Orange is the New Black (Season 1)

Whelp, folks! Netflix has done it again. This year they've brought us original and semi-original content and it's been mostly awesome (see "House of Cards" and "Arrested Development," Season 4). ("Hemlock Grove" was a bit of terrible, but you can't hit every time.) Jenji Kohan's "Orange is the New Black" is another dose of awesome. I've just finished the season, which is completely available on Netflix Instant. I must admit I had my doubts going in, as I hated "Weeds." However, right from the first episode I really liked "Orange." The show is based on the memoirs of Piper Kerman. The premise of the show is that a woman gets caught for being a drug mule one time 9 years ago and now she must serve a year in prison. The show chronicles her stint in the big house while she tries to keep in touch with loved ones (chiefly her fiancee) in the real world. The show's lead, Taylor Schilling (she plays Piper Chapman), is a fantastic during both the show's dramatic and comedic moments. In fact, the entire cast of characters are both supremely written and superbly acted. Not since "The Wire" have I thought "Man, every character is well-rounded and interesting in this show!" Speaking of, I doubt Snoop from "The Wire" would get along with any of these gals in this fictional prison, but there's a different side of reality that Kohan and Kerman are trying to depict here. Rather than the gritty reality of the prison system from top to bottom, the prison is really a backdrop for exploring more universal themes of being human and, specifically, being a woman. Also speaking of, Pablo Schreibler plays a dirtbag, scuz prison guard, and he's really, really good. He's the bad guy you love to hate.

Other cast members that surprised me (in a good way) include Jason Biggs, Laura Prepon, and Kate Mulgrew. Jason Biggs plays Chapman's fiancee and he does so with poignancy. He's confused but very modern in how he treats the situation. A breath of fresh air even. Laura Prepon plays Alex Vause, the drug lord who got Piper Chapman into this whole mess in the first place. She's the kind of very confident, complex female character that's lacking in most film and TV these days (even "House of Cards" had trouble with their female leads). Finally Kate Mulgrew's "Red" is so, so good. She's a Russian who pretty much runs things from within the kitchen. She's the Queen Bee, if you will. She steals every scene she's in. And although I would've liked to see more of the adorable Morello (Yael Stone), increasing Pennsatucky's (Tayrn Manning) on-screen time was such a good move. OH MAN! That finale was fantastic! Check out all of these characters and more (seriously! they're all so interesting and watchable) on Netflix Instant! The second season is already in the works!