By showcasing raw emotion and clever dialogue, season two of writer/director/showrunner Jenji Kohan’s Orange is the New Black displays enticing, humorous, and original content for its viewers.

“The show is written well and I love how it represents women and a variety of ethnicities. I especially loved the ending of this season; I wasn’t expecting that,” said senior Bintou Sillah.

The show features a multitude of incarcerated women who struggle with harsh conditions and tangled relationships at Litchfield Prison. In comparison to its first year, the show’s second season boasts even more compelling drama and breath-taking performances by its talented cast.

To add to its impressive flair, season two introduces new characters. The show flourishes without the sophisticated and sarcastic Alex Vause, played by Laura Prepon, who makes a short appearance in the season due to her unexpected release from prison.

It also acquaints its viewers with Vee,  a wicked, manipulating antagonist who establishes a rivalry between her and a handful of inmates. Lorraine Toussaint, who plays Vee, openly admits her character’s corruptive behavior: “At [the character’s] core is an innate goodness. There is a moment where you see what happened to them, and you get to mark that moment with a modicum, and sometimes a great deal, of compassion … When you don’t see that, like with Vee, it’s unbalancing. It’s disturbing,” she remarked.

Additionally, all thirteen episodes feature a flashback of a recurring cast member, allowing its viewers to take a closer look at her previous life.  For example, Suzanne’s, played by Uzo Aduba,  childhood portrays her stagnant social development, and Morello’s once-perceived romantic engagement quickly turns out to prove her true nature as a psychotic obsessor over a man she barely knew. These characters’ stories encapsulate an important theme of the season: the desire of love. As a result, fans can empathize with and further understand these women.

Although its characters may not want to spend time behind bars, Orange is the New Black’s audience members will certainly want to spend time at Litchfield binge-watching this season.

The Chant‘s grade: A