The character has grown a tad bit … boring.
‘Orange Is The New Black’ (OITNB) was one of Netflix’s flagship shows that helped it become the streaming giant it now is. But like so many other shows, this one also has come to see the end of its days, with the show being wrapped up with season 7. It’s official, ‘Orange Is The New Black’ Season 8 isn’t happening.
Highlights —
- Piper’s post-prison story isn’t that interesting
- The Alex-Piper drama
- She wasn’t the best character anyway
It was the decision of its creator Jenji Kohan to finish the multiple Emmy awards winner in season 7, so the blow isn’t too hard. Consistently garnering impressive ratings all through its seven seasons, OITNB followed Piper Chapman, an entitled white woman who gets put into a women’s prison and was based on the memoir of real-life Piper (with a different name, of course).
While the real-life Piper might have been an interesting person with a very intriguing story to follow, OITNB’s Piper started to grow boring from season 7 itself. As much as we’ll miss the ‘Orange Is The New Black’ cast, we’re having mixed feelings about the character of Piper. If Netflix changes its mind or if the show is revived, we believe ‘Orange Is The New Black’ Season 8 would be much better without Piper. Here’s why.
Piper’s post-prison story isn’t that interesting
Let’s face it: the show grew a tad bit boring when Piper got out of prison in season 7. Since OITNB began with Piper as the focal character, as she enters prisons and the changes that happen to her thereafter, we must follow her when she goes out of it. But that’s exactly what made the show uninteresting, with scenes of normal life outside the prison seeming forced and contrived. It was also kind of unfair that we got to see only Piper’s post-prison normal life adjustment, which wasn’t even that interesting, and not that of the other characters.
The Alex-Piper drama
Another thing that was wearing and probably could be done away with in season 8 was the whole Alex-Piper love story, deemed as the official love story of the show. For the early seasons, this was working well. But soon, it got boring. There was much the same thing going on: the fights, the turbulence, the cheating.
Their story ended with Piper waiting for Alex to be released from prison. It would be better now to keep the story at that, and not take it any further.
She wasn’t the best character anyway
We’ve seen Piper go worse and worse. As the seasons progress and Piper grow, well, comfortable living in prison, we get to see her darker side. And then progressively, we get to see her accept her darker side. She gets into dirty fights, lies, cheats, puts her girlfriend back in prison, and ultimately, worst of all, starts a White power group.
We’ve clearly had enough of the character. Besides, there’s so much potential in the format of the show, which can run well without even having one focal character. What do you think? Let us know in the comments!
