Network: Netflix
Episodes: 91 (hour)
Seasons: Seven

TV show dates: July 11, 2013 — July 26, 2019
Series status: Ended

Performers include: Taylor Schilling, Laura Prepon, Michael J. Harney, Michelle Hurst, Kate Mulgrew, Jason Biggs, and Taryn Manning

TV show description:      
A dramedy, this series follows the life of Piper Chapman (Taylor Schilling), a New York City resident whose wild past comes back to haunt her. This results in her arrest and detention in a federal penitentiary

Piper’s sentenced to 15 months at the women’s federal prison in Litchfield, New York after being caught transporting a suitcase full of drug money for Alex Vause (Laura Prepon). Alex is an international drug smuggler and a past girlfriend. Incarcerated in the same facility as Piper, Alex grew up poor with girls in school bullying her and eventually wound up in the drug business.

Piper starts a line of artisanal soaps prior to leaving for prison. Once inside, she tries to understand her place in the prison hierarchy, as well as handle the stresses of her new life and of trying to maintain a relationship with her fiance, Larry Bloom (Jason Biggs). He’s a struggling journalist who believes their relationship can withstand Piper’s incarceration.

Miss Claudette (Michelle Hurst) is Piper’s roommate. She’s initially very strict but softens over time. Before prison, Miss Claudette ran an illegal immigration and child labor cleaning service. She was inducted into the service when she came to the United States as a child.

Galina ‘Red’ Reznikov (Kate Mulgrew) owned a restaurant with her husband and worked with the Russian mob. Now in prison, Red is the go-to woman and runs the place behind the scenes. Red takes some women under her wing and gives them a chance to work with her.

Tiffany “Pennsatucky” Doggett (Taryn Manning) works with Alex in the laundry room and preaches about God and healing others. She shot a nurse at an abortion clinic after an offhand remark and found religion when a Christian law firm got her a shorter sentence in prison.

Sam Healy (Michael J. Harney) helps to run the prison and manages Piper’s case, among others. He is in a relationship with an immigrant who has two years left to wait until she gets her green card.

What do you think? Do you like the Orange Is the New Black TV series? Do you think it should have ended with season seven or been renewed for an eighth season?