Orange Is the New Black: Season One

Orange Is the New Black is the latest Netflix original series, based on the memoir by Piper Kerman and developed by Jenji Kohan (Weeds). Golden Globe nominee Taylor Schilling stars as Piper Chapman, a middle-class entrepreneur imprisoned for an old smuggling charge dating back to her young and reckless days; but this is a different kind of prison story—a mix of social drama and social satire, with low-key humor running under the real and overarching sense of threat. As an affluent, educated woman, Chapman provides an outsider's perspective on the workings of a racially and culturally diverse world of inmates who are mostly from the poor and working classes, presenting lives and experiences not usually seen on the screen as various individuals share their narratives along the way. Among them are Galina (Kate Mulgrew), Nicky (Natasha Lyonne), Alex (Laura Prepon), and fan favorite “Crazy Eyes” (Uzo Aduba). Because Orange Is the New Black is otherwise only available through Netflix subscription, this release will be most welcome for non-subscribers. Compiling all 13 episodes from the 2013 debut season, extras include episode commentaries, behind-the-scenes featurettes, and a gag reel. Highly recommended. (S. Axmaker)