‘Conditions of Existence’ is a focussed episode that really puts both Alison and Sarah under pressure as they wonder whether those closest to them are monitoring them for the purposes of this scientific experiment.

In most other shows, only one of them would be right, or somebody else entirely would be involved. This series wants to challenge our expectations and keep the story concerned with only a few characters, though, so it seems that they may both be justified in being untrustworthy of the men sleeping beside them at night.

Unfortunately, however, keeping the action limited to a small group of players means that Vic is back in the picture. The character gets a more sympathetic portrayal here than he has done in previous instalments but he’s still the most irritating person on the show. The potential subplot informing us of Sarah’s past with him and her drug dealing can only detract from the more intriguing stories being developed elsewhere. Orphan Black would be better off to leave Vic behind and spend more time with Beth’s police colleagues, who we barely see in this episode.

Or if it wants to continue exploring Sarah herself, the material about her history with Mrs S and the challenges she faces in forging a relationship with Kira will prove far more interesting. Tatiana Maslany has had a great deal to play with as an actor in these first few episodes, but the scenes she shares with Skyler Wexler (who plays Kira) in ‘Conditions of Existence’ may be her most emotionally powerful. Soon after, she’s back to trying to get information out of Mrs S and considering how best to intimidate Paul, but it’s valuable to display her in less tense situations as a calmer and more affectionate person who could be a good mother.

All the while, both Alison and Sarah begin to wonder if they’re being watched. This leads Sarah to begin investigating Paul (something she learns that Beth was already doing… or perhaps Beth was looking into someone else?) and gets Alison to start doubting the trustworthiness of her husband. Despite the episode opening with a brief glimpse at where Helena’s found herself after collapsing in that alleyway, we unfortunately don’t see any more of her throughout.

It’s an episode that’s also fairly light on Cosima too, and it’s starting to look as though she’s a little too conveniently knowledgeable about a couple of important things. It may be a bit of a leap to suggest Cosima is intimately involved with the conspiracy, but it’s become clearer that she’s rarely the one under pressure and that she’s frequently making key decisions as to how the other two should react. There’s almost certainly more to her than we currently know.

This episode does a great job of slowing things down ever so slightly after the drama had become increasingly suspenseful, and then piling back on the dangerous edge in very personal ways. All of a sudden, both Sarah and Alison are made to doubt their surroundings but could potentially be getting closer than ever before to working out some of the answers behind this cloning conspiracy.

Whether answers are coming is hard to say, but Paul is now somebody that viewers will want to know much more about and Orphan Black will be sure to provide some more substance to his character as soon as possible.

Aired at 9pm on Friday 11 October 2013 on BBC Three.

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