‘Variations Under Domestication’ is a very full episode of Orphan Black. That’s not to say it’s not focussed, but it tries very hard to feature the majority of the central figures while also pushing the overall story forward.

Just like that, Orphan Black has gone and snatched Paul away from the sidelines of the drama and into a position where he’s genuinely interesting.

‘Effects of External Conditions’ is all about the chase. Orphan Black wastes no time in getting the police on the trail of the mysterious clone introduced towards the end of the last episode. Meanwhile, Sarah continues to use her connections with Alison and Cosima to assist her deceit as they both help her out in different ways.

The third episode of Orphan Black puts Sarah’s motivations under the spotlight while revealing some elements of the show’s larger mysteries. When the body of Katja that Sarah previously buried (rather shoddily, she soon learns) turns up and Sarah-as-Beth is put on the case, things begin to get much more complicated for her, especially as she’s just been told she’s a clone.

If it wasn’t already obvious after the first episode, the way ‘Instinct’ ends makes it clear Orphan Black is a show that is primarily about clones and that this story thread is what the plot will be mainly be focussed on.

The mystery of why Beth killed herself remains an interesting addition, and it’s guaranteed to end up connecting to the cloning conspiracy in some way further down the line.