Orange Is the New Black (Season 1)

[slqrick]

http://seriable.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/orangenewblackposter1.jpg

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2372162/

Just watched the pilot and I gotta say I was pleasantly surprised by how fully formed the world immediately feels. I wasn't expecting much from Jenji Kohan but I guess I forgot that the first 3 seasons of Weeds were pretty damn entertaining. A decent amount of interesting characters, and some potential for the story to do some different things with the flashback format. Got some minor Oz vibes, in a good way. I'm looking forward to seeing the rest of the season.

[Henry Gale]

Glad to hear positive things about this, especially since it seemed like a weird fit when I first heard about it, but seems more like an oddly suitable fit for Netflix the more I think about it. It's the sort of thing I could easily go from "passing curiosity" to "full-on fan" of in just a handful of hours, and having it produced and released through them makes that immediately possible.

[Irish]

Surprised there aren't more people watching this. Show is fucking incredible.

[Mara]

I've heard this is great. It's on my to-watch list.

[ledfloyd]

Yeah, it's great.

[slqrick]

Yep, meant to follow up. This show is pretty damn good, and incredibly humane in unexpected ways. Definitely binged on it last weekend.

[Dead & Messed Up]

Watched the first episode, enjoyed it mostly. Also, there was the "Janeway!" moment.

[Dukefrukem]

I just found out about this yesterday. I will definitely start watching.

[EyesWideOpen]

I just finished ep 9 and this is one of the best shows I've watched in years.

[slqrick]

A downside of binge watching is that when you speed through a season like this, the analysis comes down to, "hey guys, watch this show, it's great!" Then you wait a couple of months for majority of people to catch up, and proceed to forget everything.

[EyesWideOpen]

Finally finished. I can't remember the last time I was so sad to see a season end. Right from the start you are immediately connected with these characters and your thoughts about them from the beginning change as the story progresses. Healy's turn from the "good guy" to a "despicible piece of shit" was devastating.

It was interesting watching this along with seeing famous people tweet about it. After the first couple episodes everyone was all "prison looks like fun" but then after about halfway through the season they weren't tweeting about fun prison life anymore.

[Dead & Messed Up]

"The Chickening" was when this show crossed over from show I really like to show I can't stop watching.

[Gizmo]

well damn, now I gotta start watching.

[ledfloyd]

"The Chickening" was when this show crossed over from show I really like to show I can't stop watching.
Weird, because "The Chickening" was the one episode I really didn't love.

[Dead & Messed Up]

Weird, because "The Chickening" was the one episode I really didn't love.

Maybe I'm a sucker for white whales.

[Lucky]

Pilot is one of the better ones I've seen. You are all to thank for my Netflix renewal. Does Jason Biggs grow on you? Because I have an urge to recast his character.

[Winston*]

Jason Biggs is not a good enough actor to overcome the opinion I formed of him after being linked to this tweet.

http://tweetwood.com/JasonBiggs/tweet/208368259404271617

3 episodes in. Enjoying the non-Biggs parts.

[EyesWideOpen]

Does Jason Biggs grow on you? Because I have an urge to recast his character.

Hard to answer that without spoiling the second half of the season.

[Gizmo]

Just finished the first 2 episodes and I'm really liking this. I want to keep watching, but I don't want to binge it, plus I only would have time for one more episode tonight anyway. I never saw Weeds, but I'm now intrigued by that as well, maybe I'll look into that next.

[Winston*]

I never saw Weeds, but I'm now intrigued by that as well, maybe I'll look into that next.

Don't.

[D_Davis]

Finished the 4th episode.

I like this show. Much better than Weeds.

[slqrick]

Weird, because "The Chickening" was the one episode I really didn't love.

"All I wanted was to eat a chicken that is smarter than other chickens and to absorb its powers. And make a nice kiev."

[Dead & Messed Up]

Finished. So good. The tension in the last one is insane. And it's amazing how brashly some of the characters plunge into the worst versions of themselves.

Broadly spoilerish:

Healey is the worst. Or Larry. Or Piper. Tiffany's backstory turns her from a tiresome caricature into an even darker creation. I figured she'd be a victim of a harsh religious upbringing, but instead, it's a weird kind of delusional opportunism. It's hard to hate on Pornstache, since he's crawling through the moral gutter almost from the word "go."

[Spinal]

I have seen the first three episodes. More Yael Stone, please.

