Just Can't Get Enough
Never before had I understood the cold reality of what life is like in prison for women until watching the raved about show Orange is the New Black. This series is based off the 2011 book (a true story) Orange Is the New Black: My Year in a Women’s Prison by Piper Kerman. Kerman was arrested for smuggling drug money and was sent to “the infamous federal correctional facility in Danbury, Connecticut.” As Piper is going through the adjustments of prison life, she learns the hard way that she needs to be careful what she says. Like when she complained (unknowingly) to Red, the prison cook, about the food they were being served and ended up being starved out for a week.
As the show progresses, some light gets shed on the lives of the other inmates. It helps one connect with each individual character, and makes them more life-like and real. This show is amazing at showing the real problems with the American prison system. For example the warden’s assistant, Natalie Figueroa (Alysia Reiner), is always complaining about budget cuts and the small amount of money that the prison has, when in reality she is stealing that money and using it to buy a nice car and killer heels and clothes. Even though Figueroa is quite corrupt and controlling, the men still have control over the prison in unequal ways. She says in the episode Lesbian Request Denied, “Why would anyone want to give up being a man. It's like winning the lottery and giving the ticket back.” There are all types of problems that surface while watching this show. These problems that are brought into the spotlight help make this show noteworthy and enthralling to watch. It’s the perfect show to binge-watch on Netflix because it is witty and comical with the drama that keeps us so engrossed and never wanting it to end.
-Shelby Brown
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