Stacy Cruz
Staff Writer
Netflix’s original series “Orange is the New Black ” gives bitter prison life a sweet taste with it’s new second season.
The second season of “Orange is the New Black” is interesting because it does not excessively focus on Piper Chapman’s (Taylor Schilling) issues with her love triangle, but it also gives ample and interesting flashbacks on significant characters, and it contains new internal conflicts that give the show a fresh feel.
“Orange is the New Black” follows the unfortunate imprisonment of Chapman for a drug-related crime committed a decade ago. The show’s first season follows Chapman through her prison struggles, and her incapability of keeping up with her outside life, especially her relationship with fiancée Larry Bloom (Jason Biggs).
One of the most relieving differences in season two of the show is the lack of the love-triangle drama. Season one found Chapman often stuck between her feelings for Bloom and her drug-trafficking ex-girlfriend Alex Vause (Laura Prepon). In season two, Chapman finally deals with each relationship separately, settling the overworked conflict that was getting old.
The second season also features a plethora of flashbacks, which give necessary information on key characters, such as Tasha “Taystee” Jefferson (Danielle Brooks). The memories shown broaden the plot of the show and make these characters much more relatable, and in some cases likable.
Through Jefferson’s flashbacks, the new antagonist of the show is introduced, Vee (Lorraine Toussaint). Vee’s character brings forth many conflicts inside the prison, such as more racial discrepancy and fight for power. These issues dominate the prison setting, and give the show life and energy outside of Chapman’s personal endeavors.
Alongside these conflicts, Chapman’s character changes significantly in season two. After a brief relocation to Chicago, where she has an unpleasant run-in with Vause, Chapman returns to Litchfield prison a tough inmate. She steers from the moral girl from season one that made her character whiny and unfit for prison. Her new persona is better molded for the new conflicts of the show, and makes her character likable and enjoyable.
The general lack of romance drama, the new flashbacks, and new antagonist in the second season of “Orange is the New Black,” makes the show much more riveting and complex. Chapman’s newfound strength is a positive change, and makes the show easier to watch. All of these new factors give the show a necessary twist that keeps the plot unpredictable and thrilling, and strays from the boring prison lifestyle.
The second season of “Orange is the New Black” premiered Friday, June 6. The entire first season is available exclusively on Netflix.
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