by Cookie N Screen
At the end of last year, I had a bout of sickness that could only be cured by excessive amounts of Netflix and feeling sorry for myself. The problem with being ill is that nothing seems appealing apart from gallons of Mean Girls and Moulin Rouge! It’s like a mother’s embrace or chicken soup, these movies soothe you into their bosom. My sickness was conflicting with something else, my urge to find something new and feel satisfied with the outcome. And then, in the haze of dizziness come a television show so brilliant that not only did I watch one episode, I watched the whole damn series. That series, was Orange Is The New Black.
At the end of last year, I had a bout of sickness that could only be cured by excessive amounts of Netflix and feeling sorry for myself. The problem with being ill is that nothing seems appealing apart from gallons of Mean Girls and Moulin Rouge! It’s like a mother’s embrace or chicken soup, these movies soothe you into their bosom. My sickness was conflicting with something else, my urge to find something new and feel satisfied with the outcome. And then, in the haze of dizziness come a television show so brilliant that not only did I watch one episode, I watched the whole damn series. That series, was Orange Is The New Black.
Based on the memoirs of Piper Chapman, it tells the story of her year in an all-female penitentiary. She’s there because she shipped drug money for her now ex-girlfriend and she must navigate her new surroundings with convicted criminals as well as balancing a long term relationship with her fiancé Larry. Inside, she discovers that one simple act (and a lot of pretention) causes a ripple effect that may hamper her stay. The hopes she may have of keeping her head down until she is released from prison are thrown out of loop when her ex-girlfriend Alex is thrown into the same prison she is.
First of all, though Piper is the centre of many of the episode, Orange Is The New Black is so rich of different characters that it choice to focus on different back stories. It’s sharp, astute and rounded female roles are enthralling. Full of depth, not one character has been scrutinized and unenriched with a heartfelt and earnest story. Alongside witty and intelligent dialogue, creator Jenji Kohan has developed a tantalising collection of people who just so happen to be female and their vibrancy is compelling to watch. It’s all kinds of clever, balancing the heartfelt with the insanity of confinement.
Another point of brilliance for Orange Is The New Black is how it deals with tender subjects such as gender, sexuality and race. Let’s keep it simple, it doesn’t tentatively skirt around them. It showcases the whole spectrum of females in a whole range of situations that make them utterly human. Allowing people to see that these transgender women, gay women, bisexual women, women of colour and more are different yet similar, as well as showcasing the bigotry and discrimination that face every single day. It is evocative and thought provoking, allowing you to see behind people’s masks and get to the core. Breathtakingly visceral, Orange Is The New Black is one of the best shows around.
First of all, though Piper is the centre of many of the episode, Orange Is The New Black is so rich of different characters that it choice to focus on different back stories. It’s sharp, astute and rounded female roles are enthralling. Full of depth, not one character has been scrutinized and unenriched with a heartfelt and earnest story. Alongside witty and intelligent dialogue, creator Jenji Kohan has developed a tantalising collection of people who just so happen to be female and their vibrancy is compelling to watch. It’s all kinds of clever, balancing the heartfelt with the insanity of confinement.
Another point of brilliance for Orange Is The New Black is how it deals with tender subjects such as gender, sexuality and race. Let’s keep it simple, it doesn’t tentatively skirt around them. It showcases the whole spectrum of females in a whole range of situations that make them utterly human. Allowing people to see that these transgender women, gay women, bisexual women, women of colour and more are different yet similar, as well as showcasing the bigotry and discrimination that face every single day. It is evocative and thought provoking, allowing you to see behind people’s masks and get to the core. Breathtakingly visceral, Orange Is The New Black is one of the best shows around.
We are on the brink of season two. Finally, we’ll get to complete the cliffhanger as Piper deals with the aftermath of beating Doggett who had threatened her life. There is also the case of Larry wanting to break up with her after finding out she’d been sleeping with Alex as the pair reconnected (and then fell out after finding out that Alex ratted Piper out in spite.) Not to mention Piper has upset a lot of people thanks to Larry’s outbursts on radio and Daya is pregnant with Officer Bennett’s child. And much more. Plus there’ll be the introduction of new characters to upset the hierarchy in place. A lot of tantalising stories for us to take a bite out of.
The important thing here is that Orange Is The New Black is an innovate and compelling television show. The problem? It has been delegated to Netflix and picked up by Lionsgate who seem to be the only studios at the moment trusting in new fiction. The fact that this is a mostly female cast who are portrayed as solely on their own shouldn’t be “risky” television to loop it into a subscription service. That’s nothing against Netflix, because kudos on allowing this show to be in our lives. It is phenomenal and comical as well as earnest and sensitive.
In short; it is bloody fantastic!
Orange Is The New Black returns June 6th
The important thing here is that Orange Is The New Black is an innovate and compelling television show. The problem? It has been delegated to Netflix and picked up by Lionsgate who seem to be the only studios at the moment trusting in new fiction. The fact that this is a mostly female cast who are portrayed as solely on their own shouldn’t be “risky” television to loop it into a subscription service. That’s nothing against Netflix, because kudos on allowing this show to be in our lives. It is phenomenal and comical as well as earnest and sensitive.
In short; it is bloody fantastic!
Orange Is The New Black returns June 6th
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