[Russ]

Just finished the series, which improves on virtually every aspect of Weeds. Outstanding writing which frequently takes unexpected turns, and a very strong ensemble cast. Nice to see Lea DeLaria playing against type. :) Ok, j/k but still, nice to her in anything, really. Acting props go to Kate Mulgrew, Taryn Manning (both chew an awful lot of scenery), but especially Samira Wiley as Poussey. Love her banter with Taystee. Plus, I want to see a lot more next season of Michael Chernus as Piper's brother, Cal. Dude's funny as hell.

[Spinal]

I'm impressed by the number of distinct characters this show is able to juggle.

[Dukefrukem]

I'm finding this series more gross than interesting. I'm not really hooked yet, on the 5th episode.

[slqrick]

I'm finding this series more gross than interesting. I'm not really hooked yet, on the 5th episode.

What's gross? That's a complaint I have not heard from anyone.

[Dukefrukem]

What's gross? That's a complaint I have not heard from anyone.

McTampon, peeing on the floor, office BJs, jerking off with a screwdriver... I'm finding the series gets it's kicks by shocking it's audience more than developing some interesting drama.

Like the whole screwdriver subplot was such a disappointment.

[slqrick]

McTampon, peeing on the floor, office BJs, jerking off with a screwdriver... I'm finding the series gets it's kicks by shocking it's audience more than developing some interesting drama.

Like the whole screwdriver subplot was such a disappointment.

None of that stuff is any worse than stuff you see on Game of Thrones and the other "edgy" stuff you see on TV shows. The tampon was gag worthy and served a big purpose for Chapman's character...she fucked up by insulting the food and paid for it. It also establishes Red as the head of all inmates. Crazy eyes took a leak on the floor after Lindsay rejected her because she didn't realize by accepting the peppers, Crazy would assume Chapman was her "wife" now. Office BJs are there to highlight the corrupt guard. There was no jerking off with a screwdriver, the inmate put it in her vagina to hide it from the extensive search that was going on. And as to why you found the screwdriver plot disappointing, I could no disagree more, as I found myself on edge the whole episode:

You're trained as a viewer to assume that someone is going to get stabbed with it, especially after the butch lesbian makes threats to the girl that is on her way out. This is something that for sure would have happened on a show like Oz, and so the whole time I was expecting the girl to take the screwdriver to the back. When it came time for the girl to leave, and the butch apologized, I thought that it was a great twist, and felt like a really humane moment.

The big reason why I enjoyed this season is because it subverts a lot of expectations of a "prison show."

[Dukefrukem]

You don't need to explain to me why things were shown on screen. I understand the reasoning behind it.

I think I'm way more tolerant of just straight up violence rather than the things I described. Really, for me watching an episode of OISNB puts me on a different edge than you. The edge I am on would be like I was watching A Serbian Film. It makes me uncomfortable and I don't like it. None of the characters are very interesting. I was more interested in the Prison Break characters. At least in that show there were tense moments with criminals that DESERVE to be there.

I think you missed a scene with the screwdriver. There was indeed jerking off.

And your spoiler tag reasoning just make me more frustrated with the show. We are meant to believe that Piper is thrown into a situation where she would be so uncomfortable around all these cons, who are hardened experienced prison inmates, and when we start learning the back stories of some of these characters and most of them wound up behind bars very innocently.

What kind of prison is this? Am I really meant to believe that Red turned into this hardened bitch because she popped some broads implant? How long has she been in there to turn into this monster that runs the cafe? She didn't seem to pleased with herself during the backstory. At the end of this season Piper better be sporting some prison ink and a better attitude.

[Spinal]

If anything, the show is about compassion and tolerance. It makes an effort to tell the stories of those who are dismissed or easily categorized by society. It acknowledges that people make mistakes, but also asks us to consider their motivations and given circumstances: love, poverty, conflicted gender identity, oppression, etc. It operates from the idea that each individual deserves the chance to be heard and understood. I mean, welcome to the liberal point of view regarding the American prison system. The idea that you would be more comfortable with violence and 'criminals that DESERVE to be there' says a lot, don't you think?

[Dukefrukem]

Wicked good point Spinal. I'm not yet through with the series, but I'm "enjoying" it much less than I was expecting to.

[Spinal]

For me, the prison visit of Piper's mom was the point where the show basically expresses its thesis.

[Russ]

Also, keep a close eye on Healy's arc.

[slqrick]

Wicked good point Spinal. I'm not yet through with the series, but I'm "enjoying" it much less than I was expecting to.

