Orange is the New Black

:

Season 5
  • Network: Netflix
  • Series Premiere Date: Jul 11, 2013
Season #: 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
User Score
6.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 183 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 109 out of 183
  2. Mixed: 39 out of 183
  3. Negative: 35 out of 183
Watch Now

Where To Watch

Buy on
Stream On
Stream On

Review this tv show

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling

User Reviews

view
per page
  1. kman5473
    Jun 12, 2017
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Season 5 just barely makes it to 7/10. Things I loved: Tayste, Crazy Eyes, and Black Cindy finally come into the spotlight not as "funny side characters," but as, essentially, the primary characters. Everything is entirely dependent upon them to really move the plot forward. I loved that the more seasoned cast members get to have more coverage, as they are much more interesting than all the younger characters to be perfectly honest.

    Things that were just, "meh," - everything that has to do with Piper, Alex, and Dayanara. I think holding onto Piper and Alex as main characters at this point is a huge mistake. Essentially, everyone else around them is more interesting and has more of an impact on what is going on. Piper proposing to Alex? Could care less. Except we all know they're going to dedicate an entire episode to their wedding. Yuck. Dayanara; I'm just disappointed how lame her character has turned out to be is all. Is she gone? Is that it? A meh character is retired from the show in meh way?

    Where is Sophia? She was in like 2 episodes, and then poof. No more.

    Things that ticked me off, or just didn't make sense.
    Linda Ferguson's entire arc throughout the show was a damn faerie tale. Its only purpose was to play out the fantasy of someone who is a board member of MCC be put through the same trenches that all the inmates face because, obviously, she's going to get freed (pry mid-season 6 or at the end) and make change happen, despite the fact that the riot (essentially) failed.
    Everything involving the meth heads. That little gimme at the end where the burn all the records? Yeah, that still doesn't make up for all the other **** up **** they did this season. There is clearly one or two writers who are like, "But wait, I know we can make people love them!" No. You can't. Please, get rid of them. The actresses are fantastic, don't get me wrong, but their characters are just sickening to even look at on screen.

    This season, overall, was solid, but the parts that dragged were really tedious to get through. I like the idea of where this series headed, but the execution of it was off. It felt overly preachy about a lot of different sociopolitical issues, which also felt forced on top of that.    … Expand
  2. TVBug
    Jun 12, 2017
    10
    The most human and the most humane of the OITNB seasons. We see the inmates, the jailors, and the corporate drones as whole people. Check your soul if you aren't moved by this season. Watching it can make you a better person.
  3. JorgeLestre
    Jun 11, 2017
    8
    OITNB is back but with a few downs this year. The covering of only 3 days in the prison after that sad event limited the creative's team work. The characters fail do develop as good as in the previous seasons, but the humor and the dramatic work is still there blossoming.
  4. diamandiss
    Jun 12, 2017
    10
    Essa foi com certeza uma ótima temporada, tratando principalmente de temas como a humanidade. Assistindo essa série com a mente aberta, você com certeza irá se tornar uma pessoa melhor, muito obrigado OITNB por trazer mais uma temporada maravilhosa com ótimas reflexões.
  5. ShineDelaNoire
    Jul 3, 2017
    10
    Absolutely hilarious. This season is probably the funniest of them all, the comedy has always been good in Orange, but this time round they outdid themselves. As always, there's loads of whining from the purists, but don't be deceived, this season is as good as any other; yes, it does get a bit unrealistic at times, but it has always been that way, hasn't it? It's a TV show, not aAbsolutely hilarious. This season is probably the funniest of them all, the comedy has always been good in Orange, but this time round they outdid themselves. As always, there's loads of whining from the purists, but don't be deceived, this season is as good as any other; yes, it does get a bit unrealistic at times, but it has always been that way, hasn't it? It's a TV show, not a documentary. If you're fan, then you've already seen it, if you haven't, you definitely should. There's not much of Piper and Alex, however, so be forewarned, they really take a backseat this season, which is another potential point of criticism, though it did not bother me that much because there are loads of other really strong characters.… Expand
  6. jac1234567
    Jun 11, 2017
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The decision to make the season span 3 days was definitely intriguing as OITNB is trying a new formula for this season. I think the writing is just as sharp as prior seasons but it does drag a bit at some points because each episode covers only a few hours in the show universe. The flashbacks this season are a weak point. They don't really offer great insights into characters like the flashbacks in the previous seasons. It almost feels like they are just there to fill time. There are notable highlights though: Taystee, Cindy, Watson, and Soto are all grieving over the loss of Poussey and I think the show handles this excellently. The grief process is slow and realistic and the show does not shy away from using Poussey's death to shine a light on the institutional issues within the Litchfield prison system. Another interesting dynamic this season is the way the media covers the riot compared with the way the prisoners see the riot. It's definitely a timely season with sensationalization so rampant in the media. I have three episodes left of this season and I recognize that it's not the best OITNB has been, but I certainly think it's still an extremely watchable and important show.… Expand
  7. Gamexpert
    Jun 13, 2017
    10
    Well, i really liked it.
    I really dont see why this season isnt well received.
    It is something different, but the essence of OITNB is still there.
    I didnt like how they handled the Piscatella-Part, but the rest was pretty good.
  8. brockcheese
    Jul 26, 2017
    7
    This season is definitely the worst one yet but the show still shines through in all of the brief glimpses of humanity. I only wish that this season took itself a little more seriously.
  9. marcmyworks
    Jun 25, 2017
    7
    This seasons had a lot of potential and a great amount story to tell; however it falls short towards the end. The prison is in a riot and we see our characters over the span of three days try and survive, understand and enjoy what little freedom they have. It starts off with good enough intentions but lacks the payoff we all desire.
  10. CPD98
    Jun 18, 2017
    9
    Si eres fan de la serie es difícil resistirse a esta temporada. Es de lejos la más alocada y divertida de las 5 y es tan entretenida como siempre. Una temporada diferente, pero para bien.

Awards & Rankings

40
#40 Most Discussed TV Season of 2017

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
67

Generally favorable reviews - based on 20 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 20
  3. Negative: 0 out of 20
  1. New York Post
    Reviewed by: Sara Stewart
    Jun 16, 2017
    63
    Viewers are likely to be just as polarized by the riot, which undermines the humanity of some of Litchfield’s inmates by showing them embracing violent vengeance. Like it or hate it, though, this season of the award-winning show manages to feel more relevant than ever.
    Read full review
  2. Vox.com
    Reviewed by: Emily VanDerWerff
    Jun 12, 2017
    70
    This season of Orange gets better and better the longer it goes (though, weirdly, the slasher homage is dropped into the middle of the otherwise very good back half of the season), and the final three episodes go from strength to strength. ... There are a lot of plot holes and missteps along the way. But that doesn’t negate the power of the closing passages of the season.
    Read full review
  3. New York Magazine (Vulture)
    Reviewed by: Matt Zoller Seitz
    Jun 9, 2017
    50
    Even the best performances and moments suffer from the season’s lack of focus, inability to shift tonal gears smoothly, and Netflix bloat (the siege might’ve worked better as a more compact arc rather than a 13-episode extravaganza). Points for audacity notwithstanding--this is another instance of an ambitious and unusual series writing conceptual checks that its storytelling prowess can’t cash.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »