Juneaucat

Thought the season just got better and better as it went. Hated the first episode with all Piper and didn't love the second ep with no Piper. I need her to "ground" the series in some way. Surprisingly, I found I missed her less as things went on. By the end, all I cared about was Red and whether or not Vee was going down. I feel like the season hit its stride with Ep 4 about Morello. It was the first one that felt the most like Season 1. The season was much more violent than I'd have liked, but I knew that was coming. Jenji said in an interview that Season 2 was going to be darker, that Season 1 was almost like camp and getting too sweet. But being a Sopranos watcher/survivor (often through barely opened fingers), I was so grateful it never got graphic and ended pretty quickly. Unpopular opinion ahead: I totally get that these are human beings who deserve humane treatment. But...I get tired of the constant implication in the series and even more so in the book that these people just barely stepped a toe over the line and ended up in prison. That the big bad world is out to get them and we on the outside should thank our lucky stars it hasn't happened to us yet. Yes, people get imprisoned unfairly. But the majority of them? Not buying it. Many of the people have real issues, often related to mental illness, and have done very bad things. No one wants to perceive themselves as a bad person. But what makes a person bad if not what they do? They rationalized a lot of their behavior, but the victims feel otherwise. I know they're people, but they're not all good people. I know Jenji is trying to ride that line by not having us sympathize with every prisoner, just 95% of them. Related to that, I liked that they humanized the guards more. I know the real Piper thinks all guards are the devil incarnate, but knowing several irl, I know that's not the case. Some abuse their power without question. But many are trying to do their jobs, protect inmates from each other and not get hurt themselves. If this series has shown me anything, it's that very bad people can look very nice and smile and be lovely...and slock you without a second thought. They have to keep their guard (no pun intended) up.

The real Piper is in the credits? I rewatched them just now and I didn't see her. Any hints on where to see her? I've seen her interviewed many times so I know what she looks like. But I didn't recognize her in the credits. Just read an article on this and she's the one who blinks. How very cool she was in them! http://www.fastcodesign.com/1673132/move-over-dove-orange-is-the-new-black-celebrates-real-women#5

I almost can't finish Sonja's blog. I'm either reading the writing of someone high or delusional or both. Very odd.