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The ladies of Litchfield Penitentiary are back! Netflix surprised fans late Thursday night by releasing season 3 of Orange is the New Black, a full day ahead of the scheduled release date of June 12, 2015.
The last time we saw the inmates, they were coping with the whirlwind of violence and betrayal brought upon by Season 2’s most talked-about new character, Vee (Lorraine Toussaint). Now, with Vee gone, many characters are left to rebuild fractured friendships and try to return to some sense of normalcy behind bars.
“Every person deals with the loss in her own way,” says series creator and executive producer Jenji Kohan. “Because Vee was such a powerhouse, she certainly leaves a void when she’s gone, and it’s simply human nature to try to fill an empty space.”
“I would say that this is marvellously flipped as opposed to Season 2,” says Kate Mulgrew, whose character, Red, had a particularly rough time last season. “It’s funny. It’s whimsical. It’s laugh-out-loud. … I don’t know how these writers do it, but they are so smart. They find the hook, and suddenly you’re in, you get it, and you’re on board.”
Season 3 brings back the same great characters who’ve made the show famously hilarious, heartbreaking and humbling. No longer the new girl, Piper Chapman (Taylor Schilling) is embracing her power and flexing her muscles within the prison – and you better believe things get crazy! Taystee finds new leadership roles among the women while Poussey seeks a more spiritual connection. Our favorite Russian overlord, Red (Kate Mulgrew), has set her sights to getting aback to where she belongs: in the kitchen. In the process, she finds an unlikely friend in Sam Healy (Michael J. Harney). Gloria (Selenis Leyva), the current queen of the kitchen, forges an unexpected kinship with Sophia (Laverne Cox).
And what about Daya? Well, she’s still pregnant; and as time passes, pressure is mounting on Daya to make a decision as to what is going to happen with the child.
And Crazy Eyes (Uzo Aduba) has always been a fan favorite. Season 3 sees Crazy Eyes switch she who idolizes others, to the one being idolized herself. Interesting, indeed!
From bedbugs to kosher meals to underwear sales, this season’s storylines have it all. But the bedrock of Orange is the New Black has always been strong characters with layered and important stories, and that’s not likely to change.
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Orange is the New Black has garnered three Emmy Awards, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, a Peabody Award, two GLAAD Media Awards, three Critic’s Choice Television Awards, two AFI Awards and an NAACP Image Award, among other honors. The series is produced by Lionsgate Television for Netflix.
Orange is the New Black Season 3 Trailer:
