That was one of the biggest highlights of the show for me. You forget how talented these people are until you see them do other work. Hopefully this will open some more doors for her in mainstream projects.
Orange is the New Black - Season 1 on Netflix - Every sentence is a story
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That was one of the biggest highlights of the show for me. You forget how talented these people are until you see them do other work. Hopefully this will open some more doors for her in mainstream projects.
PeskyToaster
Member
Just finished it and I gotta say I really enjoyed it. I had fun watching it and I thought all the characters were developed pretty well. I felt all the characters had their place and really didn't resent (actually the opposite since I enjoyed it) exploring any of their stories. Really excited for next season. Piper just Broke Bad.
I have the exact same feeling. I have been hearing that this was good. But man, I'm struggling HARD and put it down after the second episode. Just... ugh...
You're right. He's not a supermodel. He's a fitness model.
I guess he's not technically a fitness model, but he helped write a fitness book.
In my opinion, there is a large gap in attractiveness between the two.
Yeah, she is much better looking than him.
Just finished the series. This was my first Netflix series apart from Arrested Development. I thought the writing was really awesome throughout, and really enjoyed all of the characters. The big haired junkie girl was probably my favorite.
There were only a couple episodes that bored me, and I was bummed that Red got two episodes of flashback instead of using that to tell one of the other inmate's story. Especially since I found Red's backstory the least interesting of all the characters.
Hopefully House of Cards and Hemlock Grove keep up this same level of quality.
There were only a couple episodes that bored me, and I was bummed that Red got two episodes of flashback instead of using that to tell one of the other inmate's story. Especially since I found Red's backstory the least interesting of all the characters.
Hopefully House of Cards and Hemlock Grove keep up this same level of quality.
likedamaster
Member
House of Cards is a much better show, imo.
Only have a few episodes left on OITNB, but so far it's boring me & my wife to tears. It definitely started out really good, fell off from there with a few exciting moments in between. Not what I expected after the first few episodes.
Maybe, just not our kind of show but I'm still optimistic. 2nd season? Planning on going through this thread to see if I missed some nugget. Cheers.
I like House Of Cards quite a but it was a reverse engineered show. You could see the gears turning. Whatever was great about it didn't grow organically but was rather put in place with a specific goal.
Dark Octave
Banned
The wife and I just finished the season. Really liking the show. Much better than Weeds, which I couldn't get into. I guess I'm more facinated by prison life than drug life. I remember when my kid was a newborn, I would pace back and fourth in the livingroom while holding her and tripping out on prison documentaries.
I really like how they give background on most of the characters and they are all likeable for the most part, even Tuckie.
I really like how they give background on most of the characters and they are all likeable for the most part, even Tuckie.
Finally got around to watching this. Really enjoyed it and can't wait for season 2. Definitely wasn't perfect though. I hated pretty much every Piper/Alex scene. Laura Prepon was a terrible casting choice. They have no chemistry together and their story is bland to begin with. I also feel like Biggs is just playing Jim again but that's okay. Finally, I like Janeway in the role of Red, but I hated her fake accent. Taystee and Poussey were the best, and I'll miss Ms. Claudette if she doesn't come back
Yael Stone's fake american/brooklyn accent is also hilariously bad, but at least it is kind of cute. I think she watched My Cousin Vinny one too many times
Yael Stone's fake american/brooklyn accent is also hilariously bad, but at least it is kind of cute. I think she watched My Cousin Vinny one too many times
a secret-boss
Banned
finally watched the whole thing. HOT DAMN @ the ending. I was saying out loud fuck her up.
I kinda enjoyed this more than House of Cards
I kinda enjoyed this more than House of Cards
Square Triangle
Member
My wife is watching Fried Green Tomatoes, someone looked familiar. Yoga Jones is in it!
(Pointless post, but I was amused)
(Pointless post, but I was amused)
I think it's a problem with the show. You aren't really rooting for them to stay together, because they are both kind of shitty, narcissistic people.
Square Triangle
Member
The show's supporting casts steal the show for me. I love Pornstache, Sophia, Taystee and the crazy method Christians.
I thought the show was okay, but I don't really get all the effusive praise. The shifts between comedy and tragedy/danger are rough, weird, and often unexpected. One moment someone is hanging herself in a closet, and the next minute it's back to whacky, kooky stuff.
Is it me or does it seem like a number of these women committed crimes that wouldn't actually get you sent to federal prison?
Is it me or does it seem like a number of these women committed crimes that wouldn't actually get you sent to federal prison?
I wonder if Piper's going to be sent to Maximum Security Prison next season after what happened.
Well, then again, if she does end up going there, I suppose she'd have her sentence severally lengthed due to murder/attempted murder, so I'll just have to assume that she'll get off relatively scott-free? (Maybe just plead self-defense, or perhaps she managed to cover it up especially since Healy was turning a blind-eye to her though he might try to turn it against her and claim she initiated it)
They all committed federal felonies, most of which were of a non-violent nature (I don't think the Haitian woman was ever convicted of murder, otherwise she wouldn't be sent to Minimum Security, most likely she was convicted of human trafficking), so it makes sense that they are where they are.
