Orange is the New Black

:

Season 3
  • Network: Netflix
  • Series Premiere Date: Jul 11, 2013
Season #: 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
User Score
7.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 326 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 251 out of 326
  2. Mixed: 40 out of 326
  3. Negative: 35 out of 326
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User Reviews

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  1. anthonymca
    Jul 1, 2015
    5
    Season 3 of Orange is the New Black has left me disappointed,still, I ended up binge watching it like the other two seasons so I guess they won either way.
    The season started on it's left foot when it started off by ignoring major character development from season two. After watching the first episode I felt like the writer got the most popular story lines form season 1 and 2 and tried to    Season 3 of Orange is the New Black has left me disappointed,still, I ended up binge watching it like the other two seasons so I guess they won either way.
    The season started on it's left foot when it started off by ignoring major character development from season two. After watching the first episode I felt like the writer got the most popular story lines form season 1 and 2 and tried to recreate them. Piper and Alex again? Red being bossy? But news of the prison closing recaptured my interest, thus Caputo's importance . That is till the use of humor started to dominate. (I think they did in response to the Emmy's classifying them soley as a Drama). They devoted so much time to the humor that the drama came out as forced and non-enticing. e.i. Piper and Stella, Cindy's conversion to Judaism, and the alienation of Sophia. All of this would have been excusable if they had a strong finish. This was impossible without the existence of an major overarching conflict. They many potential ones like the new "Warden" Danny's proprieties or Piper's darker side. They weren't given enough attention and they climaxed too early. Some lack of the flashbacks lacked relevance to the presence. Finally it was too crowded. There were too many characters and story lines to fit into a single episode, so some stories took turns from episode to episode.
    In conclusion, season was entertaining but the writers off more than they could chew and some of it got spit out.    … Expand
  2. MikeB618
    Jun 23, 2015
    4
    Right out of the gate the show falters by setting up potentially interesting story lines just to fall completely flat. The removal of one of the most interesting characters is really felt as well the introduction of the new ones is extremely lack luster. The show has become a feminists wet dream, every male portrayed as either and idiot or an a** hole and all the ladies becoming so chummyRight out of the gate the show falters by setting up potentially interesting story lines just to fall completely flat. The removal of one of the most interesting characters is really felt as well the introduction of the new ones is extremely lack luster. The show has become a feminists wet dream, every male portrayed as either and idiot or an a** hole and all the ladies becoming so chummy and intimate that by the end they're all besties frolicking on a beach. Season 3 was a pill, so tough to swallow in fact that the ridiculous story lines surely left viewers feeling like So So by the end.… Expand
  3. javaman
    Jun 14, 2015
    5
    This season lacks the excitement in my opinion. Are the writers getting lazy ? I watched one episode and I am getting bored....I'll give it another chance by watching a couple of more episodes. So far this show is a real downer. for me. I expected so much more.
  4. Prosmooth
    Jun 17, 2015
    5
    House of Cards and this show both went down the toilet in their third season. At least House of Cards still had Kevin Spacey. Couldn't even fall back on nudity for entertainment this year--aside from the new girl (Ruby Rose) letting us see her goodies in one pretty good scene.
  5. JadeSa11y
    Jun 15, 2015
    6
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. After a successful start to OITNB it carried through to Season 2 leaving us hanging on desperately for the Third Season. Only being proven that OITNB is always gripping yet humorous, Season 3 proceeded to take a different turn, with a simpler outcome to the show. Humor seemed to step up it's game this season with less noticeable jokes however still very well played but finding itself less memorable this season as i found myself personally not wanting to or even remembering to revisit these moments like i did after Season One's "Wac Pack" episode. I also found myself watching the first 6 episodes over again 3 times after as i was confused by the start of Ep1 plus the story was slow throughout.

    The 3 that resembles Season 3. - Guards, Sex, & Panties.
    If you have watched S3, you know this was borderline storyline throughout.
    [SEX] : It's like Prison Panties, Sex & Suspicious Guards without the entertainment value. Sex happened in variety and way to much this season and one thing the sex didn't do for fans [Or in my opinion] was sell, and if it did somewhat sell, it sold me down the river of doubts. My hopes on the future of OITNB seem to be lacking, but this is a tiny bump in the road which i'm willing to give the benefit of the doubt; whether that is a personal preference of opinion i'm not sure. (plus, Susan's novel? somewhat cute in a weird way)

    [Going, Going Guards not Gone.] Guards losing there jobs because Litchfield's closing? Unlikely; and i'm not sure where the story went with this background plot and well, if it closed they'd move prisoners or it'd be the end of the show. Realistically for this to be included in season 3 does this really mean we're easing into the end all or are we carrying on like it's 99.9% going to do anyway into reGUARDS of where they are, it really won't matter. - It'll carry 4, it's already confirmed we'll have a season 4 so what was the point in this plot?

    [Patience with the Panties] I see how this plot worked, it betrayed Piper in a new light which i enjoyed also introducing a new Female friend played by Ruby Rose it had it's moments, i could never really hate this part however some scenes seemed pointless with the panty line of things but was only something to remember since it's a new job, and view of life in prison.

    Overall Fan Favorites were Backstories! I never doubt the amazing back stories (they're the best parts!!!) which we get to see as seasons progress; especially the ones of a few characters we love or never really knew (BUT, hold on i still don't doubt it) but it somehow doesn't sit right in this season as it seems back stories were placed at random.

