Pilot – The episode opens with Lucy (Krysten Ritter) waking up on the sofa to two birds tweeting in a cage. Kira Manning (Keeley Hawes) warns that she may be disoriented after her procedure. Lucy asks about the procedure but Kira moves forward to a series of questions that Lucy cannot answer. She cannot identify a baby in a photo. Unable to remember who she is, Lucy becomes stressed. She demands to know where she is before busting a lamp on the floor. An orderly intervenes by injecting medicine into her arm. Lucy collapses on the floor. After waking up on the sofa, Lucy tries the doors to find them locked and windows shatterproof. She removes the light switch cover and utilizes a metal rod from a lamp to detach the light switch from the wall. She sticks her hand through the hole to unlock the door. Emerging from the room, she finds herself in a virtually empty warehouse. When an alarm is enabled, she seeks refuge behind a wall while two guards search the room. She enters a room with diagrams of the human anatomy, body part replicas, and a machine filled with a pink liquid. Kira explains how a complex process utilizing a high-resolution scan printed her. Lucy runs outside to see the skyline of the city.

Two Years Later, 2052 – Lucy listens to “Janine” by David Bowie while driving down the road. Upon arriving at a camper, she accesses an electric switch box where money is stored in jars. When she places a money jar back in the box, she cuts her finger triggering a flashback of someone holding a knife covered in blood. She picks up the baby photo when Charlie (Zariella Langford) enters. In sign language, Charlie asks if they can make pizza. Lucy says homework first before holding up her bag. Charlie grabs for the bag but it slips out of her hand. Finding her notebook in the backpack, Lucy scolds her for going through other people’s things. Charlie asks what is it. Lucy says it is research. Charlie pinky promises to keep it to himself.

Jack (Avan Jogla) arrives as Lucy and Charlie launch their rocket. Charlie tells him that Lucy helped create a rocket for a school assignment. Lucy gives Jack money for her next month’s rent.

Lucy is working on her research when Jack arrives. They get intimate. Later, he asks about a possible suture scar on her anterior forearm. She denies any memory of what caused the car. Reminding him that they have been together a year, she asks if it is time to tell Charlie. He tells her that she struggled with Clara leaving. Lucy says this is her home. He asks why she never adjusted to the city. He admits to being lost until she met him. Later, a nightmare about a bloody knife startles Lucy awake.

Lucy tells Mariella (Daniella Velasco-Morales) about her nightmare. The apple foreman (Elan Even) asks Lucy to look at his vehicle. After a quick assessment, she says the power steering line is broken. The pink power steering fluid triggers a flashback of the machine filled with pink liquid. Stepping in front of an oncoming vehicle, Lucy is knocked to the ground. The farm workers rush over to check on her. Later, Lucy wakes up in the hospital. Doctor Palmer (Vicki Kim) tells Lucy that her tests are normal. Lucy asks if she can determine from the tests if she gave birth in the past. Palmer says there is no way to tell when Jack arrives. At home, Jack invites Lucy to move in with him before confessing to love her.

Kira receives a call about Lucy’s hospital visit. At Grace Hospital, the Sweater Vest Man (Jeremy Hutton) lies to the receptionist about Lucy being his sister. Later, he tries to abduct Lucy from her camper. Looking out her window, Charlie sees activity inside Lucy’s camper. During the struggle, the man puts a flashlight up to her upper arm to reveal a series of symbols (possibly letters and/or numbers). Lucy flees into the apple orchard. A pursuit ensues. The man threatens to shoot Lucy when Charlie shoots him. Lucy frantically packs their bags but Jack refuses to leave until she tells him everything. She tells him that her past life is complicated. He asks if they are supposed to run away with her. She says the only way is for her to face them. Seeing Charlie upset, Lucy assures her that she did nothing wrong. Charlie reminds her that she killed him. Lucy says she was just protecting her before vowing nothing like that will happen again. Lucy packs her bags when she discovers the man’s phone on the floor.