Oh, except Trish. If she was just convicted of shoplifting, that doesn't make much sense.
Oh, and the trackstar too. Maybe she was robbing across state lines? Armed robbery doesn't seem like something she'd get to go to Minimum Security for. Maybe since she wasn't holding the gun and it was her first offense?
Well, then again, if she does end up going there, I suppose she'd have her sentence severally lengthed due to murder/attempted murder, so I'll just have to assume that she'll get off relatively scott-free? (Maybe just plead self-defense, or perhaps she managed to cover it up especially since Healy was turning a blind-eye to her though he might try to turn it against her and claim she initiated it)
They all committed federal felonies, most of which were of a non-violent nature (I don't think the Haitian woman was ever convicted of murder, otherwise she wouldn't be sent to Minimum Security, most likely she was convicted of human trafficking), so it makes sense that they are where they are.
Oh, except Trish. If she was just convicted of shoplifting, that doesn't make much sense.
Oh, and the trackstar too. Maybe she was robbing across state lines? Armed robbery doesn't seem like something she'd get to go to Minimum Security for. Maybe since she wasn't holding the gun and it was her first offense?
When Biggs' character finds out that Alex named Piper, I assumed that a big conflict of the show would eventually be Piper's reaction to the fact that Alex will have received a lesser sentence than her because of all the information she provided investigators. I could see the Season ending with Alex leaving prison while Piper still has some time to serve, and Piper having to come to terms with that fact and/or reacting violently
The posts earlier about Piper helping Pennsatucky get new teeth are interesting theories. Makes sense why she would punch her so much and why they didn't show her face (since the punches were presumably directed at her face)
Cornballer
Member
- Buzzfeed with some info on many episodes Prepon is doing next season
Edit: the link is misbehaving but was working for me earlier
Edit: the link is misbehaving but was working for me earlier
Don't want to click but I hope it is zero. Thy should replace her with someone capable
Is shooting up an abortion clinic a federal felony?
I can't recall the circumstances of everyone's crime, but it seems like a fair number of inmates are just there for drug possession/manufacturing convictions that would not necessitate federal intervention.
The track star girl robbed a check cashing joint. I know that robbing a bank is a federal crime, but I doubt that those skeezy check-cashers and payday loan places get the same protection since they are not FDIC insured.
What has Laura Prepon got going on that she can't come back? I guess the upset and outrage of fans doesn't really matter now, since it sounds like they have shot most of the new season without her.
Fantastical
Death Prophet
Laura Prepon leaving is really disappointing. Ugh... what is going to happen next season...
What?! Aww. Don't really like her character, but ending her story suddenly so early in S2 will be disappointing nonetheless.
Fuck me, I thought starting this show last night at 8PM was a good idea, yet here I am now at work with 2 hours of sleep because I couldn't stop watching. It seems like I stopped right before it gets crazy (Episode 11).
Super sad about the news of that character not returning.
Super sad about the news of that character not returning.
Regardless of how season 1 ends (I haven't watched it yet obviously) it feels like people were really rooting for them to get back together.
JzeroT1437
Member
Just finished this--great show. Did not see the ending of the last episode coming. Way out of left field.
Am I really the only one who liked Laura Prepon on this show? 
I honestly thought it was some of the best work she's ever done. Definitely held her own with the other ladies (except for Red).
I don't think Laura's a bad actress. I think her problem is she's got a lot of very unique traits that make it harder for her to "get lost" in a role. Her height, that voice, her distinct eyebrows -- no matter who she's playing those things will immediately identify her as Laura Prepon.
I honestly thought it was some of the best work she's ever done. Definitely held her own with the other ladies (except for Red).
I don't think Laura's a bad actress. I think her problem is she's got a lot of very unique traits that make it harder for her to "get lost" in a role. Her height, that voice, her distinct eyebrows -- no matter who she's playing those things will immediately identify her as Laura Prepon.
I liked her too. I'll miss her on this show and her character.Am I really the only one who liked Laura Prepon on this show?
I honestly thought it was some of the best work she's ever done. Definitely held her own with the other ladies (except for Red).
I don't think Laura's a bad actress. I think her problem is she's got a lot of very unique traits that make it harder for her to "get lost" in a role. Her height, that voice, her distinct eyebrows -- no matter who she's playing those things will immediately identify her as Laura Prepon.
Finally got around to finishing and it's a pretty weak, although not terrible, show. I agree with a lot of what Mr. B Natural and Trent Strong already noted: the drama feels forced, the writing is flat, and the characters are all generally pretty unlikeable. It makes for a pretty uninteresting show.
The 'every sentence is a story' gimmick comes and goes, and acts more as a brief, expositional backdrop than anything substantive for any of the characters. There really isn't any sense of real danger of threat during the entire show, in part because the entire guard staff up and down the chain are presented as utter goofballs. That sort of guts the show of any real dramatic weight, while the comedy is middling. It makes the entire thing feels modestly more serious than Kevin Arnold's high school. The ending also seemed to feel like a rush to some dramatic cliffhanger, with a few characters seemingly stepping a bit out of character; I'm sure it'll be effortlessly ignored in the subsequent season.
