Orange is the New Black: A Review.

Orange is the New Black: A TV show created by Jenji Kohan, the producer of Weeds, was first aired on Netflix, July 2013 and is available on Netflix (..or any other free streaming website!).

There are only 13 episodes of this brilliant first series, however in these episodes there was enough drama, excitement, humour and so on, for me to pull an all-nighter in order to finish the final five episodes. The show itself is roughly 50 minutes long (mainly due to the fact that the opening sequence is bizarrely long). However, despite the fact that you may need to be committed to watch this show, due to it's lengthiness, it is definitely worth it.

The show itself is based on the memoir of Piper Kerman and her time spent in prison. The protagonist, renamed Piper Chapman has been sent to a Women's correctional institution for 15 months for being convicted of drugs smuggling. When we first meet Chapman, you'd be excused for cringing at her obviously middle-class persona, as she goes into prison, leaving her fiancée and University graduate lifestyle, and finds it hard to develop to her 'new surroundings'. At this point, I'd recommend reading THIS - An article on what OITNB got 'right' and 'wrong' (from an ex-con's perspective). Obviously there will be spoilers, so perhaps you should read this after finishing the series, but it is a fantastic read.

I am amazed that in 13 episodes, so many potential story-lines have been created. The realistic portrayal of ethnic cliques in prison life allow for us to investigate into the differing lives of various groups such as the Latina's. the 'ghetto' and so on. The show cleverly mixes current prison life with back-stories of various prisoners who play a key role in Chapman's time in prison. It is not just the convicts who we learn about, but the guards, who are seriously...fucked up. The guards, like in most prisons, can go from full-out authoritative Zimbardo mad men, to caring and helpful.. and the majority of them are probably more unstable and dangerous than the prisoners themselves.

Oh...I forgot to mention that Chapman was actually a lesbian before being engaged (oops)..and that her ex-girlfriend, who worked for an international drugs cartel, who may or may not be the reason that she has been locked up in the first place (double-oops) is in the prison with her. After a frosty and intense stand-off between the pair in early episodes, the old couple become close once more. There are many relationships within the prison walls, and let us not make the mistake that the majority of these are romantic..human's have needs, especially if they are locked away from the outside world.

I would like to go on about characters, relationships and story-lines, but seeing as the show is only a few months old, and we have to wait until 2014 for the second season, I feel that many more people will discover this great programme and could do without spoilers. If you are a fan of drama, empathy, humour ...and lesbian sex, you will definitely want to try out Orange is the New Black. It is a very rare show, simply in the fact that the main characters are female and with it being based in a WOMEN'S prison. I would confidently give this show a 9/10 rating ..and I cannot wait for Season 2. Perhaps, I will revisit this review and turn it into a full-scale analytical post, once Season 2 draws near.

Thanks for reading, shares on Facebook/Twitter et al are and will be appreciated!

My Bucket List

The Bucket List is a concept which derives from the phrase 'Kicked the bucket' .. it's basically a list of things to do before you die. A lot of Bloggers do this, and they are always the same.. I am not the most exciting person in the world.. and I like my home comforts, but there are a few things I'd love to do before I kick the bucket. 

1.) Learn another language - I have been to a few countries in my life, and my sister is multi-lingual, and therefore I have seen, from first-hand, how this can really be beneficial. Us English guys and girls simply suck at learning languages. I speak to foreign people on a daily basis and they all say that we are too lazy to learn languages, which is true...well it has been for me so far. Yet, the main reason is our schooling. I was in the second set for French in my year and I comfortably achieved a B at GCSE. However I could barely get by now if a French person tried to hold a conversation with me.

My aim: Hopefully at some point in the next few years, I will be able to spend time learning either French or Spanish fluently, as in the future, if I have kids and a family, I'd be able to go to these countries and show them the true cultural ways of life and be able to get around easier too!

2.) Own my own radio show/Podcast: I have always liked the idea of being a somebody, but not a famous person. I do like to share my views (which is obviously why I blog. Yet with a radio or podcast, you are able to hold discussions and share views, and then allow for your 'fans' to get to know you, as well as get involved also. 

My aim: is simply to have at least tried radio/podcasts by the time i've finished University.

