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Netflix Presents: Orange is the New Black

I watched the first season of this recently and am hooked. So is my girlfriend. SO IS EVERYONE.

I was skeptical of Netflix producing their own shows, but they're putting out some top-notch work. I wonder if it's because they let the showrunners just do their thing and not offer up a lot of studio interference. It's not like there are any FCC standards or cable traditions they have to adhere to. House of Cards is great, and so is this. Haven't watched Hemlock Grove yet.
 
Piper Kerman, the origin for Piper Chapman, has a website.
http://piperkerman.com/ It has links for justice reform.

If Orange is the New Black successfully dramatized the humanity of prisoners, perhaps this petition is a good way of expressing this understanding: http://www.change.org/petitions/support-pelican-bay-shu-prisoners-five-core-demands-hunger-strike

I didn't think the series is just about the lesbian sex, although I can't honestly say that it is wholly successful. It has a heart which is more than you can say about a lot of stuff.
 
I've been reading the thread to see whether I might be interested in watching the show.

Agent Richard07 said:
Guy Gardener said:
Isn't the title a little jarring if only the fish from county wear orange?
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Definitely.

teacake said:
I think the title is the kind of thing people like Piper say to make light of trading their clothes, the ones they picked out themselves and paid for with real money from their real life for an orange jumpsuit. It's kind of symbolic because I bet Piper would look back after a week in there and think she was a total idiot saying that and not just because she's now in grey.
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That makes sense if you're willing to think about it.
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In real life (i.e., in the book), a friend of Piper's wrote it in a letter to her.

BTW, the book is excellent.
 
The Mrs. & I will probably binge through several episodes tonight. A quick look at Netfilx says there is at least 13 episodes up right now.
 
Just got through the first two episodes. Excellent so far. Orange Is The New Black has the rare ability to address serious topics with enough humor not to make it completely depressing, but without trivializing the serious topics.
 
Glad to see the second season is out. I'll probably catch it in a couple months. I still haven't finished the first season of House of Cards, so I feel a bit guilty.

However, I will point out that yesterday, I saw a jury trial where an inmate was accused of assaulting a prison guard (by grabbing his collar). The defense argued that the deputy actually jokingly injured the inmates hand and had to call in the medical staff. In order to cover himself, he said that he acted in self-defense in response to the inmate's actions. Part of the proof was that, after the report that he laid his hands on a deputy, everyone just let him stay there with everyone else for a whole day before taking him to the SHU (which normally happens instantaneously). The jury ended up coming back with a not guilty verdict. Thought it was appropriate that it happened the day before the new season got released.
 
Really liked the first episode. Looking forward to seeing how this season plays out. Glad the show is back.
 
SO.. the first episode has a new character in it that is a VOY alumni, let's see if you all can figure it out. I already annoyed the VOY thread with my meme but you get to see it too :D


14384590193_9c53f08510_z.jpg
 
^ She reminded me of Ellen DeGeneres.

2x01
An excellent start. The show has always been good at taking the viewer along for the ride, making the viewer experience what Piper is going through and this episode brought that back big time as she was being dehumanized and railroaded through the system. Then that new development at the end left me angry along with her.

2x02
It was nice to see some familiar faces again but otherwise, this episode was pretty slow.

2x03
Much better. It was nice to get some background on Crazy Eyes. It was a real shame to see how she was seen by those around her while growing up. I look forward to learning more about her even if that means waiting for season 3. I'm sure they won't want to put everything out there at once. By the way, I like our new inmate, Brook Soso.

2x04
Yeah, I really like Brook Soso. ;) Kudos to actress Kimiko Glenn. At first, she came off like someone who didn't belong in prison but as her character comes into focus and settles in, you can see more 'attitude'. Another good episode too. The truth about Lorna comes out.

It was fun seeing her take an opportunity to slip away and visit her ex's house. I knew she'd get back before being caught but it was still pretty tense. I'm surprised that a prisoner was allowed that much lack of supervision.

And as for Piper, I wonder if they'll lay charges due to her lying under oath.
One last thing... I miss Pornstache.

The season so far... 3 out of 4.
 
Q2UnME said:
The Mrs. & I will probably binge through several episodes tonight. A quick look at Netfilx says there is at least 13 episodes up right now.
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13 eps per season is all you get, kiddo. That means the entire season is ready for your viewing pleasure. :mallory:


Agent Richard07 said:
^ She reminded me of Ellen DeGeneres.

One last thing... I miss Pornstache.

The season so far... 3 out of 4.
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I hope Ellen is smarter than to become embroiled in a prison yard brawl.

Oh, and don't worry about your favorite guard. :devil:

He WILL be coming back eventually.
 
Though the first six episodes.. Really enjoying all the character development we're getting... This show really has gone from being a dark comedy with dramatic elements, to a dramatic series with some dark comedy thrown in.. Can't wait to see where this all goes.
 
