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

[AliceMumsnet]

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.

I've not watched all of the episodes yet but loving it! I love that it changes my impressions of characters as the show progresses - I initially really liked Piper's boyfriend but I'm rapidly reaching the conclusion that he's a spiteful bitch, and I initially couldn't stand Piper but she's growing on me although periodically sets herself back in the whiny selfish bitch camp

I absolutely loved it!! And gutted I need to wait for the next series!
My bestie put me onto it and after the first show I was like woah! Bit dramatic but I watched it all within a week and had some very tired mornings as I HAD to watch the next episode before I could go to bed!! Haha!
I loved the intertwining stories and everybody's back story too! The characters are all so different and I loved them!!

Do you think the show has strong female characters? I think the female characters are great and very strong! Even the weak ones (or you think and weak) have strength and are portrays brilliantly!
Who?s your favourite? My fave is.... Red! Hard choice!
How do you think you?d cope if you were sent to prison? I don't think I would cope well at all! I'm too honest and think I would be too easily lead! :oS
Do you think you?d deal with prison life better than Piper? Emmmm... Probably not! I'd probably end up killed as I'm not great at biting my tongue!! Haha!

Cannot wait for the next series!

I'm really enjoying Orange is the new Black.
When I saw it was exclusive to Netflix, I thought it was going to be a bit 'made for TV' but it's very high quality. I've never really watched prison based series so it feels fresh to me. DP loves it too even though it has a predominantly female cast.
Do you think the show has strong female characters?
Yes - especially Alex, Red and Claudette. Piper shows glimpses of strength but she is a bit wet. And whover said she looks like Katy Perry - spot-on!
Who's your favourite?
I love Claudette for her backstory, and the sadness in her eyes. I also like the one with the short hair and lipstick who is planning her wedding.
How do you think you'd cope if you were sent to prison?
If I could keep my head down, and have plenty to read and learn about, I think I'd be ok. I like routine and order. I don't think the reality's quite like that though!
Do you think you'd deal with prison life better than Piper?
I think Piper has dealt with it ok - by trying to fit in, get onside, find allies and play to her strengths. I don't like the character of Piper as much as some others.
The prison guard with the moustache gives me the full-on creeps!

I found this show after watching Weeds (also on Netflix; a lighter version of Breaking Bad) both were written by Jenji Kohan, who is great with both drama and comedy. I'm not usually a fan of prison dramas but i loved the way the characters are not what u think, outside the prison walls u understand what happened to them. I love Red; can't wait to see Pornstache get his comeuppance.He'll prob end up in one of Red's pies. She would have got away with it too, if wasn't for the tell-tale moustache hairs in her pastry. Mo-hah hah hah!

Have had this on my "list" on Netflix for a few months now but have only watched one episode.
Will dive back in and see if it gets better.
Me in prison? Would not cope at all. I would be the one sat on the floor in a corner talking gibberish to myself.

Can't wait for the new season. I love that creator Jenjii Kohen (spelling? sorry, can't be bothered looking it up) has used Piper's story of a middle-class white lady as a trojan horse to get us all in to this world of stories about women whose lives we never get to see otherwise.

i watched it all the way through back to back loved the characters, love the back story and how she has had to change, its brilliant

i can highly reccomend nurse jackie for the next mn netflix watch

Addictedtosugar - log in to your NetFlix account, then use Search. Typing in "orange is" should be enough to find it.

If using iPad app, I find it then comes up with banner with a play button, then episode pictures below that. Other platforms may be different.

So I've been giving this show a go. I got quite excited about watching it when I saw this would be the next show, and started reading up about it. I think it adds an extra dimension when you realise that it's a true story.

I started off thinking Piper was just a bit wet, and seemed to walk straight into awkward situations. I've just watched the chicken episode and I think her character completely changes here - where she's giving the motivational speech about the chicken to Red.

My DP loves the show too, and it has been addictive viewing. We watched 6 episodes over 2 evenings.

Watched the whole series, and mostly enjoyed it. Piper is very hard to warm to, imo, and seems to take her sentence as a bit of a joke until she is in actual danger. Can't stand her boyfriend (Jason Biggs). They both come across as middle class twats tbh, but I think that's the point. The power structure within the prison is fascinating, although ultimately it's still the men that hold the reigns. I wish evil things on the moustachioed officer and the warden. My favourite characters are probably Sofia and Nicky. In fact, I have a real affection for Nicky. She has that tough exterior, vulnerable centre thing going on which is deeply appealing. It's refreshing to see a drama with a mostly female cast that is character driven rather than all about their sex appeal. The uniform is useful for this, I think. Although the women's sexuality is frequently referred to and sometimes seen, it never feels like it is being designed to titillate straight men. Now that is unusual. I'm looking forward to the next series, especially after that ending....

I have only watched a couple of episodes so far, but absolutely love it.
Keep trying to find some spare time to sit down and watch more.

I have watched the series a few months ago and I really loved it. Her boyfriend doesn't come across well but basically it is a refreshing change that it is the male characters who are all a bit of a stereotype in it rather than the usual female character stereotypes you tend to get in these series. Saying that my DH likes it as well.

My favourite character has to be Taystee (although I had to google to find out her name as I can't remember anyone's names really) because it doesn't seem she has a bad bone in her body.

I love the idea of the flashbacks to the crimes the women are in prison for but I'm a bit dubious about the fact they all seem to be in for basically being good people in unfortunate circumstances .Some of them must surely be actual honest to god baddies.

Taystee - I forgot about her. She's brilliant! I loved the bit when she was practising her parole interview, saying all the terrible things they'll hear about her was all 'Boo-sh*t'.

PS I agree with CustardoPaidforIDSsYFronts - Nurse Jackie (series 1-4 also on Netflix) is superb and well worth a nomination for the next Watch with Mumsnet 'homework'

I was thinking about the how would you cope in prison question and as I'm disabled it made me wonder about what help is provided etc.

So I googled and got an official government leaflet.

My favourite line ever has to be in the list of things they DONT consider a disability -

"Tendencies to set fires, steal or hurt people."

Is that not brilliant?! That that came up enough that they felt the need to include it in the official leaflet.

Not strictly about the show but made me laugh.

But to answer that question I don't think I'd cope well in prison because Google has lots of stories about the prison service not being able to look after disabled prisoners particularly well.

Best not carry out those murder plans then.

I've been meaning to watch this for a while but this thread gave me the impetus to go ahead and start the series. I've watched two episodes so far and love it. You can tell already that they're setting up the characters so well and it's going to be really addictive. Looking forward to the rest of the series...

I love that this is strong female character based and goes beyond the superficial. I'm four episodes in and looking forward to a netflix binge over the Christmas hols.

After reading the book it's based on, I was really pleased with it because sometimes they're a bit naff.

Piper can be annoying but I think that's the whole point, she starts off naive and a bit precious and we see her change as the series goes on.

I love how we see other characters' stories. It gives it that bit more depth, and I suppose viewers are drawn to different characters rather than there just being a protagonist and that's that.

I also like how it mixes humour so well with some dark topics, you'll be laughing one minute then next to tears the next.

Can't wait for the next series.

I haven't had time to watch it all but it's definitely something I'll be doing after Christmas is over. I love prison dramas, Bad Girls, Cell Block H & Wentworth so I'm sure I'll enjoy this too. Piper seems a great character, I don't think I'd cope well with prison life so it's a good job I'm a good girl isn't it

I really enjoyed this. I watched it not long after I'd watched Wentworth and thought they were both brilliant. Its great to see strong female leads in really well written and produced shows.

Piper irritated me a bit at times but she changed over the course of the series and the ending really shocked me. I love Red and Miss Claudette. Crazy Eyes is a fab character too. I love that each character gets the spotlight across the series and that their backstories are explored instead of just being hinted at. The flashback sequences work really well.

I don't have a clue how I'd cope in prison - I'd hope I'd be ok and use the time wisely and get some qualifications behind me.

Absolutely loved this.

After breaking bad this was my favourite series. I do agree with others that it's sad that men seem to see it as a woman's show (as does my dh) but I think that says more about mens attitudes to shows primarily focused on women rather than the shows themselves.

I absolutely loved crazy eyes. It was so refreshing to see such a strong female character, especially when she tries to come on to piper and how they dealt with that.

I cannot wait for the second series. I desperately want to see what happens with piper and Alex. Brilliant acting and great story lines.

Thank you Netflix!

Just started watching this on netflix tonight. I'm on episode 2 & loving it so far!
I can see its gonna be totally addictive...

The best thing about Netflix - that I had forgotten about - is that it starts the next episode straightaway. I don't even have to get the remote!

I'll be back later when I've watched a few more episodes

I joined in with the Gossip girl chat as I'd watched all the series, but to join in this time I needed to join Netflix. I signed up for the months free trial - it is official I am officially addicted! I have such a long list of things to watch, and also love how the next episode starts straight away.

I watched the first episode last night, and can already tell this series is a keeper. It's very strange seeing Jason Biggs not as his American Pie character but I've already warmed to him and Piper as a couple. I can't wait to see more!

Ooo I watched this a while back so have forgotten their names. But will try and answer accordingly.

Do you think the show has strong female characters?
Yeah, they all seem pretty strong, I think you'd have to be to survive prison.

Who's your favourite?
I like most of them, except the meth addict, born again with the awful teeth. She's pretty awful. Oh and Crazy Eyes, she scares the hell out of me. I watched the series with my husband and everytime I left my phone on the side he'd change my screensaver to a picture of crazy eyes. I had the shock of my life when I looked at my phone for the first time. Them eyes. The memories still haunt me.

How do you think you'd cope if you were sent to prison?
I'd be rubbish and probably cry. Especially if i was almost starved, I think Piper took that pretty well.

Loved the series and can't wait for the next.

I have tried Netflix a couple of times in the past, most recently to watch Orange is the New Black, which I loved. I have now started paying for a subscription to Netflix and and looking forward to rewatching OITNB and a few other things I've found on there which interest me.
It's cheaper than buying a DVD each month.