Orange is the new black
DVD or on iTunes
Starring: Taylor Schilling, Jason Biggs and Laura Prepon
IT sometimes seems that all legal shows follow the same predictable template, which is what makes the series Orange is the New Black such a refreshing change.
The series is based on the true story of Piper Kerman, whose domineering ex-girlfriend persuaded her to become involved in international drug money laundering. She was young, the phase passed, and 10 years later a professional and engaged Piper finds herself facing a 15-month sentence at a low-security Connecticut jail.
This is where the series picks up, and what follows is a surprisingly hilarious insight into life in a women’s prison. The characters Piper encounters during her time and their scheming ways are what make the show such addictive viewing.
Mostly imprisoned for drug offences, the women must find ways to survive in an environment where a stick of gum is a valuable commodity and a cigarette could provoke murder.
Their antics are made all the more exciting by the group of guards monitoring their every move, who are also involved in corruption and motivated by personal gain.
Regular flashbacks to the “outside” lives of the prisoners provide an insight into their backgrounds and often reveal tragic situations.
By comparison Piper’s past is privileged and stable, however her rocky relationship with her fiancee adds a romantic element to the show and presents her with many dilemmas.
Starring Taylor Schilling, Jason Biggs and Laura Prepon among a relatively unknown cast, the series was one of the first to be released exclusively to US streaming service Netflix but immediately achieved popularity and gathered fans around the globe.
Since its 2013 release, it has enjoyed unprecedented ratings and a host of awards too impressive to pick a standout. Aussie Yael Stone gives a particularly memorable performance, playing a woman convicted for stalking and maintaining a convincing Jersey accent.
In the two seasons of Orange is the New Black, you will find yourself sympathising with hardened criminals more than you ever thought possible.
It’s changing the game for the legal genre and for the television industry as a whole, and fans can only have the highest hopes for what the coming seasons will bring.
– Kathryn Bermingham