It's also a minimum security prison, so I'm not sure why you were expecting it to be all about tats and violence. Most of the characters in there either fell through the cracks, or got caught stealing, commiting fraud, etc.

Also, women are much less prone to straight up violent/aggressive acts (just due to genetics -- less testosterone and all that), and it's even mentioned in the pilot that the women in the facility are much more likely to cut each other with their words than knives.

[EyesWideOpen]

Judging by your posts Duke it's almost like you're watching a different show. Characters that are less interesting then the one's in Prison Break? Please stop watching now.

[Skitch]

Finished the 4th episode.

I like this show. Much better than Weeds.

I didn't care for Weeds at all. OISTNB is way better. We're about six eps deep.

Sidenote: Does Jason Biggs masturbate in every role he takes?

[Gizmo]

Sidenote: Does Jason Biggs masturbate in every role he takes?

I believe he's contractually obligated to do so.

[Dukefrukem]

Judging by your posts Duke it's almost like you're watching a different show. Characters that are less interesting then the one's in Prison Break? Please stop watching now.

Next thing you're gonna say is I'm watching it wrong.

[Russ]

http://i536.photobucket.com/albums/ff324/astrojester/crazyeyes_zps51aaf0cc.gif

[Qrazy]

Three eps in, I'm finding this pretty vacant.

[Milky Joe]

Q: do men really sit in leather chairs, watching porn on a 70" HDTV, jerking off desperately with all their clothes on and a towel sitting next to them? is that how most people do it?

[Spinal]

I don't really want to see Jason Biggs do it the way most people do it.

[Dukefrukem]

The answer is no.

[Gizmo]

wait. what? there's other ways to do it? I bought this leather chair for nothing?

[ledfloyd]

Q: do men really sit in leather chairs, watching porn on a 70" HDTV, jerking off desperately with all their clothes on and a towel sitting next to them? is that how most people do it?
That's how his character does it.

[Qrazy]

Okay after enough rounds of that lame ass piano riff love song between the guard and the inmate and since listening to an overweight black woman wax poetic on the importance of fried chicken on the prison menu I am now firmly in the 'this show is garbage' camp.

[Russ]

I am now firmly in the 'this show is garbage' camp.
So, no more eps to be viewed by you? Or are you going to persevere to the end?

[Qrazy]

So, no more eps to be viewed by you? Or are you going to persevere to the end?

Clearly the latter, I have nothing else to watch before the next ep of Dexter makes me want to blow my brains out. ^_^

[Spinal]

since listening to an overweight black woman wax poetic on the importance of fried chicken on the prison menu

On paper, I should hate this too. But, I don't know, it's kind of consistent with the show's desire to playfully analyze stereotypes and how they impact people. The actress sells it as kind of an off-the-cuff ridiculous joke. I thought it was funny.

[Russ]

Clearly the latter, I have nothing else to watch before the next ep of Dexter makes me want to blow my brains out. ^_^
Cool. Settle in with some Twixt and toilet hooch and enjoy.

Might want to steer clear of the Thanksgiving gravy, tho.

There is a wonderful moment, in one of the later eps, involving Yoga Jones and...electricity. Hopefully, you will be similarly recharged the further you dive in.

[Qrazy]

On paper, I should hate this too. But, I don't know, it's kind of consistent with the show's desire to playfully analyze stereotypes and how they impact people. The actress sells it as kind of an off-the-cuff ridiculous joke. I thought it was funny.

On a different but related note the dialogue those two have when they're pretending to be white people is so out of character. I don't buy that they are well educated enough (based upon the mannerisms they've established earlier) to have that kind of ammunition (hedge funds, etc).

[ledfloyd]

On a different but related note the dialogue those two have when they're pretending to be white people is so out of character. I don't buy that they are well educated enough (based upon the mannerisms they've established earlier) to have that kind of ammunition (hedge funds, etc).

Why you gotta underestimate 'em?

[Gizmo]

Great series. All the characters had their own stories that mesh with the overarching story. I want to watch more, when does next season start?

[Qrazy]

Why you gotta underestimate 'em?

Because no other conversation they've ever had hints at that level of awareness.

edit: Actually, one of them works in the library so she should have that level of awareness but that character dimension doesn't mesh with her overall demeanour.

[Spinal]

It's weird that the Christmas pageant has dreadful acting on one hand and Broadway level singing on the other.

