.m. and 9 p.m., ABC). ›
It’s academic on “NCIS: Los Angeles” ( 9 p. m., CBS, repeat, TV-14).
› “48 Hours” (10 p.m., CBS). › Stakeout in grammar school on “Castle” (10 p.m., ABC, repeat, TV-PG).
Contact Kevin McDonough at kevin.tvguy@gmail.com.