Wentworth

Very similar to Orange Is the New Black, the only major difference is that Wentworth is strictly a drama, and humor is out of bounds. Otherwise, the two series are not that different. Both include flashback scenes that provide more insight into the characters, only Wentworth also focuses on the guards and not just the main character who is even pushed to the background in some episodes. I thoroughly enjoyed the first season and I’m looking forward to the next one. // Season 2 comes with a key change in the prison's leadership. With the arrival of Joan Ferguson – an interesting cross between Nurse Ratched and Reinhard Heydrich – the atmosphere gets sadistic, paranoid, and filled with scheming and intrigue. The series becomes more dramatic, gritty, and addictive. At least I find it hard to stop watching it, and I look forward to each new episode. // Season 3 is the most depressing one so far. The atmosphere gets even more tense. Governor Joan Ferguson intensifies her psycho-terror and only the most optimistic inmate would reach for the soap in the shower. Intrigue thrives on both sides of the bars, and the best thing is that the writing is so good that the plot doesn’t seem out of place for a moment. Everything feels extremely believable. // Season 4 was absolutely awesome. There’s nothing to criticize, I can only lavish praise on it. It has everything: a tense atmosphere, suspense, and plot twists. All of it is mixed in such a fantastic ratio that I couldn't tear myself away from the screen. Even as it escalates, it still feels extremely real. Joan Ferguson, just like Annie Wilkes, is some serious nightmare fuel for me. I'm getting chills just thinking about her. (2016-09-09)

I consider Season 5 the weakest one so far, which doesn't mean it's bad. Far from it. It’s just that the creators of the series got me too excited by the previous seasons, so I expected it to be even better. I'm sure many writers would give anything for even one such excellent season. With Wentworth, I’ve been satisfied for five seasons already and I hope the show will keep it up. (2018-10-26)

The episode left me with mixed feelings. On the downside, I felt the absence of Danielle Cormack quite strongly; it just didn’t feel the same without her. The initial attempts to tug at my heartstrings didn’t thrill me either (even though it was understandable), and the predictable return of Franky to the prison felt a bit too obvious. On the upside, I was pleased to see the return of the classic atmosphere, strong performances, and the wild scheming both inside and outside the prison. All in all, a decent episode. (2018-10-23)

I wasn't exactly blown away, but I wasn't disappointed either. I get the sense that without Danielle Cormack’s character, the writers are struggling a bit to fill the void. Franky hasn’t quite managed to fill that space yet. Here’s hoping things improve as the season progresses. (2018-10-23)

I've come to expect more from Wentworth. The focus on Liz's testimony felt a bit excessive, and Kaz Proctor's character is starting to feel a bit flat. It needs a new spark to really shine. 3*+ (2018-10-23)

This episode focused mainly on Sonia’s storyline, and I was quite satisfied with it. Her story had some great twists, although the outcome was pretty predictable. Joan Ferguson’s manipulative self was on full display again, and it was definitely worth watching. (2018-10-23)

The plot was quite satisfying. The ongoing prison scheming kept things interesting, and I enjoyed watching Franky’s relentless escape attempts. The ending gave me hope that Kaz Proctor will finally break out of her dull routine and develop in a more intriguing direction. (2018-10-25)

The sixth episode seemed slightly underwhelming to me, and originally I wanted to rate it with three stars, but Joan Ferguson's cold intrigues forced me to add one more piece. Nonetheless, I still believe that the quality of the fifth season somewhat lags behind the previous ones. (2018-10-25)

Aside from a few minor details, this was a solid episode with a noticeably better atmosphere than the previous ones. I was engaged the whole time—props to the creators for building up the tension and throwing in some action. The scheming between Ferguson and Stewart was particularly entertaining. (2018-10-25)

Even though the creators tried to make the episode engaging in every way, it didn't quite hit the mark for me. The scenes with Bridget Westfall, in particular, fell flat. I feel like the constant romantic breakups and reconciliations are starting to ruin the atmosphere and are becoming a bit tiresome. (2018-10-25)

The episode brought back that intense atmosphere I love, with scheming on both sides of the bars and significant plot progression. These are the episodes I enjoy the most—they never disappoint, keep me entertained, and leave me eagerly anticipating the next one. (2018-10-26)

Another five-star episode! It seems like the creators are really ramping things up for the final stretch. I always get a kick out of seeing how much the inmates still have to learn if they ever hope to keep up with some of the folks on the other side of the bars. The ending only enhanced the already stellar atmosphere. (2018-10-26)

It’s no coincidence; it’s clear the creators have been building up to this, saving their best for the final episodes. I hope the remaining ones keep up this quality because the last three have been fantastic. Joan Ferguson might be as charming as a guillotine, but without her, it would be dull. By the way, that lynch scene was something else. (2018-10-26)

The creators absolutely nailed the season finale! The atmosphere was already intense, but the creators managed to ramp it up even more towards the end. Just when I thought the plot was getting a bit too convoluted and I had it all figured out, they threw in a surprise that caught me off guard. (2018-10-26)