Orange is the New Black: Season 1

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 32 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 870 Ratings

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8.4

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8.4	Your Score
8.4	User Score Universal acclaim based on 870 Ratings

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Orange Is The New Black: Season 2 (Trailer 1)

Now Playing: Orange Is The New Black: Season 2 (Trailer 1)

Season Details & Credits

Netflix | Season Premiere Date: July 11, 2013

Starring: Nick Sandow, Michael Harney, Laura Prepon

Summary: Piper Chapman (Taylor Schilling) is sent to prison after being caught with a suitcase of a drug dealer's money in this drama based on the memoir by Piper Kerman.

Creator: Jenji Kohan

Genre(s): Comedy, Drama

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Season 1 Episodes

tbd
S1:E13. Can't Fix Crazy
Air Date: July 11, 2013
tbd
S1:E12. Fool Me Once
Air Date: July 11, 2013
tbd
S1:E11. Tall Men With Feelings
Air Date: July 11, 2013

See all Seasons and Episodes

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

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Critic Reviews

100

Hank Stuever

Jul 12, 2013

In Jenji Kohan’s magnificent and thoroughly engrossing new series, Orange Is the New Black, prison is still the pits. But it is also filled with the entire range of human emotion and stories, all of which are brought vividly to life in a world where a stick of gum could ignite either a romance or a death threat. Read full review

100

San Jose Mercury News/Contra Costa Times

Chuck Barney

Jul 8, 2013

Orange is teeming with humor, heart and poignancy--all the elements needed to qualify it as one of the summer's must-see shows. Read full review

Bruce Miller

Jul 8, 2013

Kohen, basing her series on Piper Kerman's memoir, immediately gives us characters worth watching.... Orange is the New Black is TV that'll have you talking for days. Read full review

James Poniewozik

Jul 10, 2013

The show becomes more engrossing as is spins out from her story, fleshing out the inmates, their backstories, and their alliances. You may come for the culture-clash cringe-comedy; it’s the real human stories that will have you captivated. Read full review

Sohrab Ahmari

Jul 16, 2013

The performances by the likes of Mr. Biggs, Ms. Mulgrew and, especially, Ms. Schilling are so convincing, and the dialogue so sharp, that none of this feels like prurience for its own sake. Read full review

Matthew Wolfson

Jul 16, 2013

While it's not apparent that the show's personalities add up to anything more than themselves at first, they ultimately prove to be compelling studies of people trying to work through glaring mistakes and obvious limitations to fashion some sort of livable present. Read full review

Tom Gliatto

Jul 8, 2013

An irritating comedy-drama. [15 Jul 2013]

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User Score

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8.4

User Reviews

carolinap

May 15, 2014

Even if the plot is somewhat hard to believe, it's the acting that has me hooked. Taylor Schilling is pure gold in this role, and excellently weaves together aspects of a character that you both hate and love. Whether or not you're a fan of Jenji Kohan, the jokes are funny, the conflictsEven if the plot is somewhat hard to believe, it's the acting that has me hooked. Taylor Schilling is pure gold in this role, and excellently weaves together aspects of a character that you both hate and love. Whether or not you're a fan of Jenji Kohan, the jokes are funny, the conflicts tense, and the show worth watching. At least give it a try.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

araT

Jul 26, 2013

Orange is the New Black is one of the best things to have been broadcast, ever. If you don't watch this show, you're missing out on sheer brilliance. With the right balance of drama & comedy they broach real issues spanning from racism, to politics, to homophobia without boring or lecturingOrange is the New Black is one of the best things to have been broadcast, ever. If you don't watch this show, you're missing out on sheer brilliance. With the right balance of drama & comedy they broach real issues spanning from racism, to politics, to homophobia without boring or lecturing the viewers, and they have a stellar cast & a stellar crew to bring it to us & keep us on the edge of our seats right till the last second.

TL;DR: WATCH THIS SHOW.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

Spawnycat

Jul 11, 2013

I have to admit, I didn't know quite what to expect from Netflix as a show producer, but if "Orange is the New Black" is representative of the caliber of the shows they're investing in, I'm really impressed! Both the writing and the casting are excellent, and the show manages to be reallyI have to admit, I didn't know quite what to expect from Netflix as a show producer, but if "Orange is the New Black" is representative of the caliber of the shows they're investing in, I'm really impressed! Both the writing and the casting are excellent, and the show manages to be really funny while also telling meaningful stories about a refreshingly diverse range of engaging and three-dimensional characters My friend and I decided to check out just the first episode, but ended up watching five in a row because we were so caught up in the different storylines. It's already one of my favorite new shows, and I'm thrilled that Netflix has already ordered a second season it's nice to know that they recognize a good thing when they see it!

Side note: I would respectfully disagree with the reviewer who said the show made prison look not as bad as it really is, because the prison in the show is a medium security prison that does not house the most violent inmates. As such, it is actually a more realistic portrayal of life a typical women's prison than what we usually see on TV, though some of the characters may be unusually quirky!… Expand

17 of 22 users found this helpful175

guiltyconscious

Aug 29, 2013

I did not expect much from the show but it turned out to be one Hilarious Show. Netflix hit the bulls eye with this one. I can't wait for the next season.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JawsLaxerDrama

Jul 20, 2014

Orange is the New Black...when I first heard the copious amounts of praise i thought it was the same old with Mad Men, Breaking Bad and House of Cards (all amazing shows) For some inexplicable reason, I thought OITNB would be boring; where the hell did I get that idea from?
Piper Chapman,Orange is the New Black...when I first heard the copious amounts of praise i thought it was the same old with Mad Men, Breaking Bad and House of Cards (all amazing shows) For some inexplicable reason, I thought OITNB would be boring; where the hell did I get that idea from?
Piper Chapman, the character is an educated woman who is convicted of a crime that happened more than a decade ago; she says goodbye to her family and friends and enters prison which is the equivalent of Mean Girls except in jail. It's fun, never bores you, and the characters are crazy (they should be) It's easy to binge watch the whole season in a day, and i was shocked to find myself cheering for some of the inmates rather than the guards (particularly Pornstache) A great show! A-… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

MuffinManDrury

Jul 19, 2017

Set within one of the more monotonous contexts, Orange is the New Black is, ironically, funny and poignant. Taylor Schilling leads a talented cast, whose characters are delightfully idiosyncratic, if not a bit too caricatural. Unfortunately, most of these personalities are left completely orSet within one of the more monotonous contexts, Orange is the New Black is, ironically, funny and poignant. Taylor Schilling leads a talented cast, whose characters are delightfully idiosyncratic, if not a bit too caricatural. Unfortunately, most of these personalities are left completely or partially unexplored come the finale. While indicative of potential in future seasons, this does make the subplots featuring these characters - which progressively diminish the narrative's focus - feel somewhat insignificant. However, convincing performances, writing and particularly Chapman's subtle, yet profound development leave me excited to see how subsequent events unfold.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Sketch987

Sep 18, 2014

Humor is kind of subjective thing, but I don't see how this show is funny. The characters are unrealistic and uninteresting, and it didn't take me long before I decided I really didn't care what happened to any of them (ie. first episode). And though some people are calling the showHumor is kind of subjective thing, but I don't see how this show is funny. The characters are unrealistic and uninteresting, and it didn't take me long before I decided I really didn't care what happened to any of them (ie. first episode). And though some people are calling the show heartwarming, to me it just seemed as trite and shallow as a dollar store greeting card. Ultimately Orange is the New Black is just another empty drama aimed at women, and seems to be the female counterpart of a mindless action flick. Zero out of ten.… Expand

1 of 6 users found this helpful15

SEE ALL 118 REVIEWS

Seasons & Episodes

80

Series Overview
Season 7

81
- Season 7 Overview
  Air Date: July 26, 2019
Season 6

69
- Season 6 Overview
  Air Date: July 27, 2018
Season 5

67
- Season 5 Overview
  Air Date: June 9, 2017
Season 4

86
- Season 4 Overview
  Air Date: June 17, 2016
Season 3

83
- Season 3 Overview
  Air Date: June 11, 2015
Season 2

89
- Season 2 Overview
  Air Date: June 6, 2014
Season 1

79
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: July 11, 2013
- tbd
  S1:E13. Can't Fix Crazy
  Air Date: July 11, 2013
- tbd
  S1:E12. Fool Me Once
  Air Date: July 11, 2013
- tbd
  S1:E11. Tall Men With Feelings
  Air Date: July 11, 2013
- tbd
  S1:E10. Bora Bora Bora
  Air Date: July 11, 2013
- tbd
  S1:E9. F*cksgiving
  Air Date: July 11, 2013
- tbd
  S1:E8. Moscow Mule
  Air Date: July 11, 2013
- tbd
  S1:E7. Blood Donut
  Air Date: July 11, 2013
- tbd
  S1:E6. The WAC Pack
  Air Date: July 11, 2013
- tbd
  S1:E5. The Chickening
  Air Date: July 11, 2013
- tbd
  S1:E4. Imaginary Enemies
  Air Date: July 11, 2013
- tbd
  S1:E3. Lesbian Request Denied
  Air Date: July 11, 2013
- tbd
  S1:E2. Tit Punch
  Air Date: July 11, 2013
- tbd
  S1:E1. I Wasn't Ready
  Air Date: July 11, 2013