I read an article where one of the Latina characters talked about the preparation and shooting of the branding scene with Taylor Schilling (Piper) and how intense it had to be. The flames were real.
I’l be interested to see what happens with Daya - I’ve always found her a pretty “flat” character, even with some of the most interesting storylines around her. It’s interesting that they chose her to be the one with the gun.
I agree. I found Daya flat and never really saw what Bennett saw in her.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/orange-is-new-black-maria-piper-nazi-branding-906797
This is the article I referred to in post 80.
Here’s an article arguing the show doesn’t need Piper anymore. I admit I find her less interesting now than many of the other characters:
http://www.tvguide.com/news/orange-is-the-new-black-season-4-piper-chapman/
"But four seasons later, Kohan no longer needs to use an upper-middle class white woman to make audiences care about women of color, transgender women and others who have been historically marginalized in mainstream media. Because while Schilling is still the only Orange star submitted as a lead actress for the Emmys, Orange has become a true ensemble cast, with any of its dozens of actresses able to step up and carry a storyline on their own…
Piper’s now come full circle. While she isn’t in the exact same place she started the series, she isn’t too far off. Piper’s back with Alex (Laura Prepon), still convinced C.O.'s such as Piscatella (Brad William Henke) like her simply because she’s polite and white and still self-righteously convinced that prison should be a socially just environment, and that it’s up to her to make it that way.
If after everything she’s experienced in prison so far, Piper has yet to learn anything, where does she go from here?"
Seriously? Piper’s true character has been revealed - she is NOT just preppy white princess out of her element. They could have so easily taken her into Private Benjamin territory and they didn’t.
If we are going to lose white characters, lose Alex and Nicky. They’re interchangeable. Quirky personal features, mouthy lesbians, drug convictions, no interesting backstory. (Nicky just seems like a spoiled rich girl - I haven’t seen anything compelling or poignant in her backstory).
I think it’s the cool-girl thing to proclaim you hate Piper because she’s white. I don’t care. I think Taylor Schilling does a fabulous job.
I like Nicky - not sure why. I just think the character and the actress are charismatic. Alex, not so much - I find her unappealing. My favorites have consistently been Taystee & Poussey - I guess I’ll have to branch out a bit now!
I do really like the story line with Pennsatucky and Boo. Both became so much more likeable & almost sweet, which would have been incomprehensible a couple seasons ago.
I was wondering about the actresses who play the white supremacists - I guess they just have to accept being bald while filming is going on!
Actress-wise, I think the best ones are (in no particular order) the actresses who play Piper, Suzanne, Red and Pennsatucky. Maybe Norma insofar as it takes a lot of talent to convey so much without speaking. Other thoughts? It’s a very talented cast overall of course.
I am also impressed by how much the backstory actresses look like and have the mannerisms of their older counterparts. So well done.
I think Taylor Schilling does a great job playing Piper. I don’t mind Alex and I like Nicky, partly because I like Natasha Lyonne and this role has been a major comeback for her after she had her own struggles with drugs (including multiple arrests and heart surgery for problems brought on by her addiction).
I have always liked Kate Mulgrew, and in fact just saw those old Cheers episodes where Sam almost married her (she was a politician or something). Hard to believe it is the same actress! Pennsatucky has gone through a lot in four seasons and Taryn Manning has done a fantastic job with the storyline.
I also like Lorna—she seems so sweet and nice but then you realize she is living in a fantasy world and will break if she is brought back to reality. I felt really terrible for Sophia and I thought Laverne Cox really went deep on showing her suffering.
Extremely talented cast.
I kept hoping Caputo would do the right thing(s).
There are SO many characters - I forgot about Lorna. We haven’t even talked about the guards,staff, etc. Caputo’s new girlfriend Linda is such a head case.
Another character I have enjoyed this season is the nun - Beth Fowler is the actress. Being the Broadway nut that I am, once I learned that she was the original Mrs. Potts in Beauty & the Beast, well now I have to keep my eye on her. I hope they give her a chance to sing at some point!
You are right! I completely forgot about Lorna. Great actress, esp her backstory which just came out of nowhere - I love those back stories. I do also like the actress who plays Sophia.