Lucy drops Charlie and Jack off at Tina’s house. She pinky promises to come back. She apologizes to Jack before visiting the Settlement House to meet Craig (Jonathan Whittaker). She tells him about what happened. He warns against delving into her past. While assessing the man’s phone, they find a location where the phone pinged. She thanks Craig before heading to the location.

Additive Foundation – Tom (Reed Diamond) tells the security guard (Nabil Ayoub) that he has a meeting with the director. Inside the elevator, Emily (Tattiawna Jones) and Tom watch a video of Kira explaining 4-D printing to create replicas of human organs. Later, Emily tells Kira that the Sweater Vest Man was discovered dead in the apple orchard. Displaying photos of Charlie and Jack on the screen, she says they are missing or dead. Kira says Lucy was defending herself in an attack but it doesn’t mean she could harm a child. Tom describes Lucy as “violent” and “unstable”. Kira refutes his description of Lucy before reminding him that she is unaware of her true identity. He believes she is a liability. Kira disagrees. In the restroom, Kira leaves a voicemail – I’ve been thinking about you a lot today. I just wanted to hear your voice” – for a woman.

At the building where the man’s phone pinged, Lucy sees Jules (Amanda Fix), triggering a flashback. Lucy tells Jules that they possibly know each other. Jules denies knowing her. Lucy grabs Jules’ arm causing her to drop her headphones. She picks it up to hear “Janine” by David Bowie. Lucy sees a scar similar scar on Jules’ anterior forearm. Jules takes off running. Lucy pursues Jules when she notices The Jogger (Georgia Leva) following her. She has Jules a gunpoint when The Jogger approaches. Lucy forces Jules into her truck at gunpoint.

During a phone call, Kira tells Aunt Cosima that she may have done something terrible. The episode ends.

 

Orphan Black Echoes Cast

• Kira Manning (Keeley Hawes)
• Lucy (Krysten Ritter)
• Jules (Amanda Fix)
• Jack (Avan Jogia)
• Charlie (Zariella Langford)
• Craig (Jonathan Whittaker)
• Tom (Reed Diamond)
• Neva (Alexandra Castillo)
• Josh (Izad Etemadi)

Orphan Black Echoes Synopsis

Additive Foundation creates replicas of human organs utilizing 4-D printing. Director Kira Manning utilizes the technology to create Lucy. Two years ago, Lucy ran away from the facility. Craig, who runs the Settlement House, found her living on the streets. Lucy leaves the city for the country where she meets Jack and Charlie.

While working in an apple orchard, Lucy is hit by a vehicle. She is transported to Grace Hospital for treatment. An affiliate of the Additive Foundation informs Kiara. The Sweater Vest Man finds out where Lucy is staying. He tries to apprehend her but Lucy flees into the apple orchard. He threatens to kill her when Charlie shoots and kills him.

Tom tells Kira that Lucy is a liability. Kira refuses to believe Lucy is dangerous. Lucy traces the Sweater Vest Man’s phone to the Additive Foundation where she encounters Jules from her past. Jules denies knowing her when Lucy spots the scar on her anterior forearm. A pursuit ensues and ends with Lucy apprehending Jules. The Jogger tries to convince her to let Jules go but Lucy forces her into her truck.

Orphan Black Echoes Review

The screenplay is infantile, dull, and at times cringeworthy. The plot is interesting enough but the execution is poor. There is nothing clever or creative about the story that makes it stick out.

Other than the fabulous Keeley Hawes, the acting is hit-and-miss. The cinematography is just okay. Too much screen time is wasted on fluff.

Some scenes are more ridiculous than others, especially the one in which Lucy jabs a metal rod into a hot light switch. In the real world, she would have probably gotten electrocuted.

There is much to be desired about the show. The pilot episode deserves a 5.5 out of 10. Get more Orphan Black Echoes recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by donating. Our onsite advertising builds brand awareness, click the link to learn more. Join our forum to discuss the show and other latest releases.