An almost complete review of Orange is the New Black (2013-2019)
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Orange is the new Black (2013-2019) is a popular seven-season television show that is available for streaming on Netflix.
Orange is the New Black (2013-2019), created by Jenji Kohan, is a popular seven-season show on Netflix. Each season contains 13 episodes that are approximately an hour long, making this a very bingeable series.
Over the past few months, I have been watching the show for the first time, and I am currently two episodes shy of finishing the entire series. Despite speculation from die-hard fans, there are no official plans to produce an eighth season of the show.
These speculations made me hesitate to finish the series; if fans are hoping for more episodes, it must mean that not all storylines have been wrapped up or have played out to completion. Though I have not seen the entire series, I have obtained many opinions and read many others online.
It is impossible to watch this show without noticing the representation of race and privilege in society. Since the show's release, many viewers have found the show offensive because of racial stereotypes and misrepresentation of characters in various situations, which I feel is important to note before diving further in.
The show follows the main character, a white woman from an upper-middle-class family, as she spends 18 months in prison for a drug-related crime. As she is placed in various prisons, we see many other side characters and their storylines within the prison system.
The show openly represents race; in many cases, the prison is divided by race, and drama often arises because the two characters are of different races. Viewers often find the separation offensive and unrealistic to how prison truly operates, a problem I have also recognized but cannot speak on because I have never been inside a prison.
A critique that I do have of the show is its representation of negative stereotypes across different races and religions. An accurate example of this is the show's constant portrayal of “aggressive” black characters or group scenarios. Multiple white characters consistently commit acts of violence, yet they are not labeled aggressive. Black characters who commit one act of violence or aggression receive the label and are stuck with it for the entirety of their plotline, even if the rest of their actions are peaceful or in an attempt to cause less drama.
Like many shows I have watched, the last few seasons are structurally worse than the beginning. The growing number of plot holes and the elimination of some of my favorite characters led to my disinterest in any newly introduced characters.
One plotline that particularly bothers me is the introduction of a character’s secret bunker she built inside an abandoned pool. Before season five, there was no mention of a pool nor an explanation of how she created this bunker for years without getting caught.
Even though this particular prison has minimum security, an inmate can't create an intricate bunker for over a decade without an officer or employee noticing. Even supply closets within the prison are closely monitored and included in checks, so why would a giant room be excluded from this monitoring?
Overall, I have enjoyed watching this show, as I enjoy very dramatic shows. Every episode features a dramatic or crazy event, many of which you cannot see coming. This makes it an interesting watch for me, not just a show I put on in the background of my room.
This is not a show I would recommend watching over a long period of time; there are many small details necessary to remember to understand future episodes, which may be forgotten if a viewer takes a long break between watches. If you are, however, looking for a new show to binge-watch during winter break or as you relax after a long day, I recommend this one. On the other hand, if you are searching for a show based on facts and accurate portrayals, there may be a better one for you.