With the recent Supreme Court ruling, the LGBT community, along with others around the United States, are greatly celebrating that love has won. I felt that the Supreme Court ruling and the newest season of "Orange is the New Black" was the perfect time to explain what all "Orange is the New Black" has to offer, other than an emotional storyline, sex, drugs, and even more sex.
Within the first minute of season one, "Orange is the New Black" gives viewers two scenes of the main character showering with both male and female partners, not to mention ending that same episode with two ladies hooking up in the shower. The series is entangled with nudity and lesbians interactions, but without these you could not create the beautiful story of Piper Kerman' life (Piper Chapman) that needed to be told in the first place. This scared quite a bit of viewers away from this series because of this. OITNB is based on Piper Kerman's book, "Orange is the New Black: My Year in Women's Prison."
(photo via Pinterest.com)
From the episode one, "Orange is the New Black" showcased a raunchy and witty humor, but also depicted a deep story within each of the inmates residing at Litchfield Prison. Jenji Kohan, the writer of "Orange is the New Black" writes each characters stories to leave a little bit of mystery behind each one. By doing so, Kohan is not only telling a story about a prisoner, but showing it's viewers the bigger picture behind them. These women aren't just women in prison. They are people are just like everyone else, complex and quirky. These women may have been mislead by family, or dealt with a rough up bringing. Even advocating for something they have extreme passion for landed a few prisoners down in Litchfield. The reality of this TV series is recognizing each character and everything about that character. Realizing somewhere out their in the world, a real Alex Vause is among us, or a Sophia Burset exist. We cannot forget the rest of their fellow inmates too. We must think of them not as prisoners, but as humans.
"Orange is the New Black" explicitly provides the audience with bits and pieces of how the justice system is far from perfect. The show carries many realistic issues that evolve in real life women's prisons, like sexual assaults with guards, the SHU (solitary confinement), and mental illness. Many of the characters are still searching for themselves and this continues into the most recent released season three. Piper Kerman expands on the journey in her book.
Hiding from this TV show, doesn't shield you from everything this show highlights. "Orange is the New Black" holds so much more value to the story than what you are physically watching.
Go forth fellow viewers and let us all continue to re-watch and binge watch our favorite prisoners and patiently await season four.
(photo via Netflix.com)
