As we enter season two of “Orange Is the New Black,” Piper Chapman (Taylor Schilling) has a potentially serious problem. At the end of season one, she abandoned all the conflict resolution skills she learned at Smith College and beat up Pennsatucky, aka Tiffany (Taryn Manning).
Like, maybe beat her to death.
This would spell a somber opening for most shows, which “OITNB” is not.
Oh, there’s a serious storyline, but it mostly involves Piper’s old lover Alex (Laura Prepon), who’s the reason Piper is wearing orange in the first place.
And yes, the Pennsatucky mater does come up.
JoJo Whilden for Netflix Taylor Schilling in season two of ‘Orange Is the New Black’ In between, “Orange” weaves the kind of free-range humor, some dark and some delightfully eccentric, that defines the show.
If they give an Emmy for best supporting performance by an insect, we have a front-runner here.
The producers also find a way to bring in a new crop of fresh characters without losing the old zany favorites.
“Orange” started a little slow its first season, then found its prison legs and shone.
Jessica Miglio for Netflix Crazy Eyes and the rest of the inmates are back in season two of ‘Orange Is the New Black.’ This season also takes a few scenes to get into gear. But it’s faster, and Schilling in particular slides right into her new rhythm as the seasoned prison veteran.
When she’s not still the kid who really wants to get out.
“Orange” drops in standard Netflix style, of course, with all 13 episodes at once.
So go get ’em, kids. You can watch all 13 and then, unlike Piper Chapman, go out for dinner.