# Orange is the New Black **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 13, 2013, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orange-is-the-new-black/663399 "2013-07-13T14:30:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2013, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orange-is-the-new-black/663399/161 "2013-09-08T18:05:06Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > I loved Miss Claudette, but I knew as soon as her & Baptiste started talking about what restaurant she’d like to eat at her story wouldn’t end well. I did too. Though, I was shocked that it ended in _that_ way. I wasn’t paying attention very well to her “flash back” episode. I saw the part when she discovered one of her girls had been abused by a client. Then I saw her with a knife. But I didn’t see what happened after that. Can someone fill me in? ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2013, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orange-is-the-new-black/663399/162 "2013-09-08T19:01:32Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > I saw the part when she discovered one of her girls had been abused by a client. Then I saw her with a knife. But I didn’t see what happened after that. Can someone fill me in? When she finished washing the knife and walked away, the camera panned down to the abusive client–whose house she had been cleaning–lying in a pool of blood. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2013, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orange-is-the-new-black/663399/163 "2013-09-08T21:46:19Z")
> [@db78884](#): > > Question for anyone that can help! My friends and I are trying to figure out the name of the movie showing on Movie Night at the end of episode 2. When crazy eyes makes her move… It was “Grown Ups” with Adam Sandler and Kevin James, I think. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2013, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orange-is-the-new-black/663399/164 "2013-09-08T21:47:58Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > Oh, sorry. We’re agreeing. Never mind. Her current, latest nightmare: What if he wants the baby? I’ve sort of wondered about that, too - he’s going to notice when his friend and co-worker starts raising a baby with the woman he supposedly raped. ---
**Author:** ![LuckyBastid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecae2f/32.png) [@LuckyBastid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LuckyBastid)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2013, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orange-is-the-new-black/663399/165 "2013-09-10T22:05:37Z")
Could someone please knock me off the fence about picking up Piper Kerman’s book? I started out enjoying the show but have been put off by the same thing that ruined Weeds for me. I have a strong sense that this is Jenji Kohan’s influence and not the author’s especially after having heard Kerman’s NPR interview with Teri Gross. What’ll most likely make the difference between this getting shelved with the beach books or fired into a wall is this question. Does the subject of redemption ever come up in the book? I don’t mean this in a religious sense. The show may be about how awful prison life is and the effects on the people in the inmate’s life, but for all it’s serious moments, very few of the inmates ever seem to be trying for redemption. Yoga Joan is the only one I can think of.a Help me out here. This one’s going to be off the library shelves for the next decade and I really hate spending money on a bad book. ---
**Author:** ![zombywoof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/9e8a1a/32.png) [@zombywoof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zombywoof)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2013, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orange-is-the-new-black/663399/166 "2013-09-10T23:33:49Z")
> [@LuckyBastid](#): > > Could someone please knock me off the fence about picking up Piper Kerman’s book? I started out enjoying the show but have been put off by the same thing that ruined Weeds for me. I have a strong sense that this is Jenji Kohan’s influence and not the author’s especially after having heard Kerman’s NPR interview with Teri Gross. > > What’ll most likely make the difference between this getting shelved with the beach books or fired into a wall is this question. Does the subject of redemption ever come up in the book? I don’t mean this in a religious sense. The show may be about how awful prison life is and the effects on the people in the inmate’s life, but for all it’s serious moments, very few of the inmates ever seem to be trying for redemption. Yoga Joan is the only one I can think of.a > > Help me out here. This one’s going to be off the library shelves for the next decade and I really hate spending money on a bad book. I’ve only seen the first episode but I enjoyed the (audio)book a lot and would recommend it - the look into actual prison life is interesting enough without all the made-up-for-TV sex and violence…for me the major redemption point was when Piper realized that drugs have had a devestating effect on the lives of many of her fellow inmates, and that her role in that trade was not without real life consequences. ---
