February Fandom Fest: Oz luv

[mazephoenix]

Under the cut is my writeup of the HBO series.

Oz luv

What? The HBO prison series.

Style? Gritty prison drama, soap opera, Shakesperean drama.

When? 1997-2003, 6 seasons.

Created by Tom Fontana.

This was HBO’s first hour-long drama, preceding the Sopranos(and losing their cast member Edie Falco to them). It’s a challenging and difficult watch, laden with violence in all sorts of ways. It’s known for featuring prison rape, and it does, but there are more horrors in store.

The focus is on the inmates, who are all guilty of the charges they face. There’s also focus on the prison staff and their many hardships and transgressions.

It’s about finding humanity in the lowest circle of hell, of racial tensions and religion.

There’s a multitude of gangs, divided according to race and religious beliefs.

Even the most seemingly lost soul can have some shred of humanity.

Even the purest can sin. So we also follow the Catholic priest Ray Mukada and the nun Sister Pete Marie, both good people with very human flaws.

The first episode focuses on supposed everyman Tobias Beecher, an alcoholic who killed a little girl while drunk driving. The longer we know him the more the veneer of civilization slips and shows the true man underneath. Soon Beecher commits violent acts though he regrets them.

The show uses a narrator garbed in theatrical gear to frame the episodes and give them a theme. Augustus Hill is also an inmate with a story arc of his own.

There’s a multitude of other players in the game; from the depressive gang member Miguel Alvarez to arch-schemer Ryan O’Reily, and the terrifying and charismatic Simon Adebisi. Even Aryan ringleader Vern Schillinger has his moments of clarity. Though mostly he exists to make Beecher’s life a living hell.

Then there’s serial killer and charmer Chris Keller, Beecher’s love interest.

It’s love, coated in razor blades and heartbreak.

Ships: Many. Beecher/Keller /(canon) is most popular, but also Howell/Whittelsey, McManus/Murphy etc.

Fic: Lots. Check out AO3 and Unit B. http://unitb.slashcity.net/

Check out:
https://www.squidge.org/ozlinks/

Comments

[cmk418]

Nice summary.

Also, love, love, love that you have McManus/Murphy on your 'ships list. They have come a long way from the occasional Oz Magi story that sucked me into the fandom. And it was nice to see a mention of the hot femmeslash between Diane & Claire that's always a treat to read.

[mazephoenix.livejournal.com]

Thank you. The boys have certainly come a long way. Yeah, love Diane and Claire too.

[macaroncey.livejournal.com]

McManus/Murphy are like the Oz's parents. I'm always find very difficult to remember they are not "ufficially" canon because in my mind they are.

[mazephoenix.livejournal.com]

Oh they are.

[selenic76.livejournal.com]

Thank you for this wonderful introduction to Oz! I've only seen some random episodes, and you're right, definitely love with razor blades. But even having seen just a bit of it, I got the feeling it's a show with complex characters, that you might learn to care about even though they've done some bad things.

Thank you for sharing you love with us!

[mazephoenix.livejournal.com]

Thank you. Yes, it's definetly a show with complex characters.

[milly-gal.livejournal.com]

I haven't seen any of Oz so now, thanks to this, I might have to go hunting :D

[mazephoenix.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Hope you do.