Orange Is the New Black

After the first two seasons, I'm fully satisfied. Jenji Kohan has once again created a perfect fusion of drama and comedy. The story gave me some food for thought, just like Weeds. It's definitely not a mindless affair. Those expecting mostly a comedy series will probably be disappointed. Some of the dramatic moments are downright chilling. I’d compare the series to Wentworth. Although the latter is pure drama, both build on excellent writing and a great cast, both feature flashback scenes that offer more insight into the characters’ lives, and both drew me right into the story. // Now that the series is over, let me just sum up: I wasn't thrilled with all of the seasons, especially the third and sixth seasons were weaker, but I did enjoy the series as a whole. (2016.09.14)

After watching the first season, I have to say the series has one major issue. It’s the protagonist who I simply cannot root for. I hate people who get in more and more trouble through nobody’s fault but their own, then put on doe-eyes and annoy everybody around with their sad story. In any case, I was much more intrigued and amused by the fates of the other characters and I definitely rate the first season positively. (2019.04.20)

I decided to rewatch Orange Is the New Black but I didn't quite vibe with the first episode as much as I did years back. Not that it was bad or anything, it just didn't tickle my funny bone the way I remembered. When it comes to prison dramas, Wentworth still holds the top spot for me. 3*+ (2019.04.18)

This episode felt a tad weaker than the first one. While the drama hit the mark, the comedy fell a bit short, which was a shame. I reckon if there were more laughs, I'd have bumped up the rating. The Aussies nailed it better in that department. 3*- (2019.04.18)

I seriously doubt that Sophie Burset will ever become my favorite character but the third episode, all about her, was actually the best one so far. The story had a decent pace this time, and I enjoyed the prison's shift to economy mode. Plus, the "likable" main protagonist navigating a conflict-free collective was priceless. (2019.04.18)

Another enjoyable ride! This episode had me even more hooked than the last one. Those flashbacks were finally captivating, especially with Miss Claudette in the spotlight. And thank goodness for the humor — it was like a breath of fresh air for the series. 4*+ (2019.04.18)

After two solid episodes, this one felt like treading water, especially with that whole chickening — I mean, really? But hey, the religious debates and peek into the Hispanic family's backstory saved the day. 3*- (2019.04.18)

After the slight letdown of the last episode, the creators finally injected some much-needed humor, and boy, did it pay off! The Prisoners' Council election was a riot, mirroring real-life campaigns in a hilariously spot-on way. And the unexpected winner who didn't even throw their hat in the ring just topped it all off. (2019.04.19)

My rating would've easily been a star higher if Larry wasn't hogging so much screen time. His perpetual self-pity is seriously grating on my nerves, dragging down the pace of the story. I'm just waiting for the moment when he'll manage to include the Holocaust in his litany of suffering. (2019.04.19)

The creators delivered their usual decent dose of humor, but what really stood out to me was how well the dramatic storyline played out. Overall, I enjoyed it thoroughly—no boredom, no disappointment in sight. (2019.04.19)

The episode delivered a good dose of humor, but what really impressed me was the development of the dramatic storyline. This was something I felt was lacking in previous episodes. Over the last two episodes, the creators have done a much better job of keeping me engaged in the plot, and for that, I'm satisfied. (2019.04.19)

I have to commend the creator for the well-developed dramatic storyline in this episode. For the first time, I didn't care about the comedic parts — I really didn't miss them. I could have done without Piper Chapman's morally instructive speech to the wheelchair user, but that was probably the only distracting moment for me. (2019.04.19)

The eleventh episode was pretty solid. I only docked a star because the story's pace slowed down a bit. Given Trish being mourned, it was kind of expected, so I can't really complain. I wasn't bored at all. 4*+ (2019.04.20)

I was a bit let down; the creators went overboard with too many dull conversations about relationships. It never really picked up the pace, but there were two hilarious moments that earned it an extra half star. The first was an excellent flashback with the protector of the unborn, and the second was the journalist’s question about the saved 2.3 million dollars. 3*+ (2019.04.20)

The conclusion really hit the mark for me. The creators managed to reignite the dramatic storyline, toss in some solid jokes, and keep the atmosphere on point. Honestly, if it were up to me, I'd cut grumpy Larry from the series entirely. He's been annoying me for a while now, and I could easily do without him. (2019.04.20)

Season 2 wasn’t bad at all, even though a couple of times I felt that the creators could have done a better job. Piper Chapman seemed a little less annoying this time. Either I got used to her or she wasn't such a crybaby anymore. However, it was fully compensated by the character of whining Larry, who was really punch-worthy. I also can't shake the feeling that adding a negative character for a single season was somewhat unnecessary. I think that Litchfield has a lot of characters to choose from, and this was just a simplification. (2019.04.23)

The start of the second season wasn't bad at all, even though it pretty much revolved around Piper Chapman, who isn't exactly one of my favorites. Even with the sudden shift in setting, the creators managed to craft an interesting atmosphere. Just a heads-up for sensitive viewers: Yoda's death was filmed very graphically and could be quite traumatizing. (2019.04.21)

The second episode didn't blow me away. The creators brought the story back to Litchfield but somehow forgot to make it interesting. The bizarre prep for future job interviews was quintessentially American and had its absurdly funny moments, but otherwise, it was pretty uneventful. 3*- (2019.04.21)

Another lackluster episode. It's like the creators forgot to add the spark. Adding a new (and mostly negative) character didn’t seem necessary. I think they could have built solid tension with the original cast. Vee was so predictable that there wasn’t much suspense. 3*- (2019.04.21)

The debate about female anatomy was spot-on! I had a blast with that scene — it was so relatable since I've had similar conversations before and the creators nailed it. The rest of the plot was pretty decent too. I wasn't bored at all this time around. (2019.04.21)