Orange is the New Black (prod. Jenji Kohan).

Netflix’s newest original series takes on the “women in prison” exploitation genre with intriguing results. Based on the memoir of the same name, OITNB tells the story of a seemingly mild-mannered, yuppy-ish suburban woman, Piper Chapman played by Taylor Schilling, navigating everyday life in a minimum security federal prison. Kohan excels in vividly building this prison world, populating it with a diverse cast of female characters and their complex relationships. It’s delightful and addictive in its soapiness as the series tackles socials issues of race, class, identity, gender, and sexuality through both dark subject matter and light, topical fare.