[Spinal]

So ... Emmy nomination for Taryn Manning, don't you think?

[slqrick]

So ... Emmy nomination for Taryn Manning, don't you think?

I think Natasha Lyonne deserves one.

[Dukefrukem]

No to both.

[Gizmo]

Jason Biggs for sure, though.

[DavidSeven]

I'm through nine episodes. I think this show is tremendous. What really surprises me is how polished this feels (in almost every aspect e.g. acting, editing, production, writing, etc.) given that it comes from the creator of Weeds, which really didn't feel that way at all. I honestly never would have imagined he would go on to make something this good. Weeds felt like a pretty half-assed show that was carried by its lead. I basically watched three seasons of it for Mary-Louise Parker alone. This show also has a great lead, but it's a far, far more complete. Each 60-minute episode goes by unbelievably quick.

Gonna be sad when I run out of episodes.

[NickGlass]

...given that it comes from the creator of Weeds, which really didn't feel that way at all. I honestly never would have imagined he would go on to make something this good.

Ahem.

[DavidSeven]

Ahem.

Oops. Guess that shows how relevant I thought Kohan was prior to Orange is the New Black.

[Spinal]

I think Natasha Lyonne deserves one.

Hmmm ... does she do that much acting in this? It seems like all her line deliveries are basically the same shade of sassy.

[DavidSeven]

So ... Emmy nomination for Taryn Manning, don't you think?

Yes.

Just finished. One of the best first seasons.

[Qrazy]

I also just finished. Show sucks, almost every plot development is telegraphed.

[Derek]

So everyone really likes this show aside from Qrazy and Duke? Sounds like a slam dunk to me.

[Russ]

I also just finished. Show sucks, almost every plot development is telegraphed.
Even the one's that didn't happen! (jealous girlfriend with a screwdriver, you know Qrazy's looking at you)

Qrazy you are crazy.

As much as I agree with the praise of Manning (I was sold when she was fighting to get out of the restraints), the one person who really impresses in retrospect is...Taylor Schilling. I know, big surprise for me too. I didn't think too much of her as I was watching the show in real time (because her character, by design, becomes increasingly more unlikeable), but in retrospect, I think she did a superlative job juxtaposing the dynamics of her many different narrative threads. I think she's being overlooked in the show's near-universal praise.

[Derek]

Qrazy you are crazy.

Qrazy has a serious condition:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRSYhLn4RCI

Love ya though, Q-man. Aside from the fact that you're the reason I'm stuck watching Season 8 of Dexter. Fuck you for that. ;)

[Qrazy]

Love ya though, Q-man. Aside from the fact that you're the reason I'm stuck watching Season 8 of Dexter. Fuck you for that. ;)

Haha sorry, it's brutal, isn't it?

[Derek]

Haha sorry, it's brutal, isn't it?

The Masuka-daughter nonsense and Angel-Quinn promotion stuff is unbearable. The stuff with Rampling and Elway (oh my god, can you believe this character we don't give a shit about has a sister whose boyfriend is a cheater!?) isn't much better, but at this point anything away from Miami metro is a small blessing.

[Qrazy]

The Masuka-daughter nonsense and Angel-Quinn promotion stuff is unbearable. The stuff with Rampling and Elway (oh my god, can you believe this character we don't give a shit about has a sister whose boyfriend is a cheater!?) isn't much better, but at this point anything away from Miami metro is a small blessing.

Yeah, also to refute your cynical asshole assessment I watched Terribly Happy and The Yellow Sea recently and both were pretty good. Also rewatched Chinatown, Ashes and Diamonds, Night and the City and a few other noirs and they're all still great as well. :P

[Milky Joe]

Qrazy is right, show sucks.

[Dead & Messed Up]

I'd be inclined to suggest Kate Mulgrew. She gives a wide range of emotion with a plausible accent, and it's one of those comebacky type of roles that implies real life drama ("She was out, but she's back!").

[Winston*]

That American Life with Guy Ralass

[D_Davis]

I was super into this show for 3 episodes, and then watched up to episode 6, but after the 3rd episode my enjoyment decreased, and now I don't think I'll bother finishing.

[Winston*]

Finished it up. The Christmas Pageant finale was mad corny, but it worked for me.

I think something that really hurts the series is that Laura Prepon and Jason Biggs just aren't very good actors. Biggs is irritating even when he's supposed to be being charming, and Prepon delivers all her lines in the same dull monotone. Makes it hard to understand why Piper would choose either of them.

