Ep 1. Natural Selection

The show Orphan Black kicks off with a heart-pounding episode named "Natural Selection." The story revolves around lead character Sarah Manning, played by Tatiana Maslany, who is a street smart, troubled woman. As the show opens, Sarah is seen running towards a train station in a frantic manner. She is drawn towards the edge of the railway platform, and moments later, a woman who looks exactly like her character commits suicide by jumping in front of an oncoming train. In shock, Sarah steals the woman's identity, hops on a train, and sets out to pose as the deceased victim.

From there, the story follows Sarah as she tries to come to terms with her new identity as Beth Childs, a police officer with a ton of emotional baggage. In trying to fit in Beth's shoes, Sarah soon realizes that there are more women who look exactly like them. The twists start coming in fast as Sarah tries to investigate this mystery while staying under the radar of the police department and the victim's loved ones.

As the show progresses, things start to get complicated for Sarah, and she runs into a host of challenges and obstacles. She meets a German woman named Katja Obinger, another clone, who holds a key to the big question - why and how are these women being cloned, and who is behind the experimentation.

In addition to that, Sarah finds herself being chased by the nefarious pro-clone organizations as well as the police. She must tread carefully and keep herself safe while trying to unravel the mystery behind this cloning epidemic that is sweeping across the city.

"Natural Selection" does an excellent job of setting the premise for the show and introducing the various characters. Maslany's performance stands out in this episode as she plays two characters - Sarah and Beth - with different mannerisms and emotional tones. The episode does an excellent job of keeping the audience hooked and sets the tone for a thrilling and exciting series.

The pacing of the episode is great, and it does an excellent job of balancing action with suspense. The showwriters have done a commendable job of weaving in the sci-fi elements without making them too overbearing, which is not an easy feat. The clinical nature of the clones' existence is portrayed well, and the bigger questions of identity, free will, and ethics are deftly handled.

The episode also introduces some supporting characters that appear to be instrumental as the show progresses. Detective Art, a colleague of Beth's, is stern, gruff, and intense. He is a character that is quick to judge and unrelenting in his pursuit of those he believes to be guilty. Also, Sarah's foster brother Felix (Jordan Gavaris) brings a much-needed touch of humor and levity to the show and is an excellent addition to the cast.

All in all, "Natural Selection" is a fantastic debut episode that sets the tone for what is to come. It establishes the premise, introduces key characters, and hooks the audience with intriguing questions that will keep them coming back for more. The show has a unique premise, and Tatiana Maslany's performance is awe-inspiring. It is an exciting and breathtaking start to a series that is certain to keep viewers on the edge of their seats.