Orange is the New Black
Season 3
(Netflix)
A-
For you brave souls who have yet to finish season three because you’re intelligently pacing yourself, or are among the few who have yet to even discover Orange is the New Black, beware: There are minor spoilers ahead.
To recap the previous season, our favorite inmates at Litchfield had been released from Vee’s presence after a runaway van, piloted by the terminally-ill Rosa, slams into the escapee. Her drug stash was removed to a safe place courtesy of Nicky (Natasha Lyonne), and Crazy Eyes (Uzo Aduba) was mourning Vee’s death after narrowly escaping the blame for slocking Red (Kate Mulgrew). Piper (Taylor Schilling) and Larry (Jason Biggs) have called it quits, and Alex (Laura Prepon) is not-so-safe in Queens after being set free following her trial in Chicago. Pornstache (Pablo Schreiber), safely arrested, still thinks he is the father of Daya’s baby, although Bennett (Matt McGorry) is slowly growing angry with the idea.
The Good
Unlike the previous two iterations, the third outing takes a break from key player Piper Chapman to let other fan favorites into the spotlight. Surprisingly, Norma (Annie Goldman) takes up a large portion of screen time, even gracing the audience with a few lines through the ever-important flashbacks. If you’re a Laverne Cox fan (and honestly, who isn’t?), you’ll be happy to hear that her character, Sophia, spearheads a new development for the show that’s crucial to its finale.
Unlike previous seasons, the current theme, faith, is front and center. Although finding faith in prison doesn’t seem like an original concept, the way the writers address it in OITNB is outstanding. In addition, faith isn’t just considered in a classical fashion; characters battled with faith in themselves, in their parenting skills, and in love. As present as the theme is throughout the season, the confrontations are never so strong as to engulf an episode. It’s nice to have something cohesive tying all of the juicy dramatic bits together.
If part one was for developing a plot and its sequel was for getting the audience invested, then this entry is all about the characters. We learn more about the Litchfield inmates from season three than the other two volumes combined. I can only imagine how much more invested I’m going to be for the fourth installment as I yearn to discover why Norma doesn’t speak, why Lorna looks so hard for love, and why Leanne ended up incarcerated.
Can we just talk about Ruby Rose for a second?
Kudos to whoever was responsible for casting this Australian Wonder Woman. Beyond her enviable eyebrows and intricate tattoos, Rose makes her character, Stella, come alive with a subtle prison attitude and mild flirting. One of the most devastating parts of the finale is realizing that you have to wait another year to watch her character flirt with Chapman while wishing it was you.
If you needed more of a reason, just know that Crazy Eyes may or may not find love, and there’s also a strong focus on lacey panties. Keep an ear open for a Harry Potter reference in episode one — it really starts the season off with a bang.
The Bad
Unfortunately, everything can’t be praised.
There’s a list of characters that have yet to be confirmed for a return, including Nicky, Bennett, and Sophia. This season’s finale will definitely have you on the edge of your seat, cursing yourself for a lack of willpower that results in another long year of anticipation.
Litchfield itself may be on thin ice, despite already being saved from closing once this season. With the new management, Caputo is seen choosing power and promotion over morality and equality more than once. With undertrained, unqualified guards that leave you missing Pornstache (that’s right, I said it), you can’t help but wonder if your favorite inmates aren’t better off somewhere else.
Finally, season three needs a trigger warning. Up until now, the commotion of prison life has been relatively easy to digest: death, loneliness, and the questionable motives of some inmates. But what I wasn’t prepared for was an all-too-intimate rape scene, paired with heartbreaking flashbacks that turn who was once a barely tolerable character into one your heart is shattering over.
The Flashbacks
Probably one of the strongest points in any episode is the moment in which we see life before Litchfield. Besides the aforementioned heartbreaking scene of a figure I’m choosing not to name (seriously, you’ll just have to watch), there are a few choice bits:
- Bennett dancing half-naked (what else do you want in life?)
- Sophia trying to navigate womanhood
- Leanne’s surprising home life
- Healy’s childhood
Although it isn’t delivered in flashback form, we also get to learn a little more about Pornstache’s family and background, as well as the dynamics between Aleida and Daya. By the end, I’m sure most of you will be celebrating your family’s relatively normal weirdness.
If you’re still looking for reasons to binge-watch season three, you’re being awfully greedy. Intricate themes and plot details aren’t your thing? Tune in for the relationship drama alone: angry sex between Piper and Alex, a love triangle featuring our new favorite inmate Stella, and an awkward encounter between Healy and Red. There’s enough here to make Lifetime movies look positively dull.
