Heading towards its fourth season, “Orange is the New Black” has become a major hit worldwide because of its light approach to complex issues from race to sexuality to mental illness in the American prison system.

The show, which is based on the true story of memoirist Piper Kerman, has Piper Chapman (Taylor Schilling) as the lead character.

Chapman is a typical middle-class, college-educated woman in her thirties whose apparently perfect life turns upside down as she is sentenced to 15 months in Litchfield Federal Prison for smuggling money for her drug-dealing girlfriend, Alex Vause (Laura Prepon), when she was 22 years old.

Chapman’s prison sentence turns into a nightmare when she finds out that Vause, the person she blames for her arrest, is also doing time at Litchfield.

The greatness of “Orange is the New Black,” however, does not revolve around Chapman’s tough time trying to adjust to prison culture or the love/hate relationship she has with Vause, her former lover. What is fascinating about this series is the complexity and depth of each of the supporting characters.

Every episode includes flashbacks that take the spectators back to the time before the inmates committed their crimes, which shows how sociocultural factors significantly contribute to the making of a criminal. These insights provide viewers with a more humane view of those who are incarcerated.

The witty dialogues between characters are captivating, thought provoking and surprisingly realistic. The writers of the show, especially Jenji Kohan, the creator of “Orange is the New Black” and the television show “Weeds” are extremely talented.

The show has won three Emmy Awards, and it has 16 Emmy nominations in both Comedy and Drama categories. “Orange” will make you laugh out loud and it will make you weep!

On a last note, it is important to say that this show is not suitable for everyone. There are numerous scenes of nudity, sexual intercourse, violence and profanities.

“Orange is the New Black” is suitable for a mature audience with an open mind.