Finished up to 2x09 on Saturday. Four more to go.

JanewayRulz! said:
Agent Richard07 said:
^ She reminded me of Ellen DeGeneres.

One last thing... I miss Pornstache.
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Oh, and don't worry about your favorite guard. :devil:

He WILL be coming back eventually.
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Yep. And he's as over the top as ever. I eventually found out that he would return, but still, they should have put Pablo Schreiber's name in the end credits instead of at the beginning so that his surprise return would actually be a surprise.

marillion said:
This show really has gone from being a dark comedy with dramatic elements, to a dramatic series with some dark comedy thrown in.
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I've always thought of it as a drama with comedic elements, not the other way around. I was surprised to see it billed as a comedy by Netflix.
 
I thought the first half of season one definitely had more comedic "fish out of water" type of humour, but as Piper worked her way into the system and adjusted, there was less of it... Which I found I didn't miss at all.. I find the show strangely compelling..
 
Just finished season 2. I really enjoyed this season, but I think I liked Season 1 more. The rest is going to talk about the finale in spoiler code.

Vee's death was underwhelming. We had this entire episode basically scheming how to off her and it ended up being so very random. I was happy for Rosa to take the last ride and to die free, but I almost get the sense the writers were trying to bring a lot of this stuff together, even though they were totally seperate all season long.

My favorite characters on this show are Nicky and Morello. What the writers did with Morello this season was some of the best parts of the season. I didn't like the sex game Nicky and Boo were taking part of, but as the season went on, we started to see Season 1 Nicky again and I appreciated that.

Can Jason Biggs just go do another American Pie movie? What Larry and Polly did was reprehensible, not on Piper's behalf, but more towards Pete. I felt bad for the guy, mainly because he could have been a good father. As for Piper, I was actually fine with that ending. I also liked the symmetry in that Alex pretty much insured Piper Prison at the beginning of the season, and Piper returned the favor.

This show has stayed as my second favorite show of the season but the Season 1 finale was much better. Season 1 had Piper spiraling out of control, really getting into Prison life and just kicking the crap out of Tuckey. Season 2 had road rage. Season 1 was more shocking.
 
SJSharksfan39 said:
Just finished season 2. I really enjoyed this season, but I think I liked Season 1 more. The rest is going to talk about the finale in spoiler code.

Vee's death was underwhelming. We had this entire episode basically scheming how to off her and it ended up being so very random. I was happy for Rosa to take the last ride and to die free, but I almost get the sense the writers were trying to bring a lot of this stuff together, even though they were totally seperate all season long.

My favorite characters on this show are Nicky and Morello. What the writers did with Morello this season was some of the best parts of the season. I didn't like the sex game Nicky and Boo were taking part of, but as the season went on, we started to see Season 1 Nicky again and I appreciated that.

Can Jason Biggs just go do another American Pie movie? What Larry and Polly did was reprehensible, not on Piper's behalf, but more towards Pete. I felt bad for the guy, mainly because he could have been a good father. As for Piper, I was actually fine with that ending. I also liked the symmetry in that Alex pretty much insured Piper Prison at the beginning of the season, and Piper returned the favor.

This show has stayed as my second favorite show of the season but the Season 1 finale was much better. Season 1 had Piper spiraling out of control, really getting into Prison life and just kicking the crap out of Tuckey. Season 2 had road rage. Season 1 was more shocking.
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Don't click until you've watched the finale.


I thought there was such a wonderful symmetry in Miss Rosa taking Vee "out" in the end. Vee came in and disrupted Miss Rosa's life. Much the way Cancer came in and disrupted her life. Miss Rosa had very little left to her except her dignity and Vee showed her callous disregard for that when she twisted her hand puppet (SUZANNE) to spoil her crappy meal and kick her away from the table. Notice when Suzanne did that, Rosa didn't take it out on Suzanne, she turned to Vee and vented.

Think about it, Miss Rosa has been in prison longer than anyone except the "real" golden girls, she must remember this chick from the first time Vee and Red tusseled, and sees the drug dealing/ race baiting the Vee has instituted since she arrived. Taking out a piece of trash like Vee before she herself dies was kismet. Even if TPTB catch her and put 2 & 2 together, the Cancer will claim her before they can punish her further.

Was it as scary or as awe inspiring as last season? Nope, you are right about that. But that level of shock is hard to meet much less exceed, so perhaps it was best they didn't even try.

As for Piper & Alex, I agree with your comment re: symmetry between Alex assuring that Piper would go to prison in ep #1 and Piper assuring that Alex would come back to prison in the finale... but I think both were done "for love". Alex was convinced, against her better judgment, that Kubra would be put away with her testimony and she/Piper would ultimately be safe. Piper was convinced that Alex running free away from Kubra's men would never be safe, and putting her in jail where the "guards" can protect her was the better option.

I think we can guess without Vee, what theme will underscore season 3.

Kubra's revenge.
 
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