A hit with critics and fans
alike, Orange is the New Black has
practically taken over the world of television, and this week, Oliver Rawlings
explores what is it about the show that has the world hooked.
Prison is the New Black
Welcome to Orange is the New Black. This show is based on the real life story
of Piper Kerman; a self-professed ‘yuppie,’ who went to a minimum security
federal prison in Connecticut for a ten year old drug offence, which involved her
laundering money for her ex-girlfriend.
The show itself uses Kerman’s experiences
as a premise, with the character of Piper Chapman (Taylor Schilling) serving a
year in Litchfield Penitentiary for a similar charge, along with ex-girlfriend
Alex Vause (Laura Prepon). However it goes further, exploring the lives of
Litchfield inmates such as Red (Kate Mulgrew), Crazy Eyes (Uzo Adoba) and Nikki
(Natasha Lyonne), among many others.
Orange Humanises the World of Women’s Prison
The show has been heralded for
many reasons including its smart writing, it’s take no prisoners attitude and its
realistic, yet comedic portrayal of the injustices of the American correctional
system. However there are several reasons why I believe it’s struck a chord
with viewers.
One has to be the cast of well-fleshed
out characters. We begin with Chapman, but soon we see the story of other
Litchfield inmates through a series of flashbacks, with every episode focused
on a specific Litchfield woman.
These flashbacks humanise them.
They make us see these women not as prisoners, but as people in their own
right, and more to the point, people we can identify with. Ay successful show
is based on having relatable characters, and the fact the Orange has so many, is undoubtedly the reason why so many people
are watching.
We’re All Fascinated by Chapman and Vause
Another has to be the
relationship between Chapman and Vause, a fan favourite if there ever was any.
Of course a lesbian relationship in and of itself has the ability to hook an
audience, considering the current trajectory of the LGBT rights movement,
especially stateside. This is obviously a part of why so many people love it.
But I would argue it’s so much
more. Whatever the gender, people are fascinated with complex relationships. It
doesn’t get more complex than these two former lovers, as they betray each
other practically every other moment whilst confined to Litchfield. You never
know which way it’s going to go, and that uncertainty has the audience coming
back for more.
Oliver Rawlings and the Rising Social Agenda
Finally I would argue that my
last reason why people are so hooked, is the fact that the show illuminates the
prison environment in a way that has never been seen stateside. Orange has the potential to explore the
serious abuse of power that often takes place within the American prison system
with a wry humour that doesn’t detract from it, but rather sets into stark
relief just how wrong the entire system is.
