by Cookie N Screen
So, are you a binger or have you been pacing yourself? Have you been healthily snacking on Orange is the New Black or are you woozy from 13 course banquet of prison, lesbians and wholesome writing?
I’m guessing that most people have been sat there, frothing at the mouth and overcome by the awesomeness that is Orange is the New Black. Season Three has come with a lot of promise after two stellar seasons before it, so it’s natural that there was a lot of pressure. After an emotional pilot episode, exploring motherhood whilst stuck in prison, and the new emotions that come boiling over with visits from loved ones that are so fleeting.
So let’s have a look at those epic storylines in a show so totally unforgettable.
So, are you a binger or have you been pacing yourself? Have you been healthily snacking on Orange is the New Black or are you woozy from 13 course banquet of prison, lesbians and wholesome writing?
I’m guessing that most people have been sat there, frothing at the mouth and overcome by the awesomeness that is Orange is the New Black. Season Three has come with a lot of promise after two stellar seasons before it, so it’s natural that there was a lot of pressure. After an emotional pilot episode, exploring motherhood whilst stuck in prison, and the new emotions that come boiling over with visits from loved ones that are so fleeting.
So let’s have a look at those epic storylines in a show so totally unforgettable.
Let’s start with the leading character who brought this world of Litchfield into our lives is Piper. This season has been a transformation for Piper. True, her character isn’t the most interesting and she never has really, melting more into the background through our love of Poussey and Taystee or Crazy Eyes. But whilst we put her there, she has become so submerged in prison life that her arc has sent her down a controlling road. Starting up a business such as the prison panties gave her a new purpose and unfortunately it also corrupted her. The handling of money and management made her cold, and now she is far from innocent or guiltily innocent, she is a straight up mafia boss which has riled audiences who used to sympathise with her. Though many will lament that pushing her into this new form is weakly written, especially when she abandons Alex too easily, it’s a nice personality and character change that will make Season Four amazing.
It’s an interesting parallel and shows incredible development and writing for the series that we despise Piper so much yet have warmed to her Season One antagonist Doggett. Showcasing that you can have an enemy and transform them into something new because of humanity and humility, Tiffany has become an understandable character that connects with us through her new friendship with unapologetic Big Boo. And this is prior to her rape in episode ten, which isn’t used as an immediate plot device to sympathise with her. In fact, they developed her enough for her to flesh out away from religion and into her own character that our sorrow at her attack from new guard Coates is real and non-manipulated. Unlike a certain show, rape isn’t used lightly in Orange is the New Black. Doggett’s backstory is rife with men using her, and she accepts her position because of how they degraded her. In the prison, the act itself is cold, unjust and ripples away into the following episodes that will help people understand the act and the effect. It concentrates on her journey with it, rather than anyone else's view and it is engaging with the aftermath.
It’s an interesting parallel and shows incredible development and writing for the series that we despise Piper so much yet have warmed to her Season One antagonist Doggett. Showcasing that you can have an enemy and transform them into something new because of humanity and humility, Tiffany has become an understandable character that connects with us through her new friendship with unapologetic Big Boo. And this is prior to her rape in episode ten, which isn’t used as an immediate plot device to sympathise with her. In fact, they developed her enough for her to flesh out away from religion and into her own character that our sorrow at her attack from new guard Coates is real and non-manipulated. Unlike a certain show, rape isn’t used lightly in Orange is the New Black. Doggett’s backstory is rife with men using her, and she accepts her position because of how they degraded her. In the prison, the act itself is cold, unjust and ripples away into the following episodes that will help people understand the act and the effect. It concentrates on her journey with it, rather than anyone else's view and it is engaging with the aftermath.
With Doggett exploring herself, her attack and her new position within prison away from religion, the prison isn’t without faith and spirituality. The main arc of season three is finding something to invest in that takes the women away from their shitty circumstances. This new narrative for women involved is not as strongly written as some of the great backstories. But the show does well to develop different facets of religion and belief. Even with Crazy Eye’s extravagant and alarming pornographic story, women find escape within it and the silent Norma becomes an icon of believe. It highlights a struggle with identity and loneliness as these groups forms around one ideal, giving them a support group. Whilst the religion aspect may not be filled with enough depth as it should have been, leaving a lacklustre arc to focus on, it is good to see how religion, or the lack of, has impacted every woman in there. After all, who do you turn to when everyone else has abandoned you?
