Visual Index ~ "Orange is the New Black" S2
Tuesday, June 10, 2014 at 9:45PM 
Netflix, embolded by the success of their first few shows, is currently ordering up a ton of new series. But how will they ever compete with this one? Orange is the New Black will be to Netflix what The Sopranos was to HBO, the show that grants them legitimacy for years and years to come whether the follow ups are zeitgeist hits or duds. It's the show that'll make the creative talent come running to the company.
I know you've all been binge-watching so I selected Nicky (to the left) to send you a message since you DIDN'T send me your choice for "Best Shot" from any one episode. And it's not like you weren't watching, mister sister! Not that this 'Best Shot' was a particularly easy assignment... [More]
OITNB isn't self-consciously pretty visually but choosing a Best Shot usually brings out fresh ideas and perceptions about the movies (or in this case shows) we love. Jenji Kohan, who previously created Weeds, really outdid herself with this series about the inhabitants of a women's prison in New York. She finds humanity wherever the camera looks -- even in the least likely places. You end up wanting to know more about every character, even the ones you only see milling about in the background. Great ensembles are a unique pleasure and this show's got one. Even better, it's the most diverse show on TV with actresses of multiple ethnicities, sizes and ages. All that plus it's well written and funny. I hope it wins a bundle of Emmy nods for its first season in a month's time.
Here is the collection of shots chosen by myself and the few brave souls who took up the Season 2 challenge. If anymore come in, I'll add them. Click on any of the photos to read the article about that shot. I will add to this if there is sufficient interest as I finish watching the rest of the episodes. I'm almost done but I was trying to make it last despite the binge-watchability.
BEST SHOTS FROM SEASON 2
according to the 9 participating members of the
"hit me with your best shot" club, a club which is open to all
join us next week for 007 & don't forget to like the film experience on facebook
2.1 "Thirsty Bird"
2.2 "Looks Blue, Tastes Red"
2.3 "Hugs Can Be Deceiving"
2.4 "A Whole Other Hole"
2.5 "Low Self Esteem City"
no selections
2.6 "You Also Have a Pizza"
2.7 "Comic Sans"
No selections
2.8 "Appropriately Sized Pots"
2.9 "40 OZ of Furlough"
2.10 "Little Mustachioed Shit"
No selections
2.11 "Take a Break From Your Values"
No selections
2.12 "It Was the Change"
No selections
2.13 "We Have Manners. We're Polite"
No selections
Next Tuesday on Hit Me With Your Best Shot:
The mid-season finale with a classic James Bond in Goldfinger (1964) available on Netflix Instant Watch.
Reader Comments (14)
Nice shots! In your opener there I think you are forgetting a little show called 'House of Cards', that show and this one really opened the gate for Netflix in the way you are talking about. I know you are not a fan, but you gotta give credit where credit is due.
I just finished episode 4 so my Best Shot pick with episode 3 took a whole different turn than I expected.
Great shots everyone! If we can do a shot per episode, then the "That's some shit, man" scene in ep 1 would be my pick!
Can't wait to see the last four episodes.
@Anonny
Orange is more popular than House of Cards with the public.
My favorite shot from the season is Vee topless with her "son". An older black woman is comfortable with her body to take her craft there for a character never seen outside of literature from black authors is especially satisfying when executed this well.
Just finished Season Two and loved it. This was actually a really hard decision.
Here's my shot-
http://james-wwwmusingsandstuff.blogspot.com/2014/06/orange-is-new-black-hit-me-with-your.html
I really like Musings and Stuff's selection. I agree that Miss Rosa is one of this season's MVPs, and certainly the biggest surprise as far as characters that I didn't know I wanted to know more about go.
'Orange is more popular than House of Cards with the public. '
Is that true? I haven't heard this at all - I thought that House of Cards had the edge on Orange is the New Black in popularity/viewership and Orange is the new black had the edge on House of Cards in critical reception/response.
Regardless, all other Netflix shows will owe these two series.
Anonny - that's actually true. Orange is the New Black is their biggest hit by far (at least in terms of season 1s. I don't know if House of Cards grew or not for season 2.
Just finished it and I have to say it really picks up. The last 3 or 4 episodes are very intense. Just fantastic writing. And the performances are all wonderful.
Anonny, Nat - while Netflix doesn't release viewership numbers for their shows, House of Cards has been rated by 3.6m netflix subscribers, and OITNB has been rated by 4.2m subscribers. how many actual viewers that represents we have no way of telling, unless i've missed a press release somewhere along the way, but that's a start. so it's probably true that OITNB is more watched - it's certainly true that it's much more widely acclaimed, and will probably be the show that Netflix is remembered for in ten years - but we don't know for certain - again, as far as I know... Happy to be corrected if I'm wrong.
unfortunately, i still have to get caught up on Masters of Sex, Orphan Black, Fargo and Louie before I can start OITNB. there's way too much good tv out there right now!
Oh God, I guess I have to participate in Goldfinger? There's an obvious shot, such a beauty.
I'm only 4 episodes in to S2 of OitNB so I can only read some of these.
I believe there was a news story where, without giving actual numbers, netflix said OITNB is their most popular show.
Ooooh such an interesting group of selections.
I would have loved to have participated in this but I don't really do binge-watching (my eyes aren't used to that back-to-back tv screen viewing and subsequently get VERY sleepy) and I'm only on the forth episode so far so I didn't think it was fair to just pick from what I saw. Plus, I kinda wanna savor the amazingness that is this show for a few weeks.
Anyways, this was a fun experiment. :)
I was really breathless at the shots of Taylor Schilling eating on the ground at night in NYC. Such a cinematic moment for an otherwise claustrophobic and confined series.