Orange Is the New Black Season 8: Netflix Renewal Status & Potential Spin-Offs

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Orange Is The New Black Season

Orange Is the New Black only available to stream on Netflix

And that’s all she wrote folks. After the seventh season of Orange Is the New Black the series won’t be returning for an eighth outing. We’ll be discussing why the series ended at seven and a potential spin-off series.

Orange Is the New Black is an American comedy-drama series created by Jenji Kohan. The series is based on the book ‘Orange Is the New Black: My Year in a Women’s Prison’ by author Piper Kerman. Overall, the series earned 12 Emmy nominations. Actress Uzo Aduba won an Emmy for best-supporting actress in a Drama Series for her portrayal Suzzane Warren.

Piper Chapman is sent to Litchfield Penitentiary after her connection with a crime she committed 10 years earlier. Her promising career in public relations and her relationship in tatters, Piper must now navigate her way through prison and all the colorful inmates that reside.


Orange Is the New Black Season 8 Netflix Renewal Status

Official Netflix Renewal Status: Ended (Last Updated: 29/07/2019)

If you haven’t already heard we’re sorry to break the news to you but Orange Is the New Black concluded with the seventh season.

Why did the series end at season 7?

As the longest and one of the most-watched Netflix Originals, it may have come as a surprise that the series has ended. But as is with everything, all great things must come to an end, and it was the beginning of the end for Orange Is the New Black with season 5.

The fifth season saw one of the biggest changes to the series as it was entirely revolved around the prison riot. What could have been an excellent season ended with mediocrity, and that showed in the viewing figures along with how critics responded.

The performance of the fifth season certainly reflected the viewing figures of the sixth. Season 6’s premiere was watched by over five million subscribers but across the remaining episodes, it averaged around 2.56 million viewers.

With six seasons under its belt and a diminishing audience,  it made sense for the season to conclude after seven seasons.


Is there going to be a spin-off?

At the time of writing, there are no spin-offs in development. There have been talks of a potential spin-off in the future but this depends on creator Jenji Kohan.

So it’s likely there will be a spin-off but it’s just a matter of when. As to whom the series will revolve around is anyone’s guess but it’s fun to speculate:

Here are the characters who could receive a spin-off series:

Larry and Polly

Piper’s ex-husband and titular ex-best friend from college were featured in the last season of Orange Is the New Black.

The impact Piper has had on their lives was dramatic, to say the least. Without her, Larry and Polly may never have gotten married.

It’s unlikely a spin-off series would result in either Larry or Polly going to prison. Instead, the focus would likely be on the family life of the married couple and could potentially feature Piper’s brother Cal and his wife Neri,

Taystee

Despite Suzanne’s help with writing her account of the riot that took place in season 5, it wasn’t enough for a re-trial for Taystee’s case.

Still, in maximum security with a life sentence, Taystee has chosen to use her smarts and use her time to help inmates with their finances in preparation for leaving prison.

With the Poussey Washington Fund and teaching inmates, is enough to keep Taystee busy. But with the injustice of her wrongful conviction,  there may still be enough story there to focus on the character in a potential spin-off series. One that could see her reunite with Cindy Hayes and life outside of prison.

Nicky

Nicky has been on one hell of a journey in her time spent at Litchfield. After the diagnosis of Red’s dementia, the old Nicky may have turned back to drugs. This time she’s honored Red by becoming the head chef of Litchfield Max Prison.

While many may feel the journey of Nicky has all but concluded, it can’t be understated how popular the character is. Alongside the growing popularity of the actress Natasha Lyonne, there’s certainly a potential spin-off for the character.

Suzzane

Another character whose growth has been fantastic, Suzanne is far apart from the creepy stalker of Piper Chapman in season one. Prison hasn’t been easy for Suzanne, but with through her friends and the people she’s met, she finally understands what she needs to do to grow up.

Amongst the fan favorites, Suzanne still has plenty to learn and what better way of showcasing that than through a spin-off series.

Cal and Neri

Cal and Neri were one of the funniest and weirdest pairings going in Orange Is the New Black. But we only ever saw them in bite-size chunks.

To keep the series revolving around the Chapman family, what better way than focusing on Piper’s weird brother and his equally weird wife.


Do fans want an Orange Is the New Black spin-off?

Suffice to say fans look quite favorably on a spin-off of Orange Is the New Black.

There’s even a petition going round!

We see what you did there…


Which character do you think deserves a spin-off series? Would you of liked Orange Is the New Black return for one more season? Let us know in the comments below!

 Poster Netflix Synopsis: "A privileged New Yorker ends up in a women's prison when a past crime catches up with her in this Emmy-winning series from the creator of Weeds."

Rating: TV-MA
Language: English
Genre: Comedy, Crime, Drama
Cast: Taylor Schilling, Kate Mulgrew, Uzo Aduba, Danielle Brooks
Season Additions:
  • - Season 7 was added to Netflix on July 26th, 2019
  • - Season 6 was added to Netflix on July 27th, 2018