Oz is definitely a ground-breaking drama which the producers at HBO should be very proud of. There are endless female prison dramas (Prisoner Cell Block H, Within These Walls, Bad Girls etc...), and yet it seems the making of a serious male prison drama is very difficult.
With women in Prison drama's, you can develop the characters a lot more easily...With men it's a lot more difficult without turning the whole thing into a gay stereotype. This is where Oz is different...
Though there are many violent, foul-mouthed and hard-hitting scenes throughout the series, you have two brothers incarcerated together, one who has a young mental age, and this is very touching. Then you have the character of Beecher, the everyday family man thrown into a world he can not relate to. His transformation throughout the series is excellently done, and you start to put yourself into his position and think "What would I do if that were me???
The whole thing is set in Oswald penitentiary, in an experimental wing called Emerald City, where all walks of life are thrown together in a bid to rehabilitate these men, some of which are too far gone. Issues such as racism, homosexuality, guilt, aids and drug abuse are all here, and in most cases dealt with very professionally.
There are some top notch actors throughout the series which has never been shown to it's full potential in the UK. Relegated to the graveyard shift on Channel 4 and E4, and shown inconsistently with little to no advertising, you have to use a little initiative to find this show. Once you do, and you have a strong stomach, you will be very glad you did. This is not Porridge with Stanley Fletcher or badly done Punishment with Mel Gibson, but this is hard hitting US drama at it's best.
With women in Prison drama's, you can develop the characters a lot more easily...With men it's a lot more difficult without turning the whole thing into a gay stereotype. This is where Oz is different...
Though there are many violent, foul-mouthed and hard-hitting scenes throughout the series, you have two brothers incarcerated together, one who has a young mental age, and this is very touching. Then you have the character of Beecher, the everyday family man thrown into a world he can not relate to. His transformation throughout the series is excellently done, and you start to put yourself into his position and think "What would I do if that were me???
The whole thing is set in Oswald penitentiary, in an experimental wing called Emerald City, where all walks of life are thrown together in a bid to rehabilitate these men, some of which are too far gone. Issues such as racism, homosexuality, guilt, aids and drug abuse are all here, and in most cases dealt with very professionally.
There are some top notch actors throughout the series which has never been shown to it's full potential in the UK. Relegated to the graveyard shift on Channel 4 and E4, and shown inconsistently with little to no advertising, you have to use a little initiative to find this show. Once you do, and you have a strong stomach, you will be very glad you did. This is not Porridge with Stanley Fletcher or badly done Punishment with Mel Gibson, but this is hard hitting US drama at it's best.