3.) Complete a Half Marathon: I used to keep fit a lot, I once made the mistake of letting my friends know that I used to have a six-pack and ever since I discovered alcohol and snacking, this went to pot and I can no longer fall back on muscle madness! (/sarcasm) ...I have previously half-heartedly trained for upcoming racing events and looked for more and more. Yet I would really feel i've accomplished something, if I manage to complete a half marathon..and also give money to charity, which would make me feel doubly good about myself.

My aim: Complete a half-marathon by the age of 30, and if I have done it by the age of 25, go on to train for a marathon.

4.) Visit America: This one of the most popular bucket list entries for European writers. Yet, I have never had the chance to go to America in my childhood/teenage years. There is probably no point going now until I hit the legal age of drinking/gambling in America right now. So maybe in the future, once I have a stable job, I could look at either going with friends of family in the future. 

My aim: Be able to say that i've gambled in Vegas and seen the Statue of Liberty with my own eyes.

5.) Own a shop/restaurant/bar: I've always liked the idea of owning some sort of property. All men want to buy a bar (and name if Puzzles, only the HIMYM fans will understand this!).. yet i'd love to be able to point to a building and say "I made this happen" or "I own this". It would be a risk and I'd have to work very hard to get the money to be able to achieve this dream.. but who knows?

My aim: Own a bar/restaurant/shop by the age of 50!

Pondering Potterheads...

I mostly write about football as it is a huge passion in my life.. the other is probably Harry Potter.. however via Twitter, I do not really have many Harry Potter fans to converse with.. so I thought I would write a blog entry in which I would strike up a few discussions/debates for any readers to get involved with.

If you fancy following me on Twitter by the way, do so at @MisterJPrice .. If I get enough HP fans on there, I will stop talking about sports as much, and talk to anyone/everyone about Harry Potter!

1.) Richard Harris vs Michael Gambon

The first debate/discussion I would like to discuss is the who was the "better Dumbledore"? I talk about this with many people, and of if Richard Harris had not sadly passed away, we would not be having this discussion today.. but I feel with both actors portraying Dumbledore so differently.. the argument is important.

My preference is with Michael Gambon..despite the fact that he spends 95% of his time trying to hide his Irish accent, I still feel that he is the better Dumbledore. A lot of my friends believe that Harris was more like the Dumbledore that JK Rowling created, yet in the first few films, it is still for young people and the story is innocent. I believe that as the story goes on and Dumbledore becomes less of a teacher and more of a warrior opposing Voldemort .. he must be more aggressive like Harris.

There is the example in that in HP4, when Harry's name emerges from the Goblet, in the books Dumbledore asks Harry calmly if he had put his name in the Goblet.. and of course, this does not happen in the film as we all know. Was this better or worse in your opinion?

2.) What was the most important aspect of the series that the film decided to ignore/cut?

True Potterheads know that many aspects of JK Rowlings stories were cut from the film due to time constraints, and various aspects were changed to be more "lively" for the audience...what do you believe was the most important aspect left out or changed?

For me, the weirdest moment of the whole series is that in the last film, they decide to have Harry and Voldemort fly around the Hogwarts grounds in some sort of death grip.. this was surely a stunt for the 3D glasses, but for me it was pointless and disappointing. (I have left out other examples as I want you to give your own opinions)

3.) Should Neville have killed Bellatrix?

I am sure that most Harry Potter fans are sick to death of this debate, however it is one that I love. I am a firm believer that Neville should have been the one to kill Bellatrix, as it would create justice. The argument for Molly killing Bellatrix is that as a mother, her unconditional love for her family, gave her the power to defeat Voldemorts right hand-woman. However, as much as this is beautiful, it is also frustrating for me.. as Bellatrix is supposed to be one of the best witches throughout magical history.. she had killed so many people and was such an impressive duellist. Would a woman who has been a housewife and nothing else (not meaning to aggravate the feminists here!) be able to stop arguably the best witch of all time..? No!

I also understand that Neville is not a great wizard himself, but he was supposed to be the most dedicated member of Dumbledore's army, and if he had defeated her, it would have embodied his commitment to avenge his parents.