There are a few good bits in there -- mostly in the way of performances by the Taystee, Poussey, and co. -- but there just isn't a lot here that compels me to keep watching.
The 'every sentence is a story' gimmick comes and goes, and acts more as a brief, expositional backdrop than anything substantive for any of the characters. There really isn't any sense of real danger of threat during the entire show, in part because the entire guard staff up and down the chain are presented as utter goofballs. That sort of guts the show of any real dramatic weight, while the comedy is middling. It makes the entire thing feels modestly more serious than Kevin Arnold's high school. The ending also seemed to feel like a rush to some dramatic cliffhanger, with a few characters seemingly stepping a bit out of character; I'm sure it'll be effortlessly ignored in the subsequent season.
There are a few good bits in there -- mostly in the way of performances by the Taystee, Poussey, and co. -- but there just isn't a lot here that compels me to keep watching.
I don't think the show is trying to be seen as having a central source of tension or threat. The whole point of this show are the personal stories of the women in this minimum security prison. Anybody coming in expecting OZ with tits is going to be disappointed.
In a way, you hit the nail on the head with comparing it to high school. That's exactly what it's like in a way, and I think that's an intentional move on the part of Jenji, It's true to the dull reality of most minimum security prisons.
It's not insomuch that I'm expecting Oz (never seen it btw) or anything on par with, say, The Wire. Those kinds of shows are pretty exceptionally rare and it would be unfair to expect Netflix or anyone else to immediately start being able to immediately knocking out a show of that caliber.
I was, however, expecting the prison component to provide something more than a bare minimum backdrop to events. As is, the prison setting doesn't do much. There aren't any particular insights that the setting brings; it's effectively a loose backdrop just to put all the characters together. I mean, Mendes has the equivalent threatening aura of Coach Cutlip from the Wonder Years. To me, it just sort of undermines the basic setting and premise of the show.
But even that would be passable, and I would be inclined to agree with your point above except that the personal stories get short shrift. Early on, the show sets it up as a key ingredient of the show's format, but then it sort of just drops it and occasionally brings it back. Even when you get those flashbacks, they're bare minimum exposition pieces (e.g., this girl wanted to fit in, so she engaged in some petty theft and now she's here). Some key characters never even get the treatment, and there's just an inconsistency and lack of depth to those bits. I think the show might actually have benefited from scaling back the number of regular characters, so that the writers could've tried to give a few of the tentpole characters more screen time and a little more depth.
All that said, it's not a terrible show, it's just not a particularly good one. Admittedly, the bulk of the reason I'm even watching is because I have a genuine curiosity to see how Netflix's gamble on original content would pan out. If Orange is the New Black was a show by other means (i.e., traditional TV), I probably wouldn't even have tried to finish it unless I was just bored after work during the week or something.
Huh, I just found the show to be enjoyable. It didn't need to be anything other than what it was. There is plenty of time to get stories on the other women, and I enjoyed the large, diverse cast. It is a breath of fresh air for me and I'm not surprised or concerned that it doesn't appeal to every demographic. I just hope it keeps its charm next season and doesn't become a victim of its success.
Hidden One
Member
I just finished Season 1 of this. It was great.
KittyKittyBangBang
Member
I finished up Season 1, and really enjoyed it, but can completely understand why some people wouldn't. I completely agree with the folks that say its not really a drama or a dark comedy, its just an entertaining show with fucking fantastic character development. Prepon was easily the weakest part of the show (along with Diaz). I also wonder what will happen with Larry (Jason Biggs) The characters are just so great, Red, Pennsatucky, Pornstache, Tastee, they are all great. Cant wait for next season!!
Yeah, my partner and I watched it over the course of a few evenings. I didn't watch it closely at first (was playing PC games with headphones on at first), but by mid-season I had put the PC games to one side to watch it. I really enjoyed it as a Shameless-lite and am looking forward to next season.
VGChampion
Member
After barely giving the first episode a shot a few months ago, I decided to try the show again after finishing House of Cards. I really enjoyed it but I did like the first few episodes better than the second half. Problem is, I don't have high hopes for this show considering how badly I disliked Weeds as that show went on.
Finished S1 last night with my wife. We really enjoyed it, but neither one of us liked Alex and I'm cool with her making an exit for S2. I thought that the last episode was brilliant. You could feel a sense of dread building and building. I knew what was coming, but it was still engaging.
Hot Coldman
Banned
Just finished. Healey is such a piece of shit. Hopefully Season 2 begins with him getting shivved in the face.
That's all I want, really.
That's all I want, really.
He turned prior to the lesbian stuff and it felt really off. He was super friendly and then BAM, he's a total prick.
Hot Coldman
Banned
Eh, he always seemed a bit of a dick. Those early scenes where he's trying to force a common dialogue, he's already affirming he has prejudices and he expects Piper to conform to those prejudices.
He was never likeable. Or I never liked him, anyway. I just wasn't expecting him to turn full villain.
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