Thoughts on Netflix's Orange is the New Black

Let me just say that I will never underestimate Netflix's original content again. Orange is the New Black was a pleasant summer television surprise. OITNB follows the path of the engaged upper middle-class Piper Chapman (Taylor Schilling) as she navigates the world of prison culture that she is suddenly thrown into after being involved (romantically and somewhat professionally) years earlier with a drug-runner (played by Laura Prepon) who happens to be locked up in the same prison as her. Also, it's based on a true story. I thought this was going to be simply another show about a nice white women who is the definition of a fish out of water, which it kind of is, but it's that and much more.

After watching the trailer I wasn't expecting much, but I can admit that I grossly underestimated OITNB. Right from episode 1 the story of Piper, her fiancee Larry (Jason Biggs), and rest of the inmates kept my interest enough to propel me through all 13 episodes in 2 days (I have a lot of time on my hands).

One of the best things about this show is its ability to shift tone from funny to serious sometimes within the same line. For example, on one of the first nights of prison when Piper is on the phone with Larry she says, "Promise me you're not watching Mad Men without me." This is obviously funny as its own joke but at the same time it give us a sense of Piper's FOMO. It's like a bittersweet, tragicomic, tears of a clown type of thing, ya know?

Also, yes, the show is centered around Piper Chapman and her struggles, but the lens is also drawn back so we get to see a more complete picture of all of the inmates over at Litchfield. Mainly through flashbacks (frequently used in OITNB) the focus is sometimes turned away from Piper so we get to see what landed the other prisoners like Alex Vause (Laura Prepon), Tricia (Madeline Brewer), Sophia (Laverne Cox), Pennsatucky (Taryn Manning), and Taystee (Danielle Brooks), just to name a few, in a similar situation.

So yea... I'd recommend Orange is the New Black. It even got picked up for a 2nd season before any episodes were released. That should tell you that this shit must be good. Also, in case it wasn't clear, all of season 1 of OITNB is up on Netflix right now.  So, sorry for thinking little of you, Netflix. It won't happen again. Check out the trailer for OITNB below and let me know on a scale of 1 - 10 (1 being not at all and so forth) could you last in a lady prison? Is that a weird question? I don't care.

Thoughts on Top of the Lake

I'm honestly not sure what I just watched. Where does something like this even come from? The only reason I watched Top of the Lake is because Alan Sepinwall said that it was his favorite show to come out of 2013 and you don't ignore Sepinwall's recommendations. Oh, what's that? You haven't heard of Top of the Lake? Yea, I hadn't either. Let me get you up to speed.

TOTL is set in New Zealand and is about Detective Robin Griffin (Elisabeth Moss) and her search for a missing 12-year-old pregnant girl and potential rape victim named Tui. It’s a rare show that explores how a fixed patriarchy can pervert an entire town’s virtues, and how women must create their own spaces and havens in order to recover and endure. I'll admit that the first couple of episodes are slow. Every scene is allowed to breathe moving along at a crawling pace, so I honestly had to will myself to continue but, despite my gripes, it is worth the watch (it is only 7 episodes anyways and it's on Netflix). At first glance, many of the elements and characters don't seem to fit or seem to be way out of place, but looking back on the miniseries in its entirety it all makes sense.

For me, the most intriguing part of Top of the Lake is how the New Zealand setting is straight out of a postcard yet the story and the characters turn this town into a cesspool that you would never want to visit in your life.

Usually, TV shows and other fictional media don't really affect met deeply but I don't know... TOTL really got to me. I could hardly even relate to the characters or the situations that they were going through, so it's weird that I'm still stuck on and thinking about TOTL weeks after having finished it. I was disturbed. I was uncomfortable. I felt gross. I looked away. It ruffled my feathers. Really the main reason I watch TV is so that I can feel something other than my day to day basic gray feelings and Top of the Lake out did itself, hacking into my emotions.

TOTL is surely not for everyone. As I said before it is really disturbing and bizarre and will definitely make you want to avert your eyes. If you're going to watch Top of the Lake I don't know... maybe have an open mind? So... be prepared for that. Let me know on a scale of getting struck by lightning (1) to brushing your teeth tomorrow (10) how likely are you to watch Top of the Lake? Here's a trailer to help you decide: