[TV Show Review] Orange Is the New Black (Season 1: 2013-)

Posted on November 25, 2013 by thegrandshuckett in TV Shows // 0 Comments

Plot Summary: The story of Piper Chapman (Taylor Schilling), a woman in her thirties who is sentenced to 15 months in prison after she is convicted of a decade old crime of transporting money for her drug dealing girlfriend (Laura Prepon).

Producers: Jenji Kohan, Liz Friedman

Original Channel: Netflix

Based On: Piper Kerman's memoir Orange Is the New Black

Runtime: 60 min/episode

Main Cast:

Taylor Shilling as Piper Chapman
Danielle Brooks as Tasha "Taystee" Jefferson
Taryn Manning as Tiffany "Pennsatucky" Doggett
Laura Prepon as Alex Vause
Jason Biggs as Larry Bloom

Review: by GG

One thing I want to make sure everyone recognizes is that this show is Rated MA and there is nudity, sexual scenes, profanity, and violence throughout the show. Okay, now that the disclaimer is out of the way, this show is very good. I was turned off by the concept at first, but there is something about it that keeps you coming back.

What I Liked:

The feel of the show makes you think it takes place in a real prison. From the “orientation” to the inmates and the food, it all feels very “prison-ish.” Honestly, after examining the place, it kind of reminds me of grade school. Either way, being able to identify with the characters is kind of a big deal. Each episode can stand on its own in the sense that there is usually a new side character’s story being developed. Throughout the season, you see the background of some of the main sub-characters and why they are in prison. I think this is a great touch and is good for character development.

The characters parts are written and played very well, and each group of characters brings what you would expect to the table. You have the former druggie(s), the overprotective mom, the credit card fraud, and even the person who was in the wrong place in the wrong time. The time taken in these character developing episodes to do the flashbacks doesn’t even take away from the show as a whole because the episodes are about the particular character any way. In the end it all feels very natural and real.

Also the story outside of prison is pretty interesting and develops fairly well. The fact that her fiancée is so dedicated and tries to stay loyal is a big deal. The fact that Piper does things to jeopardize this from inside of the prison is also bewildering. For the most part, I try to give Piper the benefit of the doubt, but sometimes she just makes some really bad choices, especially closer to the end of the season.

What I Didn’t Like:

There is not much to dislike about this show, other than the love/hate relationship the audience has with Piper. Sometimes you hate to love Piper, and other times you love to hate her. This isn’t much of a con, though, because I am pretty sure the writers want it that way.

4.5

Summary

Orange Is the New Black is a great show that pulls you in from the beginning. Netflix has delivered another big hit!

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