Orange Is the New Black

[FotoStoreSheila]

I am hooked as well. I shotgunned 7 episodes on Saturday. And now I'm trying to get my friends to watch it too so we can talk about it. After briefly seeing Crazy Eye's parents, I'm very interested in her backstory. Even though she is just awful, I am fascinated by Dayanara's mother. I also like Miss Claudette, Poussey, and Nichols.

[Ladybug]

I wouldn't say I like his character, but think Healy the counselor is spot on and done very well. I have had the displeasure of meeting and working with a lot of men like that.

[Babycakes]

So I finally finished the season. Piper has the least compelling arc, imo. Taystee and Poussey were amazing. And those voices!! Poor Ms. Claudette. Poor John and Daya. I even felt for Red. I hope the Alex/Piper game is over. Permanently. They make zero sense. It doesn't help that I can't see Laura Prepon as anyone other than Donna from That 70's Show. If I never see Methy McJesus again, it'll be too soon. Ugh. But since someone stated upthread that she's full time next season, my hopes are already dashed.

[wilbert]

I agree, Piper isn't interesting. The other stories are way more interesting. The actors are so compelling. I hope we get more focus on the other characters.

[celerydunk]

Piper doesn't interest me, mainly because she is the main character so I know she will be fine. I cant get into Alex because Laura Prepon is not a very good actress. She was fine on 70s show because none of them were that great, but its noticeable now that she is next to some really good actresses.

I can't name my favorite character because I am interested in most of them. Its a great show.

[bklynred]

OMG, Healy and Mendez give me the heebie jeebies. Ech. It's stunning seeing Crazy Eyes out of character here.

I'm also tired of the Alex storyline. So tired and so unnecessary.

I realize her fiance is upset but Jason Biggs' character could've gotten her really hurt IRL with all his "cute" little anecdotes. Their problems are very first world.

[sugarhigh]

Piper is the "straight man". In the last half of the season, I found her whining really irritating until I realized that if I was sent to jail I'd probably just curl up in a ball and die. I would NOT be able to handle it, so I sympathize with her.

Healy is scum and is definitely the creepiest of the guards. I really hope Pornstache gets caught for faking Tricia's suicide.

foiegras, thanks for that link. The problems of the American prison system seems to be insurmountable but there are people doing some great work to integrate prisoners back into society. Taystee's talk with Poussey after she came back to prison made me tear up and I hope the show is opening the audience's eyes to the experience of people who get sent to prison.

[Babycakes]

Taystee's talk with Poussey after she came back to prison made me tear up and I hope the show is opening the audience's eyes to the experience of people who get sent to prison.

Loved this scene, and the one of of Taystee dancing as she was leaving jail, and Poussey watching from the window.

And I'm not even a mother, but the scene where the woman was wheeled back into the prison after delivering her baby, and having to return empty-handed absolutely gutted me. The silence, and the sympathy from the other women was heart wrenching.

[kostgard]

Oh, yeah - this show (and that article) highlight just how heartbreaking so much of this is. Serving 15 years in prison because you let your boyfriend deal drugs out of your apartment because it was either let him do that or let him beat you? I can't even comprehend that.

I love Taystee and I'm glad she's back, but how completely heartbreaking that she returned to prison because it was way better than the options she had on the outside. And Taystee is so vibrant and smart - can you imagine how successful she'd be if she had grown up in an environment that gave her opportunities? And I'm sure Crazy Eyes landed in prison due to her mental illness - illness that probably showed up in her early 20s after a normal childhood, as it often does. Her family clearly cares about her and she seems like she's educated.

But I like that they showed that not everyone came from such heartbreaking situations. Piper, obviously, had many options and enjoyed the money, travel and excitement of the life Alex gave her. She walked right into her troubles. And Watson (the track star) had the talent to create a great future for herself, and she threw it away for really foolish reasons.

ETA: I just read that Crazy Eyes and Taystee have been promoted to regulars next season. Yay!

[darlingnikki]

My annoyance with this show begins and ends with Piper. I'm a cynic to the bone, so the whole thing with her and her fiance fighting because he got interviewed by NPR felt artificial to me. It felt as if it was there to give her some depth and show her vulnerability.

Having read some of the reviews of the book on Amazon, I can only assume that she never would have been bothered if everyone decided to ignore her. In fact, she comes off as someone who almost went in with the idea that she was going to write a book about it to impress her moneyed friends with. I can't even imagine that the confrontation with Pennsyltucky actually happened.

That said, all the other characters...I love the fact that this show is going all-in with women of all shapes, sizes and colors. Hell, I even liked how they set up Pennsyltucky.

Kate Mulgrew kicked ass in the day when she was on Voyager, and any and all haters can line up to get faced, because she is awesome here.

And even more Crazy Eyes and Taystee? Hallelujah!