    Overall my opinion of this Season is 6/10 a lot was missing, what happened to bennett? Why did Pornstache lose his Pornstache? (Maybe i know that answer already) but whats the deal with the fraudster on tv coming to Litchfield? Why did Norma after all this time start a cult, people randomly decided to bully-hate on Soso? Things just seemed to disappear and reappear, people where suddenly on then off!

    - and what's the deal with Red Velvet doughnuts? Who Knows.

    Orange Is The New Black Now Streaming On Netflix.    … Expand
  6. MlleChichi
    Oct 2, 2015
    4
    As a fan of OITNB, I can tell you that Season 3 annoyed me very much. Season 1 and 2 were enjoyable, but now, you lost me. I watched about 18 episodes of Season 3, hoping it would get better... It didn't.

    I don't know what happened, but Piper is waaayyyy over the top & annoying in this season. Her character is honestly just insupportable. Also, all the side stories of secondary chars.    As a fan of OITNB, I can tell you that Season 3 annoyed me very much. Season 1 and 2 were enjoyable, but now, you lost me. I watched about 18 episodes of Season 3, hoping it would get better... It didn't.

    I don't know what happened, but Piper is waaayyyy over the top & annoying in this season. Her character is honestly just insupportable. Also, all the side stories of secondary chars. are kind of thrown all over the place & there is no real plot or purpose to anything.

    I felt like this season was a mish-mash of random drama/comedy/action that made no real sense (and were boring). I felt lost and irritated. Would not watch again.    … Expand
  7. MrWinklestein
    Jun 17, 2015
    6
    This season didn't really have much going on. A new girl is introduced, Piper takes on a new business, and pretends like she's becoming a gangster. There's also a pregnancy story filled with family drama that plays out like a Mexican soap opera.

    My major complaint would have to be this... Just because you put a wig and lipstick on a 50+ year old woman, it doesn't make a flashback    This season didn't really have much going on. A new girl is introduced, Piper takes on a new business, and pretends like she's becoming a gangster. There's also a pregnancy story filled with family drama that plays out like a Mexican soap opera.

    My major complaint would have to be this... Just because you put a wig and lipstick on a 50+ year old woman, it doesn't make a flashback believable. It looked like 60 year old women pretending to be in their 20s, so much so, that you couldn't really even focus on their actual acting.

    However, it looks like the introduction of the new character at the end of season 3 should make for a very pleasing 4th season.    … Expand
  8. reviewf00
    Jun 17, 2015
    5
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This season wasn't as engaging as the previous two. I agree with another reviewer inasmuch that this and House of Cards both were mediocre this season.

    Anyway, at times the show was too heavy-handed with the political correctness of its plotlines. It almost felt like preaching to the choir in a lot of cases; I don't think many watchers of OITNB have problems with the concepts of abortion, transgender or lesbian issues, and yet we got monologues about how we should feel about these things akin to one of those teen Afternoon Specials; that these concepts are "okay". Yeah I know they're okay, that's why I watch the show.

    I think OITNB feels a responsibility to these issues because of what it's about and what characters are central, and that's fine, but making it preachy really takes me out of the experience.

    It was trying too hard to tell us how we *should* feel about rape, abortion and transgender topics, rather than just *telling us a story*.

    The Piper/New Girl romance felt extremely rushed and ham-handed as well. There was very little build up or sexual tension created with those clandestine sewing machine conversations, they just kind of had a half-assed "tense" encounter on a bed. It felt sudden.

    There were good aspects to the season, Crazy Eyes' romance and creative writing were hilarous, as was the whole dirty panties business. Big Boo is usually pretty funny when she's not given political speeches. Poussey's alcoholism was actually the most real and touching issue to me, because it was more subtly done and realistic. I also liked how they are tackling the issue of prison privatization, because I feel that's actually something a lot of people don't know about.

    In any case, this season wasn't awful, but it wasn't the best either. Here's to hoping though, right?    … Expand
  9. Ripandread
    Oct 27, 2015
    6
    My wife and I have been watching Orange is the New Black on Netflix and I have to honestly say that after viewing the first four episodes, as far as I am concerned, Piper could remain in prison for the rest of her life and I could care less. While my wife likes the show I'm actually depressed watching this program, maybe because of its depiction of prison life.

Awards & Rankings

20
#20 Best TV Season of 2015
39
#39 Most Discussed TV Season of 2015

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
83

Universal acclaim - based on 24 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 23 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 24
  3. Negative: 0 out of 24
  1. Uncle Barky
    Reviewed by: Ed Bark
    Jun 23, 2015
    75
    This is still a quality, provocative series that’s unlike any other and has already been renewed for Season 4. But much work needs to be done during the off-season--beginning with restoring an ominous sense of disorder and peril in a place that’s gone more than a little too soft and soapy.
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  2. Vox.com
    Reviewed by: Emily VanDerWerff
    Jun 16, 2015
    90
    It wasn't as immediately satisfying as season two, but it was, in some ways, even more important to the run of the show as a whole, and it built to a final set of episodes that are as good as anything Orange has attempted so far.
    Read full review
  3. Slant Magazine
    Reviewed by: Justin Clark
    Jun 16, 2015
    75
    Fortunately, the series is able to carry on making the ebb and flow of life at Litchfield matter even in spite of the writers' efforts to keep Piper at the center.
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