As a fan of the show, I obviously spent all of June 17 binge-watching the fourth season. After watching the dark, vivid, and jaw-dropping, moments the show had to offer this time around, I came to a quick conclusion. "Orange is the New Black," is beyond revolutionary. This show has done more for the LGBTQ community, women, the black lives matter movement, and countless other issues that needed to be addressed or properly communicated. This show is has only gotten better as each new season rolls around. In my opinion, it stands as the best, and most important, show in the history of television and other media. Here's just a few reasons as of why (SPOILERS AHEAD):
1. The plentiful and diverse ethnic representation.
Today, there is still a a large gap in ethnic representation in the shows and movies we see. In a recent study done by PBS, it was discovered that 71 percent of film actors are white. This isn't because there aren't many actors of color willing to audition or be a part of the media, but rather that these roles are not written for a non-white actor to fill. Especially the lead roles in television and film. This reason is usually because, "white people think that people of color only have ethnic experiences and not universal experiences,” as reported by the Nikesh Shukla. This means that writers and casting directors, who are also mostly white people, feel that they can't create material or properly cast people of other ethnicities into our mainstream media. Even though these roles were mostly casted due to their ethnicity, OITNB put a stop to the gap and has allowed more people of color to have bigger, and more complex, that simply are not offered in most shows or film.
2. Proper LGBTQ education and representation.
From the first moments of the show, a lesbian shower scene is put on display, setting the tone just right. Anyone watching knew they were about to see something they don't normally see in a dramatic showcase like OITNB. One reason why I believe the show is more unique than others out there (despite the many attempts to represent the LGBTQ community in the media) is that this show educates. In the first season, Piper is labeled by her mother for her sexuality, in which she quickly corrects her, stating that we are all on the Kinsey Scale (a spectrum created for human sexuality). Even though people are people, despite their sexuality, there is a need to normalize gay and lesbian relationships/characters on television. OITNB has gone above and beyond to do so by educating the viewers of this normality, as well as showing the struggle of being an open member of the LGBTQ community because of the homophobia that has a way of creeping itself back into our society on a regular basis.
3. Displaying rape in the most honest way possible.
For anyone that is remotely caught up, Doggett was raped by one of the new guards in season 3. Rape on television, or in any media whatsoever, is usually cut up to prevent the audience from getting too uncomfortable, or is skipped altogether and only referenced when approaching the issue. When Doggett is raped, the camera frames just her face, capturing the dead, powerless, emotion, that has been praised for being absolutely truthful. The guard rapes her out of anger because he gets put on probation after spending too long off-campus with her due to having van duty together. Because of his anger, Doggett is left with depression and confusion as a man that she thought she could trust (as her superior and possible love interest) betrays her body. From this comes personal growth as Big Boo comes to her rescue, letting her know that this event does not define her and that man is wrong and in no way can be defended for his evil actions.
4. Showing the truth behind mental illness.
Two main characters come into mind that did the most for mental health awareness in the show. First is Brooke (Soso) and the deep depression she falls into after becoming an inmate. From the start, she lives a lonely, and empty, day-to-day life, becoming suicidal and received little to no help from her superiors. Realizing that going to prison isn't noble or something her friends should be jealous of (because as an activist, she's a, "success story," for her strength and perseverance against political corruption), she decides to take her own life. The progression of her mental illness raised awareness as well as gave support to the viewers struggling. In the end, Brooke found her way as Poussey saved her and gave her hope, love, and support. Second, is Lolly's story. Lolly suffered from schizophrenia and was punished for it, rather than receiving help. After witnessing a murder, she becomes paranoid, nervous, and frightened for her life. Instead of receiving psychological help from the start, she is marked as sub-human due to her inmate status and is thrown under the bus for the murder and into the psych ward, which is no place to come back from. Lolly's experience is unique as it explored the true struggle of having serious mental illness in a place where not only mental illness is not taken seriously at all, but neither are the prisoners as human beings. OITNB explored the depths of mental illness and allowed the viewers to witness the inside to schizophrenia and the injustice of its' victims.
5. Putting women first.
Just as the show properly represents different ethnicities and cultures, OITNB also makes sure that women are given the spotlight for a change. Well, women are sometimes given the spotlight, but mostly just to be sexualized or victimized in today's television or film. This show is an outlet for actresses to portray strong, complex, and real, characters that aren't seen anywhere else. It is also noted that the setting of prison allows the actors to be as they are and not sexualized in our worldly ways, but rather dressed in uniform, little makeup, and almost completely natural. This way, the audience focuses on the storyline and the acting, rather than fancy sets, fashion, music, or other aesthetics, that usually make up for empty plot lines, boring characters, and overused everything else.
6. Uncovering the struggle of the transgender community and the spectrum of gender.
Season 3 and 4 in particular focus on the intense and corrupt storyline of Laverne Cox's character Sophia Burset. After being abused and assaulted by fellow inmates, she is thrown into solitary, "for her own protection." She is forced to go to deadly lengths in order to gain attention for her mistreatment, as she should not be the one who is punished, but rather others should be properly educated of their wrong actions. Previous to her character's recent struggles, Burset and her wife made large strides in the trans community when their history is discussed. Burset's wife accepted and supported Sophia throughout her transition and overcame the societal judgements they received on a daily basis. Sophia Burset is easily one of the most important characters in television/film at the moment. It was painful to watch her character undergo the brutal treatment she received, but not as painful as the actual experiences the trans community faces in everyday life. Sophia is character with a storyline that can change society, and OITNB should be thanked for that.
7. Respecting all people, including inmates.
As mentioned earlier, certain inmates were not treated or helped fairly due to their stigmatized mental illness. However, that was just the cherry on top. The real reason they were not taken seriously is the fact that the are prisoners. They are seen as animals, sub-human, and something to belittle. This is mostly displayed through the new guards that enter Litchfield in season 4. These guards assault the inmates, abuse them, mistreat them, and do about everything off book (as a security guard as well as a fellow human being). Despite what these prisoners might have done in their past, they are in prison to learn from their mistakes, readjust their lives, and learn to become a functional member of society that will not make that mistake again. The only difference between the inmates in Litchfield and those on the outside are that the ones in prison got caught. The mistreatment the inmates experience on the show allows the viewers to see that respect for all people is important, and necessary to continue a functional and progressive society.8. Exposing our corrupt justice system.
Anyone who hasn't seen the last two episodes of season 4, don't continue. As for those who have, you understand why Poussey is the main subject of this topic. From the start, there have been rapes by the guards, overall mistreatment to the inmates, corrupt embezzling of government money, and many, many more wrongdoings. However, the most important is the death of one of our favorite characters on the show. Poussey was killed by a guard who crushed her to death (by accident) when dealing with a peaceful protest gone violent (due to the corrupt prison guards). Her death is a direct hit at the corrupt justice system and the racist treatment of black people that happen everyday, including ones as intense as Poussey's murder or even more so. After her murder, the corporation in charge of Litchfield decides to cover it up, leaving Poussey's body in the spot where she was murdered for days, while figuring out the best way to blow this over. When the inmates discover this corruption, there is a riot, followed by the rolling credits. We don't know where this will go, but hopefully there will be more to come as the injustice unfolds and these revolutionary storylines continue.
