The release of Orange is the New Black’s Season 4 is still more than 4 weeks away, and like a kid approaching the end of the school year, I am already counting down the days (32, to be precise).

A window into a world that I have never personally experienced, Orange is the New Black grabs every bit of my attention like nothing else on the screen has. Ever.

Given the number of characters whose stories we get to know, there are actually multiple microcosms that invite us to dive into and grapple with issues of gender, race, class, and the various ways in which they intersect.

Some viewers describe Orange’s characters as old friends with whom they visit annually for a long, intense weekend. With Netflix releasing the entire season in one swoop, binge watching is not only possible, but is tempting. Last season, I watched the 13 episodes over the course of several weeks, pacing myself so that I could savor each storyline without forgetting important details or losing the deep emotions aroused in me.

I had also revisited Seasons 1 and 2 before launching into the third one, which appropriately felt like a “let’s become reacquainted” phone call before the blind date. Now that almost a full year has passed since our last get together, I look forward to another viewing of the three previous seasons to help me prepare. I am especially curious about Season 3, about which I recall very little. Until I do watch it again, I am going to assume that my poor recollection of it says more about my grief-stricken state of mind at the time, and less about the quality of the episodes. I’ll let you all know if I feel differently after viewing.

If you are reading this blog and have watched the show, I would love your thoughts about the show, the characters, and related issues.