Orange Is The New Black - Season Five

Andrew McCarthy directs the first episode "Riot FOMO" in Jenji Kohan's "Orange is the New Black Season Five," as well as another episode, alongside some series actors like Nick Sandow (Caputo) and Laura Prepon (Alex), who helmed the show featuring Piscatella's back story.

The new three-disc, 13-episode arc picks up from Season 4's cliffhanger to cover a few days of the insurgence, including continuing the informative flashback sequences, but somewhat jumping the shark in the process. Without giving away too many spoilers, the episode titles are "Fuck, Marry, Freida," "Pissters!" "Litchfield's Got Talent" (featuring the correctional officers), "Sing It, White Effie," "Flaming Hot Cheetos, Literally" (an offering from the governor), "Full Bush, Half Snickers" (the library gets reimagined), "Tied to the Tracks" (with a cameo by Meredith Vieira), "The Tightening," "The Reverse Midas Touch," and "Breaking the Fiberboard Ceiling." The final two episodes also include audio commentary options: "Tattoo You" with executive producer Tara Herrmann and director Mark A. Burley, and "Storm-y Weather" with Hermann and co-executive producer Lauren Morelli.

Special features include a short gag reel and "72 hours in 6 Months: Stories of the Season," where the short time period covered in the season, but shot over half a year, is discussed by Lea DeLaria (Big Boo), who talks about tapping into her standup comedy past, and Yael Stone (Lorna, who embarks on a new relationship and discovers a special secret during this three-day period, like "a party, yet terrifying"). She adds that holding the character's "Am I crazy?" question for that amount of time was challenging.

Adrienne C. Moore (Black Cindy) talks about the time compression, and Selenis Leyva (Gloria) about the importance of continuity and having to maintain that level of emotion about an intense family crisis outside the prison. Natasha Lyonne (Nicky) admits to being confused about when and whether the characters have slept or showered in their current "Lord of the Flies" situation.

Jessica Pimentel's Maria got caught in the rain, so had to be wet for several weeks of shooting, stepping into the shower in her costume each day. Danielle Brooks (Taystee) loved the Cheetos and tampon "set it off" scene, and Taylor Schilling (Piper) thinks it's one of the funnier seasons, to counteract the darker subject matter.

Amanda Stephen (Alison) loves the meth-heads, Julie Lake (Angie) and Emma Myles (Leanne), who says they're like comedic duos such as Abbott and Costello, or Robin Hood and Little John, but always wondering, "Are we good guys or bad guys?"

Uzo Aduba (Crazy Eyes) says, "As soon as you think the scales have been tipped all the way into the shadow line, suddenly we're back in the sun. That's life."

Kate Mulgrew (Red) notes that the character's "family" is back together this season, but this time they're taking care of her.

Lyonne says that actors are usually discouraged from speaking out about issues, but that these roles allow them their say while in character.

Brooks took inspiration from murdered Black man Philando Castile's girlfriend Diamond's speech, talking about our system that "don't give a damn about poor brown people."

Mulgrew adds that, "You would think justice would be served, but no. This is the reality of the underprivileged, the disenfranchised, the incarcerated."

"Orange is the New Black - Season Five"
Blu-ray
$19.99
http://www.lionsgate.com/tv/orangeisthenewblack