Religion in Netflix’s Most Watched Original Series, ‘Orange is the New Black’

By Kelly Frazier --
10 Jul 2016 --

Exploration of faith is a common theme in Netflix’s Orange is the New Black.

Orange is the New Black is an American comedy-drama series. It is based on the memoir of Piper Kerman, titled Orange Is the New Black: My Year in a Women's Prison. Kerman was indicted in 1998 for drug trafficking and money laundering. Her experience at the FCI Danbury, a minimum security prison, provided her with the basis for her memoir.

Religion in Netflix’s Most Watched Original Series, ‘Orange is the New Black'[/tweetthis]

The series that premiered in 2013 and is now in its 4th season. The major theme for season 3 was the exploration of religion and belief. Based on the episodes so far that has been aired in Netflix, season 4 also has religion as its base theme. Season 4 has a first in the series, a new inmate wearing a hijab.

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#ProudlyGospel ‘Orange Is the New Black’ Teaches Lessons About Religion https://t.co/tNMJQvsrNG click to see details
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The story shows the effect when power is stripped away from people. In prison, all the prisoners are powerless, no matter who they are or where they come from. What goes hand-in-hand with powerlessness is faith. In prison, religion/faith matters, because that is the only option a prisoner has. For instance, the character Bennet's faith that love solves all problems, Caputo's faith in receiving the bigger reward for doing good, Red's belief that she would be able to protect Nikki by becoming a good parent for her, and so on.

Orange Is the New Black: My Year in a Women’s Prison[/caption]Of course, eventually, the system breaks all their faith. The ultimate message that the show provides about faith is that the uncaring universe can provide good things as well as bad things. The finale of season 3 showed all the major character's childhood encounters with God, and religion, both the positive and the negative side.

Orange is the New Black is one series that attracted a lot of praise for its portrayal of women in complex, diverse, and well-developed characters. Season 3 astutely introduced the viewers to the themes of religious practices, identities, and communities of women. It showed how women often get the short end of the straw when it comes to prominent religious faiths in the world. These issues remain relevant in contemporary real life.

The series lets the viewers peek into the religious lives of others by putting the religion under the microscope. It shows the reach of religion in the society and the impact that it could cause. This makes the show valuable, especially in the wake of the terrorist attacks that has been happening across the country, recently. The show emphasizes that it is impossible to draw a line between religion and non-religion, between profane and sacred spaces.