Orange is the New Black

Since I was recommended this show many times, my expectations for it were quite high... I just didn't know HOW much it would exceed them.
This show is addictive and interesting, so be prepared to spend at least five hours watching once you start! I began at 12am (real smart) and couldn't sleep till 7am.

"Orange is the New Black" is about a woman named Piper Chapman who gets sentenced to 12 years in prison after being caught as an accomplice in her ex-girlfriend's cocaine trading business. By the time she is caught, it had been at least eight years, and Piper has already restarted her life with a new male fiancee.

***spoilers ahead*****

In the beginning, we see Piper going to prison with a sense of determination. "I'm going to get ripped in prison", she enthusiastically tells her boyfriend. However, once she actually gets there, she realizes prison isn't bootcamp, it's a seedy microcosm of survival of the fittest which requires being street smart, and looking out for yourself.

I saw a lot of parallels between this show and the musical "Chicago" which won an oscar. "Mama" in Chicago, who did favors for her inmates in return for favors is similar to "Red" in "Orange is the New Black", the chef, who does favors for her inmates in return for something special. You have the women in prison who know how to survive the drama and those who keep out of it. Then you have several crazy women, like "crazy eyes", who stalks Piper and considers her as her "wife".

The show often shows Piper's visitations with her fiancee, her friend and her mom, which depict the dichotomy of opinions, one coming from someone in prison and one from someone living a normal life, which often becomes more distinct as the show goes on. For example, to Piper, food from whole foods becomes a luxury beyond imagination, whereas to her boyfriend out of prison, it's just a grocery store.

"Orange is the New Black" also shows stories of all the women in prison and how they got there. We get to see their personalities, and how some of them, although sharp and smart, are unwise or can be deeply provoked. Others have grown in prison, like the Yogi woman, who teaches her fellow inmates different asanas.

Overall, I would highly recommend watching this show: it is eye-opening, funny and deeply entertaining, oftentimes making me question my first world problems. Plus the acting is great, and the originality is there!