Ensemble stories are very much the domain of TV: the time-spanning format allows for many characters to really be fleshed out fully over the course of multiple seasons. Some of the most beloved shows in recent history like The Sopranos, Lost, The Wire, and Six Feet Under to name a few are revered for the broad range of characters they introduce us to, and for the outstanding cast of actors they bring together to breathe life into what ends up feeling like a group of real people. Kohan was able to do this on Weeds with the likes of Mary-Louise Parker, Justin Kirk, Hunter Parrish, Elizabeth Perkins, Kevin Nealon and many others.
She outdoes herself with her cast on Orange, though. I already spoke on the central performance by Taylor Schilling, but it doesn’t even feel like the central performance at times, instead feeling more like one among many standout roles. Some of the finest work is done by Kate Mulgrew as Red, Pablo Schreiber (who was in The Wire) as Mendez, Michael Chernus as Piper’s brother Cal, Natasha Lyonne as Nicky, and so many more that others have highlighted. A couple stand out in particular for me. There’s Laura Prepon as Piper’s old flame Alex; her mix of ironic distance and sarcasm with a quiet, subtle vulnerability is devastating. Then there’s Yael Stone as Morello, who is planning her wedding for when (if) she gets out, and Stone plays her with an irresistible innocence that you can’t help but feel intense sympathy for. This is one of the best-cast shows to come around in some time, and it handles its immensely talented collection of performers admirably.
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