I have heard nothing but good things about the Netflix series “Orange is the New Black.” After watching the first two episodes, I now understand why everyone loves it. I am only two episodes in and am already hooked.
Orange is the New Black is a comedy-drama based on Piper Chapman’s fifteen month sentence in a women’s federal prison for carrying a suitcase full of drug money for her former girlfriend Alex Vause. Piper gets sentenced ten years after the incident because Alex gives her up during her trial.
During the first two episodes, the show not only shows Piper figuring out how to make it in prison, but gives us flashbacks on her life before she was sentenced. Piper is a former lesbian, but is now engaged to her fiancé Larry. Alex, Piper’s ex-girlfriend and the girl who practically put Piper in prison, is an inmate inside the same prison and clearly is trying to make peace with Piper.
In the first episode, when Piper is having lunch with other inmates, she comments on how the food is disgusting. What Piper did not know was she was sitting with the head of the kitchen, an inmate they call Red. You can tell Red is hurt by her words, but she acts as if nothing was wrong. The next day when Piper tries to get food, they give her a tray and said Red made it especially for her. When she opens the sandwich, inside is a bloody tampon.
As the episode goes on and into the second episode, we find out Red is starving out Piper for dissing her food. Piper has to figure out a way to make peace with Red before she starves. Piper comes up with the idea to make a back lotion to help with Red’s back issues. She asks around for these supplies and has to give up some of her hair in order to get products. An inmate, someone people call “Crazy Eyes” helps her out by giving Piper the peppers she needs. Piper sees this as someone being kind, not knowing what Crazy Eyes was thinking.
At the end of the second episode, Red finally allows Piper to eat again. Piper is so overjoyed and had no complaints over how the food tastes. As the episode continues, the inmates are watching a movie with their headphones in. Piper does not have any headphones, so she cannot hear the movie. Crazy Eyes sits next to her and offers one of her earbuds. After a few moments, Crazy Eyes starts making moves on Piper by rubbing her hand on her thigh.
Even though I have only watched the first two episodes, I would highly recommend this show to everyone. The third season will be out June 2015 on Netflix.
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