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Watch Orange is the New Black with Mumsnet and win an iPad mini

122 replies

AliceMumsnet · 13/12/2013 10:08

Last month we started Watch with Mumsnet, a new TV club, in which we'll be watching and discussing some great TV series together. Last month, we got stuck into Gossip Girl, and this month we'll be watching the all-new, exclusive-to-Netflix, Orange is the New Black.

Orange is the New Black follows the life of Piper Chapman, a middle-class Brooklynite who has to pay her debt to society when her past as an international drug runner comes back to haunt her.

Arrested and then imprisoned in a federal jail, Piper is forced to trade her comfortable New York life with fiance Larry for an orange jumpsuit and a strange new world of everyday indignities that force her to question everything she thinks she knows.

There's already much excitement and discussion about the series from Mumsnetters:

"I am addicted. Love it. Highly recommend." Cutitup

"Me too! It's real watch-as-many-as-you-can-in-a-row tv. I love the fact that each character has a story, and the black humour. It's very good on female relationships as well." PepeLePew

"TV show of the year!! Absolutely brilliant characters and acting!! I've watched it once all the way through on my own and again all the way through with DP who loved it too!" LeslieKnope

You can watch the whole series instantly on Netflix here, and if you subscribe to Netflix now, you get the first month free.

Once again Netflix are offering you a chance to win an iPad mini. All you have to do is watch and discuss the series with other Mumsnetters on this thread to be entered into the prize draw. All contributions are welcome, whether or not you've watched the whole series - but if you?re not sure where to start, here are a couple of the questions that we think the series prompts:

Do you think the show has strong female characters?
Who's your favourite?
How do you think you'd cope if you were sent to prison?
Do you think you'd deal with prison life better than Piper?

Happy watching!
MNHQ x

This prize draw is now closed.

Watch Orange is the New Black with Mumsnet and win an iPad mini
OP posts:
ThePortlyPinUp · 14/12/2013 20:58

I loved the series, watched it all within a couple of days and was then bereft when I'd finished it. I developed a total crush on Alex, she is just so gorgeous. Piper is a bit wet and she does a funny mouth thing which began to grate on me after a while, and Dp got chuffed off with me keep going on about how Piper reminds me of a blonde Katy Perry.

ThePortlyPinUp · 14/12/2013 21:04

Would I do well in prison? I don't think so but Dp thinks I'd be fine, I'm not prepared to test his theory though Xmas Wink

Paintingrainbowskies · 14/12/2013 21:46

Loved this series and cannot wait for the next series.

Other than Piper my favourite character was probably Red after the tampon in the breakfast muffin moment - yuck! I like that you get a bit of the characters story and how they came to be in prison.

The show definitely has strong female characters.

I think I would be a complete mess in prison, I think it is a tough punishment. I think women naturally look for companionship and comfort from others.

Really loved the series, also liked the book although it is really different to the tv series.

mindgone · 14/12/2013 21:47

Loved it! Watched it with DH and we were both addicted, and got through it really quickly. I liked Piper. I liked the episode when the tough teenagers visited to be put off a life of crime. I think the show has very strong female characters, and , as others have put, it's so interesting to find out their back stories. Just made me realise also how easy it could be to get into that situation, just a few wrong decisions - scary!

maybunny · 14/12/2013 23:06

Just watched the first 3 episodes back to back. V addictive! Really enjoying it so far - lots of interesting characters with complex personalities.
I would hate to find myself in Piper's position and would not cope well at all. Her mother is horrendous too! Really unhelpful and unsupportive to Piper.
Can't wait to watch more tomorrow!

FusilliJerry · 15/12/2013 16:01

Loved this, watched it after finishing breaking bad. Really well written going a less predictable route that what I thought sometimes with the story. Great strong female characters.can't wait for more!

Lighthousekeeping · 15/12/2013 18:38

What kind of prison was it were murders could sleep side by side with people who had committed fraud?? I never got the open plan thing.

Llareggub · 15/12/2013 19:48

They certainly had it a bit easier than Prison Break.

I love the show. I read the book too, which is more of a commentary of the injustice if the prison system.

I can't wait for series 2.

trolleycoin · 16/12/2013 02:59

I'd toyed with the idea of watching this for a while, but wasn't sure what to expect. So far it's been great. Very engaging and pacey. I'm only three episodes in but I'm hooked. Too early to say who is my favourite, as I haven't got all rhe back story for each one but if they are as clever and detailed as that of Red then I'm sure I'll like them. Also loving Jason Biggs in this too. I would so not cope in prison-too much of a nerd, but sometimes I feel like shouting at Piper as she stumbkes blindly ibto each prison nono. So I hopefully wouldn't upset chef. I could not cope without food for so long.

Llareggub · 16/12/2013 08:21

I've downloaded the theme music. I think it will rate long with The Good Wife in expanding my music collection.

