7 Shows to Watch Now That ‘Orange Is the New Black’ Has Ended
If you’re reading this, it means you likely finished binging the seventh and final season of Orange Is the New Black and are looking for something to fill that Litchfield Penitentiary-sized hole in your heart. While we can’t make the ladies of Litchfield return to your television, we do know a few shows that are pretty similar to the critically-acclaimed Netflix series. Here are seven of them.
Wentworth
Like Orange Is the New Black, Wentworth is a female-centric prison drama. But, as The New York Times puts it, the Australian series is a “darker, grittier” version. We don’t want to say too much and give away any key details, but if you’re ready to get your binge on, you can start watching on Netflix.
Shameless
If you’re looking for a show bursting with diverse characters and gripping plotlines, look no further than Shameless. This Showtime drama focuses on the Gallagher family, which might be the most dysfunctional group of people you’ll ever see. The father spends most of his time drinking in bars and scamming people out of money while the kids basically fend for themselves.
If that sounds up your alley, you can get in on the madness on Netflix.
Girls Incarcerated
This Netflix docuseries focuses on the lives of teenage girls serving time behind bars for mostly petty offenses like drug and alcohol use. But, as BuzzFeed News notes, sometimes, there are harsher cases, including battery and auto theft. Executive producer Nick Rigg described the show as “Orange Is the New Black for a 13 Reasons Why generation.” But unlike those shows, Girls Incarcerated is truly the real deal.
The L Word
The L Word is another show that will satisfy your need for drama. While it’s not as serious as a prison drama, it does focus on similar themes of LGBTQ issues, the treatment of women, and more. There’s also a fair share of romantic relationships. So if you enjoyed watching Piper Chapman and Alex Vause on Orange Is the New Black, you’ll absolutely love couples like Shane McCutcheon and Carmen de la Pica Morales.
The Showtime series ended its six-season run back in 2009, but the show is being revived. You can catch up on all you’ve missed on Netflix before the new season airs later this year.
Jailbirds
Bustle describes Netflix’s Jailbirds as “the real-life version of Orange Is the New Black.” The show zeroes in on California’s Sacramento County Jail and the inmates who live there. Many of them are incarcerated on a variety of offenses, including murder, robbery, and assault with a deadly weapon, E! News reports.
“These people are different in here, these [are] like wild baboons,” one inmate says in the trailer.
But it’s not all bite. The show also delves into a series of platonic and romantic relationships. You can watch the first season on Netflix now.
Ozark
Remember how Piper Chapman ended up at Litchfield for her role in a crime ring? Well, that’s kind of the case with Marty Byrde, but he’s not in prison (yet). He’s a financial planner who gets caught up in a money-laundering scheme, forcing him to pay off a significant debt to a Mexican drug lord in exchange for his family’s safety. But it’s not as easy as it sounds. With dealers down his back and the police on his trail, Byrde has to find a way out — fast.
The Netflix series is heading into its third season, so you might want to go ahead and get started on it if you’re interested.
That ‘70s Show
At first glance, it might seem like this one is in no way similar to Orange Is the New Black. But, for starters, it does feature Laura Prepon — who you might know as Alex Vause. She plays Donna Pinciotti, a witty, red-headed teenager who tends to get into trouble with her aimless pals. At one point, some of them even end up behind bars.
You can catch all of the seasons on Netflix.
With the help of these shows, you should be just fine. Happy watching!
