Talking TV

Let's talk some TV, yeah? Taking a break from the IRL stuff, let's talk about the two shows that I've finally caught up on. The first one is Orange is The New Black. Man, oh man, has Netflix got one hell of a gem here. I binged-watched both seasons and it's definitely some of the best storytelling I've seen, maybe ever. For those of you who don't know what it's about, here's Wikipedia's take on it: “The series revolves around Piper Chapman, a bisexual woman living in New York City who is sentenced to 15 months in a women's federal prison for transporting a suitcase full of drug money to her former girlfriend, Alex Vause, who is an international drug smuggler/mule. The offense occurred ten years prior to the start of the series, and in that time Piper had moved on to a quiet, law-abiding life among New York's upper middle class. While in prison, Piper is reunited with Alex (who named Piper in her trial – resulting in her arrest), and they re-examine their relationship and deal with their fellow inmates.” Now, while Piper is the main character, the heart and soul of the show is definitely all the other inmates whose lives we get to see and explore as a result of the show revolving mainly around the prison. It's an amazing show and I definitely recommend watching it. It's without a doubt, changing the way TV is made. Also, I've got a Season 3 wish list already, and it includes seeing more of the Latinas, seeing more of the hilarious guards, and maybe seeing more of Piper's brother & his wife because they are awesome. The second show I've caught up on is Pretty Little Liars. According to Wikipedia this is what it's about: “Set in the fictional town of Rosewood, Pennsylvania, the series follows the lives of Spencer Hastings, Hanna Marin, Emily Fields, and Aria Montgomery, who are four girls whose clique falls apart after the disappearance of their queen bee, Alison DiLaurentis. One year later, they begin receiving messages from a mysterious figure using the name "A", who threatens to expose their secrets. At first, they think it's Alison herself, but after her body is found, the girls realize that someone else knows their secrets—including long-hidden ones they thought only Alison knew. "A" also stalked Alison, and the girls continue to discover more and more information about "A" and Alison's disappearance—all while risking their lives." The show is basically a murder mystery – but what keeps it alive and fresh and interesting now going into its 5th season, is definitely the relationship between the four main girls. It's without a doubt one of the best representations of female friendships I have ever seen. Yes, the mystery is super fun and the reveals of “A” and all that mess are delicious, but it's also just so nice to see that even in the incredibly outrageous world they live in, they still have normal teenage problems, like coming out, working on trust in a relationship, protecting your family, taking the SAT's, getting into college, eating disorders, blackmail, red coats, creepy twins – wait. ANYWAY, I think you get my point. By the way, even if it's a few seasons in, you can totally catch up with Netflix as well. If you'll notice a common theme here, these are shows that revolve around women. It's so easy to turn on the TV and see the main (usually white) dude + love interests(s) + basic plot formula. It's also easy to see shows where female characters serve a purpose which is not being actual well-rounded characters themselves. So, to see not one, but two shows where it's about these women and their lives and their choices, is incredibly... fulfilling. So, yeah check them out and maybe come talk to me on our Tumblr about these shows – or hey, have any suggestions on shows I should marathon next? Hit me up! -SF

#sf