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Truth be told, the series was post-prime as early as 2015, and spent most of its two penultimate seasons just a fraction of what it was. The final season of Orange is the New Black astonishingly manages to regain some lost ground and go out, if not on a total high, then with at least some of the best episodes in several years. Other seasons of Orange is the New Black may have been worse, but few have been so disappointing. It's just that, after two very strong years on air, the third season came to Netflix with high expectations. It's certainly understandable that the series tried to scale back on the drama so as not to follow season two's darker themes, and a rewatch shows it to hold up better than expected, rising a place in this ranking. Much of the season is like that, with trivial plots that would have once been there to pad out an episode, elevated to season arcs. In a meandering season that lacks real focus, the ludicrous "cult of Norma" plotline is dragged out for far longer than it has any right to be, a B-Plot given A-Plot status. But there's a feeling that many characters are becoming written to order and some scenarios are a little too silly. Season three certainly had its moments, not least the grandstanding sexuality of Ruby Rose, or the ascension to sympathetic characters for Pennsatucky and Big Boo. and a decision that brings events closer to the present day. This is a season that notably jumps several months over the course of its run, the opposite of the condensed season five. Some earlier seasons, the first particularly, were more freeform and less "arc" driven, but after much deviation from the original set up, it's a good idea to keep the entire thing anchored. Though it is a distraction that we finally get to see the much-hyped "Max" prison, and it contains convicts and guards that have far less menace than many of the regulars. But it is one of the better post-prime seasons, helped by a strong plot that ultimately goes nowhere, but does anchor the episodes to something more tangible. Season six isn't a "return to form" - any series that's been on the air for six years is unlikely to achieve that aim.
It lacks the sharpness and cleverness of earlier ventures, and the "13 episodes set over three days" concept is sadly squandered by silliness and cartoonesque characterisation, but there's still quality to be found here, even if you have to work harder to find it than before.
#How many episodes in orange is the new black season 1 plus
Those who gave up would have missed out on the latter half of the season, which is where the best episodes came, and if season five easily wins the title of "Orange Is The New Black's worst season", it's not without its plus points. It's called "losing interest", something many viewers did throughout the 2017 run.
#How many episodes in orange is the new black season 1 update
A season inspired in ideas, but so uninspired in execution that I even forgot to update this "season ranking" last year. Season five is a season that lost its way so badly the creator of the series slated some of the writers on it.