I think the chicken episode was great in portraying how the inmates craved good food. It's running theme in the book which is very different from in the series.

The real Piper now campaigns for justice in the prison system. She'd make a good person to get on for a web chat.

peachactiviaminge · 16/12/2013 08:25

I really love this, its so nice to see strong female characters in an unusual setting. The last show I saw with female prisoners was Bad Girls! I can see some of the characters are going to develop beautifully and can see myself becoming very attached console of them.

peachactiviaminge · 16/12/2013 08:26

Some of** not console!

AngelsLieToKeepControl · 16/12/2013 09:25

Did anyone else find themselves really liking Pensatucky (?) is that her name? The religious character. She is another of my favourites.

Whoateallthecheese · 16/12/2013 12:44

Was ill at the weekend and started watching this. LOVING IT! Just so addictive! Love the black humour, and really interesting to see a TV show that features predominantly female characters, particularly ones with such strong personalities, there aren't that many of them around.

Am now five episodes in and can't wait to see what happens.

I like Piper, although she is irritating sometimes and I don't entirely buy all of her actions as believable, especially in the episode with the chicken where she abandons that important business call. Love Red and Alex...

I hadn't realised the series was based on a memoir, so I'm intrigued to read the book now and see how it differs.

MrsClauswearsspanx · 16/12/2013 12:48

I've only watched two episodes so far, but I do love it and I find her ex girlfriend a bit of a creep.

Her fear at being there is very realistic and I'm looking forward to getting stuck in even further. ...

HappyQuizmas · 16/12/2013 17:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mrscumberbatch · 16/12/2013 18:05

I love this show. I think I watched the whole thing in about a week.
The storyline and the characters are all well fleshed out and interesting.

On the face of it, it doesn't sound like the type of show I'd enjoy but I absolutely devoured it! Looking forward to next season.

My favourite character is probably Big Red. I love that she's the stereotypical kitchen matriarch and then you learn her back story. I'd definitely want to be on her good side!

mrscumberbatch · 16/12/2013 18:06

The character who gets herself put back into prison because she has nowhere else to go is heart wrenching as well. And not overplayed.

LaVitaBellissima · 16/12/2013 18:13

I've heard great things about this series Smile

I have just downloaded Netflix on my iPad and signed up for my free month. I think I may go to bed early over Christmas a lot (being descended in by lots of DH's Italian relatives) so I'll enjoy getting stuck into a new series and discussion about it.

bredon1 · 16/12/2013 18:30

Great series ...haven't finished it yet but looking forward to watching over Christmas.

Donnah77 · 16/12/2013 18:46

Love it!!!
So funny and really makes me cringe in parts, it's good to watch something a bit different, I was a huge fan of Weeds, so that prob why I enjoy watching it so much...even got my hubby watching it too!!

Galaxigirl · 16/12/2013 18:49

Strong series, good plotline. Very addictive :)

SarahJessicaFarter · 16/12/2013 19:16

I watched this earlier in the year and loved it. I like the portrayal of Piper as she is gradually stripped of all the things she took for granted, her relationships that develop over the series. The ending is stunning, literally. I don't want to spoil it for anyone. But her character changes completely. Or rather she's in survival mode! Her fiancé is interesting and his parents are something else. Let alone her best friend from the outside. Awesome series, can't wait for the next one.

addictedtosugar · 16/12/2013 19:32

How are you all watching anything more than the trailer???

MysteriousHamster · 16/12/2013 19:52

I've watched the whole series on Netflix and really enjoyed it. It's rare to see a show largely about women with a whole raft of issues and storylines that aren't just romance or baby-focused (though nothing wrong with those in a mix, either).

The downside to that is that when I've tried to recommend it to men at work they've written it off as 'oh that's a woman's show', which rankles. Yes it's about women but how many shows do women watch which are male centric without thinking 'oh that's a man's show'? (I mean, yes arguably there are some shows that are decidedly blokey, but not every show with a large male cast). There's nothing you can do about that except continue to make good television and eventually with reviews and awards they might think 'let's see if this is any good'.

In the meantime I think marketing to mumsnet is a good start :D.

Red's probably my favourite but I really like Kate Mulgrew so long as she's not an active captain of a starship anyway. I'd like to know more about her back story. Not that bothered about Piper's ex-girlfriend though I know most of the fandom is!

I also like how diverse the cast is. There's a danger that the show could have gone down the route of 'white woman teaches minorities stuff they couldn't work out for themselves' (aka Daenerys in Game of Thrones), but I think Piper has made enough mistakes etc to avoid that so far.

Don't particularly care for the boyfriend, he's a bit wishy-washy, but I realise it's a tough character when it's related to a real-life person who actually had a point and a conclusion to the story (whereas the TV one could run and run).

Would like to read the book as well.

Will definitely be back for another series.