What’s New in Season 5 of Orange Is The New Black?
Updated: Season 5 of Orange Is The New Black was recently released by Netflix and I have so many feeling about it. We’re back at Litchfield and all hell has broken loose. No time has passed since the season 4 finale where inmate Poussey Washington was accidentally killed by CO Bayley. In fact, her death continues to be a central storyline throughout season 5 as the inmates of Litchfield begin to outwardly resist the changes seen at the prison.
I felt sick watching episode one of season 5. Without spoiling too much, the episode revolved heavily around an unknown shooter within the prison. The episode made numerous references to the horrible mass shootings our country has experienced. The Sandy Hook, San Bernardino, Columbine, Virginia Tech and Aurora, Colorado shootings were used as jokes. One inmate tells another that she hoped the shooter doesn’t go “full on Sandy Hook” within the prison.
20 children were killed at Sandy Hook.
Mass shootings will never be funny and shouldn’t ever be used as comedy. It will forever be too soon.
Let me step down off my soap box now and get on the Ultimate Guide to Watching Orange Is The New Black.
Season 4 of Orange Is The New Black is the Best One Yet
Season 4 of OITNB is darker than any previous season. I don’t want to spoil it for those who haven’t yet watched but this season was intense in several episodes. Intimidation, shaming and disrespect for human life were huge themes and ones we haven’t seen in previous seasons. You might remember season 3 started to expose the problems with corporate-owned prisons. This storyline brings so many devastating consequences to some of our favorite inmates. Fear not though, the show is still campy but it has definitely evolved.
The Ultimate Guide to Watching Orange Is The New Black
Can you resist the binge?
OITNB is synonymous with binge watching and I recently heard Matt Mira suggest that the show is written in such a manner that viewers are tricked into watching episodes in rapid succession. Basically, nothing happens for most of the episode until the final minutes ultimately leaves you wanting to watch the next.
Wondering how long it make take you to binge watch Orange is the New Black? Apparently 2 days and 5 hours. Search any show at BingeClock.com.
Piper is totally polarizing.
Piper Chapman was born from real life inmate Piper Kerman. In her memoir, Orange Is The New Black, Kerman was praised for transcending self-centeredness. We want to champion for Chapman but unfortunately she is excruciatingly self-centered and at times really unlikable. From princess to panty entrepreneur she is always out for herself. Her terrible decisions burn her in season 4 and becomes even more irrelevant in season 5.
Buzzfeed shared the 17 Whitest Things Piper Chapman has said in OITNB. The irony here is interesting (you’ll need to watch season 4 to understand).
Can we skip the opening song?
Ok, you’re a cool kid if Regina Spektor is your jam. But hearing “You’ve Got Time” every 58 minutes gets real old. I can’t figure out if it’s the song or the extreme close ups of the faces that I find unsettling. Regardless, Netflix used to have a function that would skip the intro of the next episode in auto-play but it looks like they’ve disabled this feature.
The end credits though? Someone got it right in season 4. Each episode ends with an absolute perfect song to tie up the episode. Bustle.com has a list of each song from the season. My favorites were in episode 9 and episode 10.
Fangirling
We’re curated our favorite Orange Is The New Black merchandise available on the internet. There is some really interesting things out there and I’m not exactly sure what one would even do with most of the stuff we saw but here are the stand outs.
You’re the Dandelion to My Crazy Eyes Mug – You know we have a soft spot for Suzanne and maybe we need this mug?
Orange is the New Black Planner Stickers – You know Megan will buy any and all pop culture themed planner stickers. There are tons of OITNB stickers, but we thought these were super cute.
Property of Litchfield Federal Prison Shirt – Well, raise your hand if you want this! Two hands up over here.
(Those links are affiliate links!)
If you’ve watched the newest season of Orange Is The New Black, leave us a comment and tell me what you think. Am I being too sensitive to the mass shooting comments?