Taylor Schilling
Laura Prepon
Michael J. Harney
Kate Mulgrew
Jason Biggs
Uzo Aduba
Danielle Brooks
Natasha Lyonne
Taryn Manning
Selenis Leyva
Adrienne C. Moore
Dascha Polanco
Nick Sandow
Yael Stone
Samira Wiley
Laverne Cox
Lea DeLaria
Beth Fowler
Matt McGorry
Lorraine Toussaint

Created by:
Jenji Kohan

2013-
Comedy, Crime, Drama
Netflix
TV-MA

It might be as good as everyone says it is. …

FIRST SEASON

“Orange is the New Black” has its own energy. (In some ways, it’s close to HBO’s “Enlightened.”) The tone is much breezier than I thought it would be. It floats along, and that actually works to its advantage. Since the subject matter is rather serious (someone who’s an incidental criminal winds up in prison), the tone has to be just right to make this dramedy work. I think that they know what they’re doing here. I don’t think that it will evolve into a great show, but its first season is very good and very refreshing. Netflix remains the king (or queen) of original online content. We’ll see whether Amazon can catch up in the future.

SECOND SEASON

During the third episode of the second season of “Orange is the New Black,” this show finds itself once again: The previous two episodes of the season simply set the stage. In addition, a new character, Yvonne “Vee” Parker, is introduced in that episode. Lorraine Toussaint brings instant believability to the character with a wonderfully grounded performance. This woman is out to dominate things in the way that she did when she was in the prison before. The way in which she ingratiates herself to the younger black female inmates will give you the chills. There are other highlights, too. (For instance, Tiffany “Pennsatucky” Doggett, played by Taryn Manning, returns to a changed dynamic in the prison and has new teeth – hilarious!) This episode is a microcosm of all that is great about this show.

When “Orange is the New Black” balances numerous story lines, develops its characters, and walks the line between comedy and drama, it’s great stuff. However, toward the end of each season thus far (seasons 1 and 2), it loses that balance. As a result, each season ends with a bit of a fizzle. It’s as if the writers realize that they need to wrap things up somehow, so they forget to provide a comedic bite to the drama. It doesn’t lose its way completely, though; it’s just not as sharp as the rest of the season.

The second season’s finale does have its moments, though, especially whenever Uzo Aduba’s Crazy Eyes is involved. Aduba does hilariously perfect work throughout the season and brings it all the way home at the end. But the very end of that episode is a bit too ridiculous, even for this show.

On a positive note, overall, “Orange is the New Black” has an effective (and densely populated) cast. The stylized acting helps to bring seasoned actors (Kate Mulgrew, for instance) and relative newbies (Danielle Brooks, for instance) together on the same plane, unlike in HBO’s “The Wire” and many other urban dramas. The dramedy concept helps to make that work, as well, and the writing is deceptively smart and deep. (The second season is deeper than the first, a great sign for things to come.) The character development is expert: They give just enough without giving too much at once. (Each episode during the second season, for the most part, still provides pieces of the backstory of a particular character.) And when this show is really in its groove, it can deliver a laugh like no other.

While “Orange is the New Black” isn’t perfect, it shouldn’t be. It’s its own thing, and it knows exactly what that is. That’s why it succeeds when its blend of many tones (quirky, dramatic, comedic) would otherwise lead to failure. If they can find a way to end each season on the same level as the rest of the season, then this would be great. As it is, it’s very, very good.

THIRD SEASON

The third season of “Orange is the New Black” is a departure from the first two. It doesn’t have the same highs as the previous two seasons, but it doesn’t have a drop-off at the end of the season either. It’s a more consistent presentation, but it’s not quite binge-worthy. I actually couldn’t find a strong reason to watch this season until halfway through its 13 episodes.

However, once you get to the middle of the season, there’s a welcome depth on display. This time, there’s much more drama than comedy. So, I took a lot of the characters’ backstories more seriously. Those moments landed in a way that they never have before.

All in all, I appreciate this season. It’s not as entertaining as the first two seasons, but there are still rewards. I just hope that “Orange is the New Black” will finally deliver a season that is both consistent and consistently entertaining. That certainly won’t be easy to do for this kind of show, but I know that it’s possible.

Verdict: Very Good

About: (Source: orangeblack)

Sentenced to fifteen months for a crime committed in her youth, Piper Chapman leaves her supportive fiance Larry for her new home: a women’s prison.