Orange Is the New Black

Orange Is the New Black is an American comedy-drama series on Netflix. Jenji Kohan created it. She is known for creating Weeds. It is based on the memoir of the same name by Piper Kerman.^[1] So far there have been three seasons with 13 episodes each. The first episode of season two aired on June 6, 2014.^[2] The third season premiered on June 11, 2015.^[3]

In April 2015, the series was renewed for a fourth season, to be released on June 17, 2016. In February 2016, the series was renewed through seven seasons.^[4]

Orange Is the New Black is the first series to get Emmy Award nominations in both comedy and drama categories.^[5] The series has also received six Golden Globe Award nominations, six Writers Guild of America Award nominations, two Producers Guild of America Awards, an American Film Institute award, and a Peabody Award.

Plot and cast

The show is about Piper Chapman (Taylor Schilling), a middle class woman who has been sent to prison for carrying drug money for her ex-girlfriend Alex Vause (Laura Prepon), who is also put in the prison. She is engaged to a man called Larry (Jason Biggs), and describes herself as an 'ex-lesbian'. However, being in prison causes her to rethink her sexual orientation and her identity in general. The show has strong LGBT themes and has been described as a 'lesbian tv show'.^[6] Lesbian characters include Carrie "Big Boo" Black (Lea DeLaria), Suzanne "Crazy Eyes" Warren (Uzo Aduba), and Nicky Nichols (Natasha Lyonne). Transgender prisoner Sophia Burset is played by Laverne Cox, a real trans woman. Most of the characters are women of color.

The third episode, "Lesbian Request Denied", was directed by Jodie Foster.

Critical response

Orange Is the New Black was well-received by critics. The Washington Post called the show 'brilliance behind bars'.^[7] Taylor Schilling was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Lead Actress in a Drama Series.^[8]