One of Netflix’s First Masterpieces Gets Completely Forgotten About Today (But It’s Still One of Their Best)

by

Back in 2013, streaming was just starting to become really popular. Netflix was the clear leader, while companies like Amazon and Hulu were only beginning to create their own shows. The idea of watching multiple episodes of a show all at once – “binge-watching” – was still new. None of us realized then that Netflix was about to release one of its most acclaimed series.

The popular series Orange is the New Black, based on Piper Kerman’s 2010 memoir, starred Taylor Schilling and followed a privileged woman’s 15-month prison sentence at Litchfield Penitentiary. When all episodes of the first season dropped on Netflix on July 11, 2013, the show quickly became a hit. It ran for seven seasons and even earned the first Primetime Emmy nomination for an original web series. Despite its success, it’s surprising how little people discuss it now.

How Netflix’s Orange Is the New Black Set the Standard for Streaming Television

I remember when Orange is the New Black first came out – it was groundbreaking! Not only was it the first of its kind to be nominated, but it quickly earned an incredible sixteen nominations and four Emmy wins. What really blew me away was how it became the first show to be nominated for both a drama and a comedy award! It started with Piper’s story, but soon expanded to show the lives of so many other women in the prison, making you really care about everyone – the inmates and the guards. The cast was amazing – Laura Prepon, Uzo Aduba, Danielle Brooks, Natasha Lyonne, Kate Mulgrew, Laverne Cox… so many talented people! It was hilarious and heartbreaking all at once, and it really launched a lot of their careers.

As a critic, I remember when Orange is the New Black first hit Netflix – it was a total game-changer. Seriously, it blew everything else out of the water, racking up more viewers in its first week than any other show Netflix had ever produced, even beating out established hits like House of Cards. And even years later, in 2016, it still held the title of their most-watched original series. The first four seasons were phenomenal – critics and audiences alike used words like ‘sharp,’ ‘groundbreaking,’ and ‘powerful’ to describe them. While some viewers felt the season five riot storyline dragged a bit, the final two seasons largely redeemed things, and the show wrapped up nicely, giving each character a satisfying conclusion. Looking back, OITNB felt like a true masterpiece, and it really set the standard for what all streaming services aimed for – both in terms of critical acclaim and commercial success.

Despite being a foundational show for the streaming era, Orange Is the New Black isn’t often mentioned in conversations about streaming’s history, and it’s unclear why. Several factors might contribute: the show ended in 2019, potentially at the peak of streaming, allowing newer hits to eclipse its impact. Viewership may have declined due to later seasons not being as strong, or simply because audiences moved on. Additionally, the important cultural discussions OITNB sparked – regarding prison reform, gender and racial inequality, and transgender representation – have become more widespread, making those conversations feel less groundbreaking now.

No matter why you’re thinking about it, Orange Is the New Black was a groundbreaking show for Netflix. It was one of the first original series to demonstrate that streaming services could produce smart, well-made content.

Wondering why everyone seems to have stopped talking about Orange is the New Black? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion in the ComicBook Forum!

https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/netflix-reveals-the-5-original-movies-shows-being-removed-in-april/embed/#

Read More

2026-03-17 16:40