Orange Is The New (Fabulous) Black
Saturday, July 27, 2013 at 10:20AM 
Move aside, House of Cards. There's a new reigning champ in the Netflix world. Jenji Kohan's follow up to Weeds called Orange is the New Black has earned the designation of being the strongest television debut of the year. The series about an upper class woman Piper Chapman (Taylor Schilling) whose life is derailed by a prison sentence for a drug mule crime committed in her wilder (lesbian) youth. It features strong, multi-layered female characters, a solid dramatization of the source material and one of the best ensembles from any medium in 2013.
Nathaniel will touch on the series more soon but here are some things I, Beau, enjoyed about it as well as some 'room for improvement' items from its first season. [more...]
MVP
Oh hell, who knows? One episode, you swear by Natasha Lyonne. The next, you can't imagine the series without Kate Mulgrew's 'Red'. Laura Prepon brings her A-Game to what could easily be an unsympathetic character, and all the while Taylor Schilling navigates the treacherous waters of headlining this thing like a skilled pro. I'd written her off for doing the Ayn Rand dance and playing second fiddle to Zac Efron's transition to leading man status in The Lucky One, but she proves her worth easily here.
Best Line
'This ain't 'The Help,' bitch. But you will eat my shit."
- Tastee.
Best Episode
1.3 "Lesbian Request Denied"
Piper & Crazy Eyes in "Orange is the New Black"
In which Crazy Eyes, (a fantastic turn from Uzo Aduba) adopts Piper as her jail wife. Their unique relationship coupled with the backstory focus on the transgendered inmate Sophia Burset (Laverne Cox) and her actual wife, as they navigate through Burset's choice to embrace herself as a woman, made this an appealing, quick and wholly empathetic look at the characters. The facility and its inmates took immediate shape.
Worst Episode
1.13 "Can't Fix Crazy"
In which tryouts for the interminable Christmas pagent take up far too much of an episode that needed tightening. There's also a plot turn involving Red and Mendoza that felt inorganic and forced. The cliffhanger is magnificent, as Piper becomes the beast we've waited for and saw her developing into, but the drama that preceded it felt hackneyed and false. (Even Larry and Vause's climactic meeting lacked fireworks.) Certain moments were appealing but on the whole, it was the episode with the most fat.
Room For Improvement
I don't mean to hate on Jason Biggs. I really don't. His role as the stabilizor and safety net for Piper is a requisite one, but there's nothing inherently appealing about him in this part. It's an example of miscasting as Larry has to be someone you find a goofy, sexy appeal in. It's a role tailor-made for someone like a Paul Rudd or a Jason Segel, performers whose work is infused with a curious personality-driven charisma. When it comes down to a choice between Larry and Vause, present vs past, security vs. sensuality, I don't feel any dilemma; one is vastly more appealing than the other. This is not entirely Biggs' fault since it's easily the strongest work he's done onscreen but his American Pie persona is one he's not managed to rid himself of, and it does him a disservice as he moves to the next stage of his career.
Have you watched any episodes yet? Without spoilers for those who haven't yet watched the full season, tell us your thoughts on the series: how did the plot turns work for you? who would you call the MVP? Do you think this series will mirror Jenji's former success with Weeds or does it already have an expiration date? Give me your thoughts, lovelies. I can't wait to hear them.
Reader Comments (22)
Yes! So happy to see this show get some love over here! If pressed I'd say my MVP had to be Michelle Hurst as Miss Claudette, who just CRUSHED me, but that seems incomplete for a show that was determined to give me a million things to love, so I'll break my MVPs into categories.
Most Valuable Character: Sophia. First time I've seen a show treat a trans character as a person rather than as an Issue. Bravo!
Most Valuable Actor: Taylor Schilling.
Most Valuable Background Presence: Yoga Jones!
Most Valuable Episode: "F***sgiving"
Most Valuable Line Reading: "All I wanted was to eat the chicken that is smarter than other chickens and to absorb its power."
Most Valuable Clan: Love the Hispanic gals. Vote For Flaca!
Most Valuable Token Man: Maybe it was just me, but I think by the end of the series, I'd vote Pornstache???
Most Valuable West Side Story reference: Knifes. LOL.
Most Plausible Prison Inmate: Taryn Manning. Seriously girl. Damn.
Why does everybody call me Crazy Eyes?
So many people are saying that Biggs is weak, but I think the opposite. I actually think he's pretty great in this series.
My MVPs are: Taylor Schilling, Jason Biggs, Pablo Schreiber, Kate Mulgrew, Michelle Hurst and Laura Prepon.
This show has so many great characters.
I loved Schilling, Lyonne, and Matt McGorry as Bennett.
Prepon was great too.
Fabulous show! Did you know Jodie Foster directed one episode?
maggie -- i believe she directed "LESBIAN REQUEST DENIED" which I also think is one of hte very best episodes. I'm not quite finished with the season yet though.
I'm really trying to watch this, but it's really difficult to get through the first 10 minutes of episode 1.
I'm actually loving this series. I find myself changing my mind on the episode MVP every few minutes. Love me some Crazy Eyes! I'm also embarrassed to admit I find Jason Biggs watchable .... cause he turns me on.
I gotta say, I was not that impressed with the first episode, but I watched the second anyway, because everyone has been so high on this series. And after that? I fell hook line and sinker. I'm only about halfway through, but I am really, really loving it, to my surprise and delight. So glad I watched that second episode. And yes, the third episode is by far the best so far.
If Kate Mulgrew submits her backstory episode, there's no way she's not Emmy nominated, right? She kills it every time she comes on. Probably my MVP.
One character I keep liking more and more as I get through the show (I'm about halfway) is Morello. Yael Stone brings such an unexpected warmth and loveliness to a character who could've blended into the background, and she's become one of my favorites. She doesn't have a showy character like Mulgrew or Michelle Hurst or Laverne Cox, and (at least thus far for me) she hasn't gotten an episode devoted to who she is and where she came from like the three I just mentioned; I sure hope she does, though, because that woman fascinates me.
I loved it. Cannot wait for next season. I seriously re-watched episodes to fill the void.
Top Ten Inmates (Yup you can name TEN):
1.) Nicki
2.) Sophia
3.) Miss Claudette
4.) Suzanne/Crazy Eyes
5.) Yoga Jones
6.) Taystee
7.) Big Boo
8.) Sister Ingalls
9.) Red
10.) Taystee & Poussey
I do like Alex and I actually really like Piper who fluctuates between becoming aware of her privilege and sheltered view on life and falling back into a default setting where those qualities rear their ugly head. Jason Biggs is not bad but he is the 'Nice Guy' who is playing up the martyr complex. This show sounds really different from the book it was based on so hopefully no more Larry and Piper.
The pilot is one of the weaker episodes and that is because it is bad, it is because it gets so much better although I would say the penultimate between the radio reveal and the finale was a little sub-par.
Laverne Cox confirmed that Jodie Foster directed 'Lesbian Request Denied' in an interview. Her twin brother played the pre-op transsexual version of herself in that episode. I know!
Best Performance: Taylor Schilling and Kate Mulgrew (tied)
She May Be Playing Herself But She Is So Damn Charming: Natasha Lyonne (I think that scar scene reveal may have actually been real)
Most Surprising Turn: Laura Prepon, I had no idea
Typecast But So Well-Cast: Yoga Jones and Pennsatucky (tied)
Best Origins Story: Sophia (So obvious)
Worst Origins Story: Alex (Broken home + unwanted by parents= white-collar drug dealer)
Best Twist on an Origins Story: Pennsatucky (Whose bill of crazy needed a persecution complex to be the perfect mascot for the unborn)
Most Devastating Twist on an Origins Story: Yoga Jones
Inmate that Got the Most Nuance: Sister Ingalls & Suzanne (tied)
Inmate that REALLY, REALLY needs an Origins Story: Sister Ingalls (there's more to her, I can tell) and Suzanne
Non-Inmate that really needs their story told more in-depth: Healy and his lesbian issues (Did a previous spouse dump him for another woman?)
Favorite Episodes: "Lesbian Request Denied", "Bora Bora Bora", "Fucksgiving", "Tall Men With Feelings", and "Can't Fix Crazy"
Best Line: "I THREW MY PIE FOR YOU"
Best Running Gag: When Nicki told Red's eggplant joke at the Christmas Show try-out and everybody but Sister Ingalls got it.