[Spinal]

I think those criticisms are fair. I really want to like Prepon. I liked her on That 70s Show. But I just don't believe her here.

[DavidSeven]

I agree. I thought there was an almost inverse correlation with how famous a cast member was and how good they were on this show. I didn't mind Biggs that much, but I think the part probably would have felt more weighty with a different actor. Prepon's line readings were just consistently unconvincing.

[Winston*]

Laura Prepon might only be back for one more episode (http://www.avclub.com/articles/laura-prepon-might-only-be-back-for-one-more-episo,102798/)

[slqrick]

Well, expectations for the second season just dropped. Doesn't make any sense for Prepon to leave the show.

[Winston*]

Well, expectations for the second season just dropped. Doesn't make any sense for Prepon to leave the show.

Transferred to maximum security for some reason. Gone from show. Show improves.

[number8]

This took me how many months to finally get to the end? Watched the first episode when it debuted and the last episode like last week. There's zero narrative drive in this thing. I have the exact same problem with it as I did with Weeds, in that the tone is haphazard because it tries to do subtle, dark comedy with very, very, very broad three-camera characters.

Absolutely love the acting in almost all the supporting characters, though. Voyager Captain is consistently fun.

[D_Davis]

This took me how many months to finally get to the end? Watched the first episode when it debuted and the last episode like last week. There's zero narrative drive in this thing. I have the exact same problem with it as I did with Weeds, in that the tone is haphazard because it tries to do subtle, dark comedy with very, very, very broad three-camera characters.

Absolutely love the acting in almost all the supporting characters, though. Voyager Captain is consistently fun.

I agree. Still haven't finished it after binging on the first 4 or so episodes.

[Mara]

Binged this while I was sick and although I don't think it is without flaws, I was definitely hooked. The slow-burn characterizations really paid off over time, humanizing most of the supporting cast (and almost demonizing Chapman, who by the end feels like the least stable woman in the prison.)

I found it consistently funny and inconsistently heart-breaking.

[amberlita]

Finally got around to this myself. Very flawed but wonderful little show. Pretty fantastic on the whole. As others have mentioned, I'm impressed they managed to juggle so many distinct personalities while still keeping them all interesting (except Alex, but I think that's an actress problem). Though that brings me to my first gripe: the flashbacks. It worked the first couple times, but it became increasingly obvious that they were going to portray every single character as a "criminal with a heart of gold", fundamentally good but just made a stupid mistake. I like this rogue's gallery of women well enough. I don't need the show to force-feed me sympathy for them.

And I'm a little worried about the second season based on the trajectory of the second half of season one. The show was strongest when it was focusing on the fairly mundane aspects of prison life (Piper being denied food, Gloria having her hormones taken away, the WAC campaign/selection). They need to jettison the ludicrous soap opera story lines (inmate/guard forbidden love, pregnancy and rape frame-up...I mean, come on).

Enjoyed the hell out of it. Just not quite living up to its full potential.

[Irish]

Just not quite living up to its full potential.

What do you think the show isn't doing that it should be doing?

[Qrazy]

What do you think the show isn't doing that it should be doing?

Not play an obnoxious piano riff during inmate/guard romances.

[Kurosawa Fan]

Finally getting around to this. Five episodes in and I'm really liking it. The non-linear, dual-focus construction of the episodes works perfectly. It keeps the episodes from feeling repetitive while simultaneously giving each character the depth and nuance that is missing from most shows. It's also a lot funnier than I thought it would be. Only flaw thus far is that I think it doesn't do enough to bring the misery of a prison stay into focus. Perhaps that's addressed in later episodes.

[Dukefrukem]

Only flaw thus far is that I think it doesn't do enough to bring the misery of a prison stay into focus. Perhaps that's addressed in later episodes.

My biggest problem with the series and why I stopped watching. Everyone is way too nice in prison.

[Kurosawa Fan]

My biggest problem with the series and why I stopped watching. Everyone is way too nice in prison.

The consequences and the misery is there if you stick with it. Plus, it's based on a true story (Piper's life; the real Piper is exec. producer) so while I'm sure it's dramatized, hard to not give it the benefit of the doubt. Really liked the first season, and am excited for the second.

[slqrick]

My biggest problem with the series and why I stopped watching. Everyone is way too nice in prison.

Yeah, I still don't get this. It's a low security women's prison, not Oz. Having everyone be hyper aggressive would make no sense.