Kate Mulgrew Says ‘Orange Is The New Black’ Will Take a Darker Turn This Year [Spoilers]

Fans of Orange is the New Black have been excitedly anticipating the release of season 4 for almost a year now. Season 3 of Orange is the New Black ended with a lot of questions. Some of those questions included:

• What happened to Alex in that shed?
• Will Stella be back?
• Will Nicky be back?
• Who is going to rule the kitchen?
• Will Piper be able to keep up her business?
• Will Piper and Alex have another chance to be together?

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Orange is the New Black is known for bringing a lot of humor and sexiness to prison life — unlike the more dramatic Wentworth, another show about women’s prison life — but this season might be a little different.

?RT YOUR SERIES?

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— beat the bored (@beatthebored_) April 14, 2016

Kate Mulgrew, who plays Galina Reznikov, aka “Red” on Orange is the New Black, says that the season will take a much darker turn this year. According to Latin Times, Mulgrew spoke at a Netflix event in Paris and had this to say about the upcoming season of Orange is the New Black.

“There’s a lot of laughs, but you must buckle your seatbelts, because she takes some very interesting turns. It gets darker. It’s get very dark. I think you will be very surprised, I think you will be wholeheartedly engaged, you will be riveted.”

Mulgrew also said at the same Netflix event that Jenji Kohan, the creator of Orange is the New Black, would be “examining the prison system as it has never been examined before.”

Perhaps this means that Orange is the New Black will be leaning more towards the reality of life in a women’s prison. There have been some viewers who have commented on social media that Orange is the New Black is not a realistic portrayal of a women’s prison and that it is sexed up and that the reality of prison is not nearly as fun.

Selenis Leyva, who plays Gloria Mendoza on Orange is the New Black, also had a few insights to reveal. According to Express, Levya said that Orange is the New Black will see “the rise of the Latinas,” and that there would be, “a lot more conflict, there’s division amongst the groups more than ever.”

What else can fans look forward to on June 17 when season 4 of Orange is the New Black is released on Netflix?

Latin Times revealed several spoilers for Orange is the New Black that you might be unaware of yet. One of the things you can look forward to is some fresh faces. Of course, new prisoners will arrive and some of them will be played by Shannon Esper (Mutal Friends), Jolene Purdy (Benched, Under the Dome), and Jamila Velazquez (Empire). Alex will definitely be back on Orange is the New Black, and she did survive whatever happened in the shed — but the question is, how will that have affected her? And some characters may be absent or have much smaller roles, like Nicky and John Bennet.

One thing is for sure, Orange is the New Black certainly sounds like it is going to be continuing with the excitement and shock factors. With the amazing story lines of the past that have addressed things like women’s roles in society, how women prisoners have tried to reintegrate with society, transgendered people and the challenges they face both in society and in women’s prisons, and much more, fans will expect Orange is the New Black to continue to challenge society’s norms.

Orange is the New Black is entertaining and funny. No one can disagree with that. But there is much more to the show. It encourages viewers to ask questions and respond to questions in a different manner. And when you combine those things, you get one great show. Add great writing, amazing direction (and there are some exciting new directors this season including Matthew Weiner of Mad Men and Jodie Foster), and wonderful acting talent and you have one show that just should not be missed!

[Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images]