Finally watched it after years of saying nothing can top Orange is the new black as a prison show.
I loved Wentworth. It was thrilling and engaging, but most of the time, the writers overlooked things because they needed to drive the story to a certain point.
Most things didn't make any sense, and the writing was all over the place.
Like they were using tools without any guards present or the cameras didn't have protection or someone watching them all the time so the prisoners moved them whenever they wanted.
They used the steam press for punishment but not even once did it cross their mind to have 3 guards in there or take that thing out of prison.
And the overuse of slow motion was crazy.
The first season was kinda boring because who cares about the guards, let alone the male guards, but they fixed that in the second season. Seasons 3 and 4 were excellent, after that, it went downhill.
Some things were shocking because why was there a child in prison? Of course, this is Australia, and things are different but I was expecting them to be living in hell because people reviewed this as "a real prison show, opposite to the joke that was OITNB"
But my girls had a television in their room, a microwave, and a fridge. They could make tea, they had individual rooms with doors that locked from the inside, comfy pajamas, and they could ask from a transfer if they had a girlfriend in another block.
And again it's hard to judge because maybe, that's the hard life in Australia.
The supporting characters were exactly that. They weren't charming or interested enough to lead the show after Bea and Franky were gone.
Now, the three big things that turn me off the show
1. Killing Bea Smith.
First of all, Bea was my absolute favorite character, and watching her became so brave after living a life of abuse was great. Then they gave her life, and I was shocked because the writers were brave for making their main character hopeless, that no matter what she did she was going to spend the rest of her days there.
She was not coming back as anything. Not as an illusion, a memory or a fucking ghost.
I was so shocked after that season finale that I had to confirm that she was dead and she wasn't coming back. I couldn't watch the next episode until I knew that. So I went to IMDB and it hit me like a brick:
That excuse of Bea's storyline ran its course and she had to be written off is bullshit, given the fact that Joan stayed alive for the whole fucking show, and Bea died for nothing.
I was expecting her to die to be honest, but I didn't expect to be halfway through the show and more importantly after establishing that she was the absolute lead of the show. You can feel her absence until the end of the show which takes me to point number two.
2. Releasing Franky
I didn't like Franky in season 1. I honestly found her annoying, but it was clear that the other lead of the show was her. Season 2 Franky was way worse than S01.
In season 3 when she started to change I started to like her, then they released her leaving Bea alone to carry the show. Because taking a character out of the main place of the show is a big mistake we don't care. We are going to get bored. I was happy that we only got a couple of episodes to see how Franky was doing outside.
Then they killed Bea so it was inevitable that Franky ended up in prison again. But we don't want to see her prison again after seeing how good she was doing outside. The audience was as miserable as her, and the others characters being happy that she was back only made me hate them.
And they created a terrible plot for her to be back. Only for it to be resolved in the most stupid and unrealistic way that the human mind could imagine.
She had to escape to solve the case? Bridget offered to hire a private investigator, couldn't he do it? Then she is forgiven for all her sins and suddenly Mercado admits it was Ferguson who killed Iman. Then Franky can live happily ever after.
And good for her but the show still needed a strong character to carry the show.
3. The mastermind that was Joan Ferguson.
I loved Ferguson when she was first introduced. I love a great villain played by a capable actress. I was in awe of her devious mind, beautiful gray hair, and tallness.
But then she stayed as governor for S03, then came back as a prisoner for S04 and they never let her go.
I don't know if it's because I watch mostly American shows and they use a different formula, but when you introduce a villain you need to be ready to let them die or give them a redemption arc because they can't always win.
But Joan did at the end of the show. Ferguson never lost. She was always three steps ahead of them even in prison. She didn't redeem herself, she had (lesbian) feelings for Vera that's it.
Take Marie for example, she was a villain who got a redemption arc and left you crying after her death.
Top 5 favorite characters:
Bea Smith. My sexy beautiful girl. She never did anything wrong in her life. The smartest character in the show and the only rival for Ferguson. Still alive and thriving.
Vera Bennett. I dislike Vera very much in the beginning. She was too gullible and dumb, but I feel she has the best character development in the show. And once she became governor I was already in love. I got giddy every time she was on my screen.
Kaz. It took me a while to like her. I think the writers tried really hard to make her the opposite of Bea, and they almost ruined her character. But I loved Kaz she was a badass.
Franky. I'mma be honest I feel like the only reason I care for Franky is because Nicole Da Silva is insanely charming. It was a rollercoaster with her but I'm glad she had a happy ending.
Ferguson. I know I said before she should have been killed early on but she truly is a fascinating character what can I say?
Plus: Lou Kelly. She was such a strong character tied up to a weak and boring storyline. I didn't care much about her at the beginning because the only thing she said was "Reb". it was so annoying.
Btw, I loved Allie but she was just a babygirl. She didn't have a storyline or a plot. She entered the show as Bea's lover, then when Bea left there was nothing else for her as a character. Top Dog Allie was awful.
Characters that made me miss having Bea on my screen:
Doreen. What fucking annoying brat. Thank god she left the show I couldn't stand her whining and disrespect any longer.
Judy. Omg, she was unbearable. Looking like a crazy bitch suing everybody.
Ann. Crazy ass bitch.
Jake. Deserved to die too. Whining ass man, threatening Vera to take away her kid.
Ruby. Always in need of protection and making the wrong decisions.
When Judy appeared and she was annoying the fuck out of me, I realized every terrible character has been portrayed by a black actress. Giving the guards reasons to treat them like shit. Judy was handcuffed and beaten up by a white woman.
Honestly, the rest of the characters that weren't in my top 5 were boring, annoying, or useless to me.
The Final.
I didn't like the ending because it didn't give me closure but who cares because I didn't care much about these characters really. I've been in mourning since season 4.
Allie is going to stay in that wheelchair and in prison. She's alone because they took away every person she had.
Boomer being pregnant was selfish. Boomer isn't getting out of prison anytime soon and the father is a creep.
Rita and Ruby are getting out of there thanks to Allie.
The rest of the characters continue with their lives nothing changes for them, I guess.
Wentworth vs OITNB
I still preferred OITNB, sorry. I think the writing, acting, and storylines were better. I get that people like Wentworth because it's a drama show while Orange is more dramedy, one of the reasons I love the show so much.
Also, ten points to OITNB for not killing Piper and actually giving her a happy ending, even tho the audience hated her.
But it's not that serious you can thirst over Alex Vause and Franky Doyle at the same time.
Anyway, it was a pleasure to watch this show. As usual, I wished I had watched it when it was on air but what the hell. I loved these girls and Danielle Cormack as Bea Smith is the sexiest thing that ever happened to Australia.