**Author:** ![tellyworth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/977dab/32.png) [@tellyworth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tellyworth)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2013, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orange-is-the-new-black/663399/167 "2013-09-10T23:40:46Z")
What zombywoof said. The book is quite different from the series. Much less dramatic, life is more tedious and wearying than dangerous. But she does own her shit, as someone said earlier. Redemption isn’t the main theme. Mostly she talks about the problems caused by mandatory sentencing, and by dropping people back in the real world after a lengthy prison term. ---
**Author:** ![LuckyBastid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecae2f/32.png) [@LuckyBastid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LuckyBastid)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2013, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orange-is-the-new-black/663399/168 "2013-09-11T01:28:39Z")
Thank you both for the advice. I’ll give it a shot. I guess I’m not looking for redemption as a central theme for the book, just some acceptance by the author that she caused real harm. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2013, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orange-is-the-new-black/663399/169 "2013-09-27T17:20:10Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Well, I’ve watched more episodes now, and I am feeling less hostile towards Piper. She does indeed own quite a bit of her own shit, but she’s still a self-involved upper-middle-class princess sort. I guess it’s a testament to the writing/acting that I don’t _totally_ feel like she’s getting exactly what she deserves. Finished the series last night. Larry has never struck me as anything but a douchebag. Even if Alex wasn’t emotionally tied to Piper she’d have every right to be pissed about her getting back on the marriage wagon with the little creep. Talk about selling yourself out. I was confused about Piper for a long time–am I supposed to like her? not supposed to like her? what? I think she’s just supposed to be observed without judgment. She wants to be thought of positively because positivity is nice and it’s comfortable, but life never made her address her underlying selfishness. Prison is making her do that–remember how she got through to the kid in the wheelchair? The one thing about prison that was really messing with her was she was having to admit things about herself that she could easily ignore or deny before. The Pensatucky incident will be swept under the rug by Figueroa–who has taken a shine to Piper, and who doesn’t like attention being focused on the prison. She’ll replace the teeth that Piper knocks out of 'tucky’s mouf, and find some way to incorporate that expense into the books. If blame needs to get placed, she’ll happily lay it on the guard for letting the fight happen. ---
**Author:** ![Helena330](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/helena330/32/531_2.png) [@Helena330](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena330)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2013, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orange-is-the-new-black/663399/170 "2013-09-27T22:20:34Z")
I’m on episode ten and am having a lot of trouble suspending belief. Even county jail’s have considerably more security. Prison isn’t a college sorority. Laura Prepon and Kate Mulgrew are the only reasons I’ll keep me watching. I can’t believe the raves this show is getting. People (especially the writers) need to watch a few episodes of Lockup. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2013, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orange-is-the-new-black/663399/171 "2013-09-27T22:39:36Z")
> [@The Great Sun Jester](#): > > \ > I was confused about Piper for a long time–am I supposed to like her? not supposed to like her? what? I think she’s just supposed to be observed without judgment. \ That does make sense. ---
**Author:** ![alexandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e68b1a/32.png) [@alexandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alexandra)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2013, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orange-is-the-new-black/663399/172 "2013-09-30T10:55:27Z")
> [@Helena330](#): > > I’m on episode ten and am having a lot of trouble suspending belief. Even county jail’s have considerably more security. Prison isn’t a college sorority. > > Laura Prepon and Kate Mulgrew are the only reasons I’ll keep me watching. I can’t believe the raves this show is getting. People (especially the writers) need to watch a few episodes of Lockup. I’m reading the book, and the security levels on the show seem a fair reflection of reality. In fact, IIRC, the author says a few times that county jails have a really bad reputation amongst the prisoners in comparison. Kerman was terrified she’d be held in one when she was transferred to Chicago to serve as a witness in a drugs trial. ---
