Spoilers are ahead for Orphan Black: Echoes season 1, episodes 1–2.
Summary
The story that unfolds inOrphan Black: Echoesseason 1 perfectly sets up a major character’s return years after the originalOrphan Blackfinale. Not only that, butEchoes, which centers on a now-adult Dr. Kira Manning (Keeley Hawes), pretty much requires a particular Leda clone to make an appearanceduring the spinoff’s sophomore outing. While the spinoff follows amnesiac Lucy (Krysten Ritter) for the majority of its runtime,Orphan Black: Echoesepisode 1’s ending pays homageto the original series by revealing that Kira, Sarah Manning’s (Tatiana Maslany) daughter, is one of the show’s main characters.
In the parent series, Emmy-winning actorTatiana Maslany playsOrphan Black’s 17 clone characters, genetic identicals who suddenly learn about their origins — and each other. Although shadowy corporate entities try to control them, Maslany’s Project Leda clones band together to fight for their agency. Despite this fraught upbringing, Kira grows up to become a scientist. Much like her Aunt Cosima (Maslany),Kira also forges ahead with her own ethically questionable experiment: 3D-printed humans. Ritter’s Lucy and several otherOrphan Black: Echoescharactersare the result of Kira’s experiment, which makes one Leda clone’s cameo even more necessary.
Tatiana Maslany Should Return As Adult Charlotte In Orphan Black: Echoes
Evelyne Brochu & Jordan Gavaris Make Cameos In Season 1 Of The Orphan Black Spinoff
Since the announcement of the spinoff series, viewers have wondered ifTatiana Maslany will be inOrphan Black: Echoes. Since the show’s 10-episode first season premiered in Australia during 2023, it’s already clear that Maslany doesn’t make a cameo appearance inEchoes' first season. Still, the Kira-centered show, which is set 37 years after theOrphan Blackseries finale, sets the stage for Maslany to play a now-adult Charlotte Bowles. Introduced in theOrphan Blackseason 2 finale, Charlotte (Cynthia Galant) is a younger Project Leda clone, who was cloned directly from the villainous Rachel Duncan (Maslany).
…Charlotte is 8-years-old inOrphan Blackbecause she was created roughly 20 years after the other clones.
With the original Project Leda genome lost in a fire, scientists attempted to recreate their experiment. The alleged sole survivor of over 400 attempts, Charlotte is 8-years-old inOrphan Blackbecause she was created roughly 20 years after the other clones. Until she’s abducted by Neolutionists, Charlotte lives a fairly normal childhood with her adoptive mother, Marion Bowles (Michelle Forbes), who also happens to be Rachel’s boss at Dyad. AlthoughCharlotte suffers from early onset of the Leda’s respiratory degeneration, Cosima cures her, leading to Charlotte’s crucial role in theunderrated franchise sequel,Orphan Black: The Next Chapter.
Orphan Black: Echoes Must Address An 8-Year-Old Character Mystery From The Original Show
Orphan Black: Echoes has the chance to both bridge the gap between the franchise’s two shows and answer a years-old Orphan Black character mystery.
Charlotte Bowles’ Story In Orphan Black: The Next Chapter Is Crucial To The Franchise
Charlotte Is A Different Generation Of Leda Clone
Although Charlotte Bowles is a minor character in the original series, the character becomes an instrumental part of the Clone Club inOrphan Black’s direct sequel, audio drama calledOrphan Black: The Next Chapter. In the podcast,Charlotte is 17 years old — just like Kira Manning. Although Charlotte is technically one of Kira’s “aunts,” the two have a sisterly relationship thanks to their age. Adopted by Detective Art Bell (Kevin Hanchard) in theOrphan Blackseason 5 ending, Charlotte splits her time between her adoptive father’s place and Cosima and Dr. Delphine Cormier’s (Evelyne Brochu) house.
[The events of The Next Chapter lead to] the discovery of a Clone Virus, which almost immediately infects Charlotte.
Like their aunts, Charlotte and Kira are very interested in science. While researching something for school, Charlotte discovers a new Leda Clone, Dana, who’s living in Boston. After theOrphan Blackseries finale,Cosima and Delphine travel the world curing clones with Cosima’s vaccine, ensuring that none of them will suffer from the genetic respiratory degeneration. InThe Next Chapter, Charlotte and Alison Hendrix (Maslany) travel to Boston to cure Dana, leading to the discovery of a Clone Virus, which almost immediately infects Charlotte. Without delving into spoilers,Orphan Black’s stunning sci-fi spinoffcould really benefit from Charlotte’s involvement.
Orphan Black: The 10 Best Clone Swaps
Over five seasons, Orphan Black had a number of clone swaps—one clone taking on the identity of another. These swaps became integral to the story.
Kira Manning & Charlotte’s Relationship Should Be Explored In Orphan Black: Echoes
Charlotte & Kira Are Close In Orphan Black: The Next Chapter
ThroughoutOrphan Black: The Next Chapter, Kira and Charlotte’s relationship is a focal point, which makes it perfect for further exploration inOrphan Black: Echoes. In the spinoff’s first season, both Jordan Gavaris' Felix Dawkins, Kira’s uncle, and Brochu’s Delphine appear in cameo capacities. Given theOrphan Black: Echoestimeline, both actors are aged with makeup and practical effects. While the same could be done for any of Maslany’sOrphan Blackcharacters,it would almost be better for the actor to play a now-adult Charlotte instead. For starters, aging Maslany to be Charlotte would be more believable.
Kira’s dynamic with Charlotte is much more interesting.
While the Emmy-winning actor could play any clone at any age,there’s more narrative intrigue in Maslany returning as Charlotte. It’s clear that Kira is still close to Cosima — she calls her aunt for advice at the end of the first episode — and that her relationship with her mother, Sarah, is still incredibly strained. In many ways, Kira’s dynamic with Charlotte is much more interesting. The not-quite-siblings grew up together, weathering the same clone chaos amid their coming-of-age. Charlotte feels like someoneOrphan Black: Echoes' ever-conflicted Kira could turn to for support.
New episodes ofOrphan Black: Echoespremiere on Sundays through August 21, 2025.
Orphan Black: Echoes
Orphan Black: Echoes is a continuation of the Orphan Black universe set in the near future. The series follows a group of women as they entangle themselves in a complex journey, unraveling the mystery of their identities while exposing a tale of love and betrayal.