Another major theme is motherhood and womanhood and how they mix. With the opening episode focusing on the new dynamics the women have with their children, the show lifted off into questions of parenting when Gloria and Sophia were at loggerheads over their son’s new friendship and the subsequent criminal fall out. Interesting enough, whilst both women were in prison, they still argued about class and it is nice to have everyday prejudice linger over the pair as though they were women on a playground. These established mother’s and their different handles on their children contrasted with Daya’s pregnancy and impending child rearing that had her question her fitness and qualities in becoming one. This kinetic worry that charges these particular arcs reminded us all that motherhood never ends, despite being behind bars and children are instantly affected by the repercussion of the mothers in prison. On this note, however, it would be better to have more of Maria’s struggle with being refused access to her child after episode one.
Another major theme is motherhood and womanhood and how they mix. With the opening episode focusing on the new dynamics the women have with their children, the show lifted off into questions of parenting when Gloria and Sophia were at loggerheads over their son’s new friendship and the subsequent criminal fall out. Interesting enough, whilst both women were in prison, they still argued about class and it is nice to have everyday prejudice linger over the pair as though they were women on a playground. These established mother’s and their different handles on their children contrasted with Daya’s pregnancy and impending child rearing that had her question her fitness and qualities in becoming one. This kinetic worry that charges these particular arcs reminded us all that motherhood never ends, despite being behind bars and children are instantly affected by the repercussion of the mothers in prison. On this note, however, it would be better to have more of Maria’s struggle with being refused access to her child after episode one.
Orange Is The New Black has been a seat of sensitivity and this season has been no diferent, particularly with Doggett’s aforementioned rape. But the writers of the show delved into other topics and excavated them with astute awareness and poignancy. Sophia and Gloria’s arguments flowed into some serious transphobic attacks against her, causing her to question her stance within the prison and gave audience favourite Laverne Cox some tentative moments within the show, and by episode eleven, her fate is hanging in balance. Brook Soso, who has been ostracised by nearly all in the prison for being chatty, deals with depression and cannot find anyone to turn too as she is harassed and bullied for seemingly no reason, showcasing an awareness of troubled thoughts and emotions that the show-runners brought a poignant light to.
This season is not without surprises though. We said goodbye to Natasha Lyonne’s Nicols in episode three. It was more distressing to learn that, whilst we trusted her mostly in the show, a lot of her character traits were self-serving and ultimately, it was her own destruction that saw her sent away. Healy and Red are somehow romantically involved or fancy each other and Alex became paranoid and deluded when the arrival of Lolly made her believe her ex-drug boss is out to kill her which brought a nice energy to the mix, especially when Lolly’s true nature was revealed. On top of this, the only decent male, Bennett, in the entire show absconded when he found out he couldn’t handle fatherhood and nobody knows what happened to him, leaving Daya and her child’s fate unknown.
This season is not without surprises though. We said goodbye to Natasha Lyonne’s Nicols in episode three. It was more distressing to learn that, whilst we trusted her mostly in the show, a lot of her character traits were self-serving and ultimately, it was her own destruction that saw her sent away. Healy and Red are somehow romantically involved or fancy each other and Alex became paranoid and deluded when the arrival of Lolly made her believe her ex-drug boss is out to kill her which brought a nice energy to the mix, especially when Lolly’s true nature was revealed. On top of this, the only decent male, Bennett, in the entire show absconded when he found out he couldn’t handle fatherhood and nobody knows what happened to him, leaving Daya and her child’s fate unknown.
On the whole, the season was triumphant. Though it wasn’t as impressive as season one or two, I’d say it was pretty darn close. The only thing that weighs this season down was the lack of a pivotal arc that affects the entire show. For example, Vee’s reign of terror in the previous series epically set into motion many different stories and powered us onwards whilst in the initial season, it was Piper’s indoctrination into prison life as the focus. However, Norma’s miracle work and science fiction porn may be good fun but weak as a series centre.
That being said Orange is the New Black is one of the best shows of the moment and strives to give voices to its women of all backgrounds. The tagline “every sentence is a story” should mar the series by giving us too many characters to invest in. Instead, it is done in such a way that is evolving, developed and divine. There's also new series characters including everyone's new favourite Ruby Rose as Piper's love interest Stella - a welcome addition. This season was enthralling, hilarious and interesting, we’ll look forward to Season Four when it comes out next year.
That being said Orange is the New Black is one of the best shows of the moment and strives to give voices to its women of all backgrounds. The tagline “every sentence is a story” should mar the series by giving us too many characters to invest in. Instead, it is done in such a way that is evolving, developed and divine. There's also new series characters including everyone's new favourite Ruby Rose as Piper's love interest Stella - a welcome addition. This season was enthralling, hilarious and interesting, we’ll look forward to Season Four when it comes out next year.
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