Orange is the new black is a show about women in prison, a drama, a comedy at times and a tear jerker. It gives us a look into the lives of the female prison population from a very personal perspective. All the lesbian sex and boob shots one would expect from Hollywood but we actually get to know each of the women attached to those boobs, from how they each ended up in prison, to their hopes for the future With the added bonus of being a true story, Orange is the new black has become the hallmark for incredibly well written female characters,in all shapes, ages, colours and sizes. As you’d expect from a show produced in the USA, the lesbian aspect is treated,either as shocking , or as funny,I guess to make the less enlightened viewer more comfortable. In one of the best roles of the show, Lea Delaria as Big Boo is as vulnerable as she is intimidating, and is a joy to watch.
Orange is the new black is a progressive character driven show of high quality.
If you’re looking for a show like Orange is the new black, but without all the American hang ups about female sexuality, out of Australia comes Wentworth, in my opinion, far superior to Orange is the new black . The characters seem more realistic even though this show was based on another hit show called Prisoner and not a real life experience. Each show begins with the star OITNB Taylor Chapman, W Bea Smith entering prison and follows them through their stay. Taylor seems more naive at first than Bea, but she’s younger. While the women of Wentworth make the girls of Orange look like babies, the plot line of Wentworth is more sophisticated, the male characters are better looking and less douchey than those of OITNB. and lesbianism is presented as a normal thing that happens.
Then,there’s Pamela Rabe, an actress in her late 50s who has become the surprise sex symbol of the show. Her character, Joan Ferguson goes from governor (or warden ) to psych patient ,playing the transition perfectly, Pamela has the unique ability to make the smallest muscles in her face tell a story . I can’t wait to see more of her.
I was recently turned onto Wentworth by a friend, after seeing the first episode, my craving for a new season of Orange went away. Wentworth season 5 will air this year. It’s easy to see why actresses are clamoring to be locked up, if they get roles like these
So, if you haven’t already enjoyed all 4 seasons of Wentworth before Orange is the new black returns in June.