**Author:** ![want2befree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3e96dc/32.png) [@want2befree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/want2befree)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2013, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orange-is-the-new-black/663399/173 "2013-10-01T16:16:39Z")
Just finished the season, and wanted to wait until I did to read this thread. Is it just me, or does the actor that plays Bennett look like and have the same mannerisms as Tony Goldwyn? ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2013, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orange-is-the-new-black/663399/174 "2013-10-23T23:44:48Z")
Just started watching (newly signed up for Netflix with my new, zippy internet connection), I’m up to the episode where the screwdriver comes into play. It seems kind of chick-flicky at times because nearly all the male characters are depicted as pervy assholes. That said… I’ve actually teared up a few times and the lead actress is very appealing. Interesting seeing the flashbacks to how the inmates came to be at Litchfield. Who is the actress that plays Piper’s mother? I had a hard time sorting it out on IMDb. Maybe the character has a different last name than Piper? ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2013, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orange-is-the-new-black/663399/175 "2013-10-24T00:28:31Z")
[Deborah Rush](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0750658/?ref_=tt_cl_t15) plays Carol Chapman. She’s done a whole lot of stuff, most of which I’ve never seen; I think the only thing I’ve seen her in before this was 10 (she played the dentist’s assistant…). ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2013, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orange-is-the-new-black/663399/176 "2013-10-24T20:14:22Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > [Deborah Rush](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0750658/?ref_=tt_cl_t15) plays Carol Chapman. She’s done a whole lot of stuff, most of which I’ve never seen; I think the only thing I’ve seen her in before this was 10 (she played the dentist’s assistant…). thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2013, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orange-is-the-new-black/663399/177 "2013-10-24T23:04:03Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > Her own mom said she was good at making men want to have sex with her… in spite of his drunken confession to Bennett, I don’t really see Mendez as being a whole lot deeper than that. Mendez is playing all of them. He knows about Bennett and Daya and is acting the fool on purpose. When she has the baby, he’s going to lay claim to it for blackmail purposes knowing that they won’t risk a DNA test. They addressed it on the show but Daya didn’t carry it to the next step. A DNA test will prove Mendez is not the father but the prison won’t just shrug and let it go–especially not with the extra scrutiny they are under due to Larry’s story–they’ll get DNA samples from all the male guards. Bennett needs to be looking for a new job. ---
**Author:** ![mr.jp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/48db29/32.png) [@mr.jp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mr.jp)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2014, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orange-is-the-new-black/663399/178 "2014-01-04T20:06:20Z")
> [@Laggard](#): > > How can pornstache possibly think she is into him? : I thought the series made this extremely clear: Because she talked to him as a person, and appears interested in him. This would probably work on many men, but particularly so on pornstache, because this never happens to him otherwise. And particularly so from this girl, at least her mother said so. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2014, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orange-is-the-new-black/663399/179 "2014-01-05T06:57:19Z")
> [@mr.jp](#): > > : > I thought the series made this extremely clear: Because she talked to him as a person, and appears interested in him. This would probably work on many men, but particularly so on pornstache, because this never happens to him otherwise. And particularly so from this girl, at least her mother said so. Yeah, this was one of the most plausible things in the series (not that I’m implying that everything else is implausible, I liked the series). ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2014, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orange-is-the-new-black/663399/180 "2014-02-01T18:28:57Z")
As for the “implausible” stuff, have a look at reality: [Inmate gets four prison guards pregnant.](http://www.cbsnews.com/news/four-female-prison-guards-impregnated-by-same-inmate/) [Texas prison guards ran a “rape camp”](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/18/texas-rape-camp_n_3459920.html) [Inmates carry guns, take drugs and gamble on video at Orleans parish prison](http://www.wdsu.com/news/local-news/new-orleans/Inmates-run-wild-behind-bars-of-Orleans-Parish-Prison-video-shows/-/9853400/19567266/-/13114oe/-/index.html) All of these were city or county prisons, I note. New rule: before you start using terms like “unrealistic” you need to check out reality. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orange-is-the-new-black/663399.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orange-is-the-new-black/663399.md?page=10)