I love the whole guetto, can't choose just one between Tastey, Poussey, Suzanne, Watson, Sophia and Miss Claudette. But, Tastey and Poussey set themselves apart with their impersonation of rich white people.
I adore Sophia and her "couture metallic" duct tape sandals.
half way through the show and love it. Favorite line: "as depressing as a Tori Amos cover band."
And I love the genius of hiring Kate Mulgrew. Thought she'd disappeared.
I watched the first 6 episodes of this. Very very solid. lots of respect for taking our preconceptions and prejudice and turning them against us. The screw driver episode for example. Taylor Schilling is doing fantastic work there, showing lots of range, maturity and able to remain the star of the show amidst sometimes showier characters. Prepon is my best in show though. Such a magnetic presence. Very easy to believe that both men and women would fall for her. I want to see both these actresses at the movies. The guy does paint an ugly picture of men in general though. Most of the time fair but pushes it too far at times. The best male character in my opinion is Jason Biggs' dad. The actors playing his parents are both wonderful and I love any scene that includes them.
I can't wait to start watching this - but I'll have to - too many TV shows and not enough time. But I can't remember EVER hearing this much praise and hype about a new TV show. Three different people have asked me if I was watching it in the last two days!
I have FOUR episodes to go! I'm both excited and saddened to almost reach the end.
To everyone who can't get through the first episode, I will tell you that it was also my least favorite episode and after I saw it I questioned all of the praise the show got, but STICK WITH IT. That episode is not at all representative of the rest of the series.
This is like "Lost", but without the make-it-up-as-you-go-along plot (at least so far)!!!
Just like many other posters said, if you can get through the first episode, there will be treasures ahead (ok, exaggeration). The first episode is trying to set up so many things at once with so many holes that will be filled in later, that it overwhelms and confuses you. I'm still on episode 8, but every episode has something interesting going on (either character development, plot, emotions).
My favorite so far will be episode 2 with part of Red's backstory, but also a razor-sharp dissection of the prison community and how Schilling's character navigates some treacherous paths. I just want more Red :)
I didn't recognize it was the actress from "The 70s Show" in the beginning, but she's always a good actress on that show. Almost every inmate is interesting, maybe except for the white-trash Jesus-loving one.
One big weakness is the writing of the men. I love Healy enough and I think Jason Biggs is adorable, but they are like 2-D cardboard compared to the women in prison (who cares about Polly, Holly, whatever her name, or anyone outside the prison). Don't get me even started on the guard with the moustache. He's like from a different show. I don't know if it's the actor or the writing, but I'm glad he also has a secret to hide, which might make him more interesting.
I'm glad I stuck with the show after the first episode, now I can't wait to finish it all!
I wasn't expecting to like this show, particularly after watching Weeds' disintegration, but Kohan has been redeemed. So many wonderful characters and interesting twists on familiar narratives. I agree with some that the non-prison (i.e. Jason Biggs) stuff was weak, but it's almost a given due to the nature of the show.
I just hope Kohan can sustain momentum through multiple seasons. She arguably got two good seasons out of the Weeds concept. That could be the limit for this one, too. After all, Piper's sentence is only 15 months.
W.J. That's my greatest fear about the show too, that it will last beyond its welcome since people like it so much. Weeds was so good... for a short time. Not every tv series should be a long-running one. No, not even every good one.
WJ and Nathaniel--I agree. This is a terrific show, and I'm all for the UK model of 8 episodes (or in the case of Sherlock, 3 episodes), see how it goes, and then buy another year. I would rather watch a bunch of different shorter story arc shows, than a crappy series that goes on forever. Weeds, Californication, and Boardwalk Empire should have stopped at 2 seasons. Same with Downton Abbey. However, shows like Awake (with Jason Isaacs), Life (w/Damien Lewis), Enlightened, and Bunheads didn't get their due.
On the con side, releasing all episodes at once makes it impossible to avoid spoilers. I would prefer a scheduled release like LinkTV does with international shows. And I kind of like the model Slate.com uses when discussing TV series, episode by episode, so you only click on the post related to the episode you've seen.
P.S. Kate Mulgrew is awesome. I love her character, who totally reminds me of the Russian lady who runs the deli/gas station down the street from my office, and makes delicious chicken salad!
I don't like this one as much as the first one just because it borders on porn. Adds nothing to the show. The rest of it is great as usual.