I used to sneak and watch this show in the late 90s as a kid. I remember it being a lot more graphic than it is. I guess because I was a child it was 😂

I watched it in college in the 2010s but I don't remember much of it. So I decided to give this one a rewatch. This show definitely crawled so Prison Break and The Wire could run. I was never a big fan of Homicide Life On The Streets. I watched a handful of episodes when it was popular when I was a kid. I preferred Law and Order.

One thing with Oz I have noticed is they killed off some really great characters early on that hurt the show.

Keane was a great character who needed a longer arc. He should have lasted at least two seasons. His story moved way too quickly. The videotape itself could have added an interesting storyline about corruption. Keane is a character I would have liked to seen evolve and change.

Dino is another character who was a strong presence and killed off too soon. I know the actor had a full time job on Homicide Life on the Streets but I would have loved to see him pop in and out.

I love Sister Peter Marie she is a solid character. Edie Falco is wasted in this as a corrections officer. Grossly underused in this.

I love just about anything (Luna) Lauren Velez plays in. Great actress very underrated.

Ernie Hudson is perfectly cast as Glynn. Another great actor who is very underrated. I put him in the category with Delroy Lindo.

A restored HD version of this series is long overdue! My UB 820 and TV are doing a good job of upscaling my DVD set though (I love physical media). I definitely would get this digitally if it's ever restored though.

The fact that Said was comfortable enough to walk in and interrupt when Beecher was about to fuck someone. Beecher actually trying to kiss him. Said calling him a slut to his face and then telling him not to hate himself after he was so recently homophobic to Cramer. What is wrong with them. Why are they so weird about each other. I need them to calm down.

(Y’all can be funny in the comments but I’m begging you no “you’re a slut, Beecher” comments. The screenshot is already there. Please for the love of god.)

I've frequently seen people on this subreddit talk about how much they hated season 5 and 6 of the show but I haven't seen a lot of people go into depth as to what made it unenjoyable for them. So I wanted to do that here! :]

I'm trying to keep this post super condensed for convenience purposes, so if anyone wants further nuance/explanation regarding this post, please let me know!!

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To start, my beef with this season is how Said and Beecher both seem significantly out of character. Both of them end up regressing in their character growth in this season. Now, that on its own is not a problem. Realistically, growth as a human is not, and never has been linear. Writing wise, in a place like Oz, it makes perfect sense that these two could backslide at times.

But what I personally disliked was the way in which the show chooses to portray their regression. In season 5, Said and Beecher's plots heavily surround them forming better relationships with McManus and Schillinger through their struggle with their respective sponsorships.

To me, doing this wasn't just regression in their development, but also simply did not make sense.

McManus and Schillinger, since the beginning, have represented different forms of white supremacist ideology in the United States., and what's important about this is that most of the series spends a good amount of time showing how McManus and Schillinger have used their power/way of thinking to hurt Said and Beecher (and other many other inmates) in numerous ways.

This is most prominent for this season, because the last few episodes of the previous season were spent showcasing that McManus and Schillinger are not to be trusted!! Which is what makes Said and Beecher's sudden reliance on them incredibly disorienting.

But what makes this writing choice seem even more out of character for Said and Beecher is their sudden apathy towards EACH OTHER. In season 5, not only are Beecher and Said seemingly disinterested in what the other is doing, but are actually a bit cruel to each other. The interactions between them and Schillinger showcase them saying some pretty crazy shit.

Their lack of concern is disorienting because the previous season ended with their relationship growing much stronger. During season 4, Said and Beecher become notably closer. Both of them reveal in different ways that not only do they care about each other, they are actually deeply devoted to each other's well being and happiness.

Season 5 feels almost out of place because it ignores the development that was made in the previous seasons.

I’m just curious McManus working in Oz definitely takes a toll on your empathy and sympathy being there even McManus didn’t care much about Cyril being in there but is there anyone you think McManus actually felt sympathy and empathy for them the most in Oz?

Season 6 is such a mess but this scene had me audibly laughing 😂

Arnold Jackson from different strokes and Arnold Jackson from Oz are the same people.

Mr Drummond introduced him to the finer things and to poetry to help him get his mind off mom's passing.

He got good and realized it was the best was to express himself.

After Mrs Garrett left to help those ungrateful bitches from the facts of life, he feel deep into depression.

We got Willis banging Janet Jackson in that one episode, he lost his mom and mother figure close together.

Using Mr Drummonds money he got addicted to drugs after stumbling onto Mr Drummond secret stash.

It's not far fetched.

I learned my lesson reddit gods, we should never talk about Jared and Schillinger meeting. Nothing funny about Vernie's playtime or preferences.

Miguel Álvarez's best period was towards the end of the first season and the beginning of the second. He was the leader of the El Norte gang, and they were fiercely loyal to him. He had overcome the tragedy of losing his son. The Elders and the Sons of the Homeland wanted him on their side in the drug war, but in the end, he allied himself with Adipisi, and his plan worked brilliantly. However, Adipisi was clever and broke the alliance. He also had another job: delivering orders to the prisoners. I liked Miguel's character at the beginning of the series because he was learning from his mistakes, but in the end, El Cid appeared and crushed Miguel's character, making him very weak.

I was just curious about this for like 3 or 2 episodes O’Riley was having beef with Shillinger since he raped his brother but Ryan tries seems hell bent on making Shillinger pay but then he just drops it later I just didn’t understand that his brother was violated and Ryan obviously cared a lot about that?