The fifth season of "Orange Is The New Black" launches on Netflix this Friday, June 9, following a year-long wait. But while fans rejoice that the show has returned, creator Jenji Kohan revealed some slightly bad news.
In a recent interview with New York Times, Jenji Kohan said that season 7, which airs in at least two years’ time, could be the last for the show. The writer and producer admitted she hasn't really decided what the plan is beyond "Orange is the New Black" season 7 but she is certain the seventh is a crucial year.
An ending in mind or a reboot?
Jenji Kohan said she zeroed in on seven because this was the number guaranteed by Netflix when the streaming site renewed the show up to that point last year. Kohan also said she's "leaning towards ending" the series and she even has an ending in mind. Kohan, however, refuses to reveal what this will most likely involve.
Ending "Orange is the New Black" in its seventh year might be a good idea given how much Piper's (Taylor Schilling) story has deviated. Viewers might recall her character’s story was central to the show.
When Piper's storyline shifted in season 3, viewers got the chance to peek into the lives of rest of the women prisoners at the Litchfield Penitentiary.
Jenji Kohan said that if the show goes beyond season 7, then this means they will have to keep on bringing in new people to keep the story fresh. It's also possible "Orange is the New Black" could reboot after season 7, which means Piper could eventually leave.
'OINTB' season 5 returns on Netflix
Meanwhile, season 5 of "Orange is the New Black" is now available on Netflix and reviews say the opening is one of its most intense episodes yet.
The show picks up right after the events of season 4 where a riot is brewing following the accidental death of Poussey (Samira Wiley).
The whole of "Orange is the New Black" season 5 will supposedly take place in just a span of a three-day timeline and no one is safe in the women's prison, including the guards. The inmates grow more animalistic and so antagonistic towards each other that some friendships and alliances that viewers have come to love in the past seasons could end in season 5.
As before, the show will still ride on flashbacks but it won't be as revealing.
Aside from Schilling, the show also stars Laura Prepon, Danielle Brooks, Uzo Aduba, Dascha Polanco, Kate Mulgrew, Natasha Lyonne, Taryn Manning, Diane Guerrero, Jackie Cruz and Lea DeLaria.
