Distributor: eOne
Episodes: 13
Duration: 55 min (per episode - last one is double length)
Orange is the New Black: Season 2 (Blu-ray) – Series Review
It’s a hard knock life, something the female prisoners have learned in Orange is the new Black throughout the first season. Even though a minimum security prison has its merits and ‘freedoms’, it’s still no picnic when people try to push you around every chance they have. It’s time to return to a life behind bars, for the second season. Boys beware, these ladies are not to be messed with.
After giving Doggett (Taryn Manning) the beating of a lifetime, Piper (Taylor Schilling) ended up in solitary confinement. To make things even worse, she suddenly gets dragged out of her cell, shoved onto a bus and after that on a prisoner transport plane to be placed in another prison. Whilst being transferred for no reason is already a scary ordeal to go through, all of this was done without even giving her an explanation as to why and where she was being transferred.
Soon after being thrown in front of the lions once more, she learns that she has been placed in another prison to await the trial of Kubra (Eyas Younis), the man who got her in prison in the first place. Even though Piper and her ex-girlfriend are not on friendly terms, she is happy to see Alex (Laura Prepon) was transferred with her, as both will have to testify against Kubra. Whilst Piper is eager to do the right thing, she is advised by Alex to deny everything, as Kubra will otherwise be out for their blood. What Piper will do is something we’re not going to share with you.
Nonetheless, Piper ends up back in her familiar surroundings after being transferred back. Most of her fellow inmates are happy to see her again, whilst others couldn’t care less. Throughout the episodes you’ll get to know Piper more and more, thanks to flashbacks about her relation with her fiancé, Larry (Jason Biggs) and her sexual adventures with Alex. Family bonds are also shown in the present day and age, and it becomes clear that Piper did not have the ideal family to support her through all the obstacles of the bumpy ride called life.
To spice things up, you’ll see many intertwining storylines of other inmates, also with the help of flashbacks. Even though many stories are shown throughout the thirteen episodes, the ones about Vee (Lorraine Toussaint) and Taystee (Danielle Brooks) prove to be a lot more important than the others. You’ll see how Vee was already acquainted with Red (Kate Mulgrew) and now that Vee has been imprisoned in the same facility once again, their original feud has been set ablaze again. Vee is out to gain control over the prison and run it as the materfamilias, albeit an abusive one. Red is no kitten either, but she is able to stay within certain boundaries.
Overall, the story does not always progress as fast as you’d like, but amidst all the sex scenes and the random conversations flows a great untold story about prison life, with all its hardships, struggles, mistreatments and the fact that not everyone always controls their own destiny. You’ll catch yourself starting to care for some of the inmates, as some crimes can be forgiven, as well as hate the jailers and wardens because there is too much going on that should never be allowed. It’s clear that to some, these women are not even human beings anymore.
The only thing Orange is the new Black seems to suffer from is something I would like to call the Game-of-Thrones-Syndrome. This means the series is trying too hard to become original, whilst at the same time striving to live up to an unspoken agreement of having a set amount of boobs in the series, before the episode is deemed finished. This sometimes gets in the way of the story – even though sex is an important aspect in prison, especially if you can’t have any for such a long time. Nonetheless, some portions of the story would have been even better if they were explored further. This might be nitpicking though, as even the described grittiness has its charms to make the series a bit dirtier and ‘passionate’.
One thing Orange is the new Black stands out in, are its actresses and actors. You’ll see nothing more than topnotch acting throughout the second season, be it from the main characters all the way to silly side characters that only appear once or twice during all thirteen episodes. Taylor Schilling shows us that the pampered Piper is capable of much more than whining and crying silently in a corner. There’s a clear evolution of many of the characters, all portrayed by great actors/actresses, who have a lot more to them then you’d initially think behind all of their tormented souls.
Conclusion
Orange is the new Black: Season 2 provides thirteen great episodes, albeit with some slight cracks in the foundation. Binge watchers will find their joy, as they will also be able to lock themselves up with a do not disturb sign. All in all – lots of ‘fun’ storylines in this second season but above all, the main thread proves to be the series’ greatest asset.
Orange is the New Black: Season 2 (Blu-ray) - Series Review,
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