Why Should You Watch Orange Is The New Black?

If you haven't heard of this show yet, you've been living under a rock.

Orange Is The New Black is the new, kickass, Netflix original series which centres around a woman who goes to prison for a crime she committed a decade earlier.

Based on a book of the same name, Orange has a starry cast, led by blonde newcomer, Taylor Schilling.

Photograph © Jill Greenberg, 2013

So why should you watch it and why is it appearing on a lesbian blog? Let us tell you.

1) This show is full to the brim with lesbian activity.

We're not kidding.

Everyone from That 70s Show's Laura Prepon to Natasha Lyonne (American Pie) show their lesbian tendencies in this masterpiece.

And damn, look how hot Prepon is these days:

Image: orangeisthenewblackx via Tumblr

2) Orange brings you the first real transgender woman in the mainstream media.

And my word, she is stylin'.

Laverne Cox plays post-op transwoman Sophia on the show, who is often seen giving the other ladies new haircuts and make up tips.

No seriously, this is amazing for transgender awareness. This show breaks boundaries. Get to watching it.

3) Captain fucking Janeway.

"What?" you might ask. Well, guess which Star Trek alum appears as Russian head chef, Red.

No, your eyes are not deceiving you. I'm not a trekkie, but I can understand how this would over-excite some of your science fiction nerd vaginas.

Janeway commands you to watch this show. No one disobeys Janeway.

4) So, so great for feminism.

You're probably thinking "how does a show about a bunch of convicts help the feminist cause?"

Well, almost the entire cast is female, for one thing. Proof that TV shows do not need a strong male character in the central role.

In fact, this guy is one of only three main male characters in the cast:

Yes, that is the pie guy.

But even Jason Biggs' character isn't one of the typical 'masculine', dominating personalities we see far too much of on television. Another main male character is simply the villain, who is sure to get some feminist fires flaring.

What's more is, sexuality is treated as normal in this show. As it should be. The lesbians integrate with the heterosexual characters, and there are arguably even some bisexual (and otherwise sexually identified) characters in the pipeline too.

Different sexualities are treated equally. Women are portrayed as strong. 

A feminist triumph, if you ask me.

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Of course there are a million more reasons you should watch this show, but I hope the four above help to convince you just that little bit more.

I'd recommend it to everyone (over 18, of course) from all sexual orientations, all genders and all walks of life. It's a truly amazing show that you're sure to become emotionally attached to.