There's only one thing we've looked forward to more than summer break all semester: the third season of the racy Netflix comedy, Orange Is the New Black. Containing only thirteen episodes (come on guys, give us more than that!), the second the latest addition was added to Netflix, the headphones popped in and the binge began.
This season, Alex Vause returns to Linchfield. We later find out that on leave, Piper angrily reported her ex-girlfriend to the parole officer in order to send Vause back to get revenge for deceiving her at trial. They finally continue their tumultuous relationship, but it is brief and anti-climatic. After being so built up and the series so seemingly centered around them, Alex and Piper's relationship is both disappointing and boring. The dull couple is broken up when Piper begins to put no effort into their relationship and proceeds to cheat on her with model Ruby Rose's character, Stella.
The beautiful Stella is introduced very awkwardly-- when the prison changes management, she, Piper, and several other inmates are placed on an underwear-making team where her snarky comments drive Piper to interest.
One notable feature of this season has to be the focus on religious and spiritual belief. Several characters feign belief in Judaism for better tasting kosher meals, but Cindy's adamant focus on pretending she is Jewish leads her to genuine desire to become Jewish. A more intriguing faith, however, surfaces when several inmates turn to Norma's silence as a source of happiness and a sort-of cult forms with Norma at the head.
This season deals with suicide attempts, rape by an officer, and revealing flashbacks of characters we've yet to spend much time with, like Chang, who turns out to be more twisted than anyone would have imagined. Not only are these heavy topics addressed, but other story lines add weight to the series. Sophia is brutalized after rumors fly and she is the one punished for it, leaving even the less-emotional of viewers sympathetic, but they never quite deal with it and she is left in the "shu."
As the seconds of the final episode count down and the inmates celebrated their [temporary?] freedom in the lake when they dash to the outside after discovering an opening in the prison fence that kept them caged, I was only left wondering if new prisoners coming to Linchfield Penitentiary meant a clean slate with all new characters. Or better yet, how on earth could the writers could drag on interesting yet realistic events to keep occurring during the current characters' times served?
With that said, I anxiously await the coming of season 4? Mostly likely not. The writers made a worthy effort, but didn't bring the season to its full potential. With such heavy topics and an opportunity to create a more intriguing character out of Ruby Rose (we don't get much background), OITNB Season 3 could have done much better. Not to mention we lose a favorite, Nicky, to a drug deal gone wrong.
