Orange Is the New Black
Orange Is the New Black
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Orange Is the New Black

"Every sentence is a story."

7.7
Yr 2013
Status Ended
Drama Comedy Crime
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Series Brief

Overview

A crime she committed in her youthful past sends Piper Chapman to a women's prison, where she trades her comfortable New York life for one of unexpected camaraderie and conflict in an eccentric group of fellow inmates.

Critical Reception

What critics are saying

Score 90 /100

Orange Is the New Black is widely regarded as a groundbreaking, essential series that defined the modern binge-watching era. Critics consistently praise its ability to balance humor with layered, addictive drama, noting that while the show begins with Piper Chapman as its focal point, it evolves into a rich, complex exploration of a diverse ensemble cast. Its innovative use of flashbacks provides depth for a wide range of inmates, making it a standout in television originality.

Despite the widespread acclaim, the series is not without criticism. Some reviewers have noted concerns regarding the show's reliance on racial stereotypes, specifically in its depiction of aggressive minority characters. Nevertheless, the consensus remains that the program’s massive scope and inclusive representation make it a heavyweight in the landscape of modern media, balancing these flaws against its significant cultural impact.

“The sheer breadth of representation vaults the show to heavyweight status in the realm of inclusive media.”

“Top-level drama—addictive, layered, very funny, and made for binge-watching.”

“It is a critique that I do have of the show is its representation of negative stereotypes across different races and religions.”

“Orange is the New Black is strikingly original and entertaining to boot.”

Transmission Paths

Where to Watch

Netflix
US • CA • UK
Netflix Standard with Ads
US • UK • CA
Why fans love it

Orange Is the New Black leans into the reality of confinement with a blend of crime drama and dark humor. By framing prison life as a collection of personal histories, the show moves past typical institutional tropes. It treats the environment as a stage for complex interpersonal dynamics rather than purely a setting for punishment.

The series finds its rhythm in the tension between individual pasts and the communal structure of the women's facility. Taylor Schilling anchors the narrative as she navigates the shift from her former life to a world defined by unexpected sisterhood and shifting alliances. The show captures how relationships take root in confined spaces, focusing on the loyalty and conflict that emerge among a diverse and eccentric group of inmates. Relying on its source memoir to ground the dramatization, the project maintains a matter-of-fact approach to the isolation and identity challenges faced behind bars.

Featured Players

Cast

Credited 75
Regulars 29
Longest run 91 eps
Taylor Schilling
Taylor Schilling
as Piper Chapman
91 episodes
Laura Prepon
Laura Prepon
as Alex Vause
91 episodes
Kate Mulgrew
Kate Mulgrew
as Galina 'Red' Reznikov
91 episodes
Natasha Lyonne
Natasha Lyonne
as Nicky Nichols
81 episodes
Selenis Leyva
Selenis Leyva
as Gloria Mendoza
88 episodes
Elizabeth Rodriguez
Elizabeth Rodriguez
as Aleida Diaz
71 episodes
Dascha Polanco
Dascha Polanco
as Dayanara Diaz
89 episodes
Samira Wiley
Samira Wiley
as Poussey Washington
52 episodes
Show 67 more
Danielle Brooks as Tasha 'Taystee' Jefferson 89 episodes Uzo Aduba as Suzanne 'Crazy Eyes' Warren 90 episodes Nick Sandow as Joe Caputo 91 episodes Jackie Cruz as Marisol 'Flaca' Gonzales 82 episodes Yael Stone as Lorna Morello 88 episodes Lea DeLaria as Big Boo 63 episodes Taryn Manning as Tiffany 'Pennsatucky' Doggett 87 episodes Adrienne C. Moore as Cindy Hayes 82 episodes Jessica Pimentel as Maria Ruiz 81 episodes Michael Harney as Sam Healy 67 episodes Laura Gómez as Blanca Flores 74 episodes Matt Peters as Joel Luschek 63 episodes Dale Soules as Frieda Berlin 63 episodes Jolene Purdy as Stephanie Hapakuka 19 episodes Alysia Reiner as Natalie Figueroa 47 episodes Diane Guerrero as Maritza Ramos 57 episodes Jason Biggs as Larry Bloom 30 episodes Beth Dover as Linda Ferguson 36 episodes Shawna Hamic as Virginia 'Ginger' Copeland 21 episodes Shaleeni Ranchhod as Inmate 25 episodes Matt McGorry as John Bennett 25 episodes Lolita Foster as Eliqua Maxwell 24 episodes Germar Terrell Gardner as Charles Ford 18 episodes Eric J Carlson as Corrections Officer (uncredited) 25 episodes Beth Fowler as Sister Jane Ingalls 32 episodes Brendan Burke as Wade Donaldson 24 episodes Jes Davis as Inmate (uncredited) 19 episodes Blair Brown as Judy King 24 episodes Alan Aisenberg as Baxter 'Gerber' Bayley 23 episodes Evan Hall as CO Stratman 19 episodes Emily Althaus as Maureen Kukudio 24 episodes Annie Golden as Norma Romano 46 episodes Kimiko Glenn as Brook Soso 44 episodes Asia Kate Dillon as Brandy Epps 19 episodes Constance Shulman as Yoga Jones 48 episodes Lin Tucci as Anita DeMarco 45 episodes Emma Myles as Leanne Taylor 54 episodes Vicky Jeudy as Janae Watson 56 episodes Abigail Savage as Gina Murphy 48 episodes Julie Lake as Angie Rice 48 episodes Amanda Stephen as Alison Abdullah 23 episodes Miriam Morales as Pidge 25 episodes Brad William Henke as Desi Piscatella 26 episodes Rosal Colon as Ouija 27 episodes Francesca Curran as Helen Van Maele 19 episodes James McMenamin as Charlie 'Donuts' Coates 27 episodes Laverne Cox as Sophia Burset 40 episodes Maria Dizzia as Polly Harper 18 episodes Catherine Curtin as Wanda Bell 40 episodes Lori Tan Chinn as Mei Chang 27 episodes Tamara Torres as Weeping Woman 24 episodes La Daniella as Zirconia Cabrera 41 episodes Mike Houston as CO Lee Dixon 40 episodes Nick Dillenburg as CO Ryder Blake 31 episodes Hunter Emery as CO Rick Hopper 28 episodes Nicholas Webber as CO Alvarez 20 episodes Greg Vrotsos as CO Hellman 22 episodes Sipiwe Moyo as Adeola 22 episodes Pablo Schreiber as George 'Pornstache' Mendez 19 episodes Kelly Karbacz as Kasey Sankey 21 episodes Joel Marsh Garland as Scott O'Neill 42 episodes Shannon Esper as Alana Dwight 27 episodes Christina Toth as Annalisa Damiva 19 episodes Susan Heyward as Tamika Ward 22 episodes Lori Petty as Lolly Whitehill 24 episodes Besanya Santiago as Creech 18 episodes Emily Tarver as Artesian McCullough 38 episodes
Signal Match

Similarity

Where Orange Is the New Black overlaps with other shows, and exactly what they have in common.

Keyword Cloud

Keywords

prison women's prison based on true story lesbian relationship dark comedy based on memoir or autobiography inmate semi autobiographical prison life sisterhood complex didactic dramatic bold matter of fact powerful dramatization
Technical Sheet

Details

First Aired
July 11, 2013
Status
Ended
Origin
US
TMDB Votes
2,779