Orange Is The New Black: 6 Reasons It's Netflix's Best Original Series

6. The Incredible, Diverse Cast

Jennifer Euston probably isn't a name you've heard a lot, but much of Orange is the New Black's success can be traced back to her work. Euston is the casting director for the series, meaning she is chiefly responsible for giving us one of the most talented and diverse casts you're likely to see not just on Netflix, but anywhere across TV and film.

Although Taylor Schilling was ostensibly the lead in the early days, it quickly became apparent that the strength was in numbers, and the show has continued to embrace its ensemble nature more each season. Whether it's the white inmates, the black inmates, the Latinas, there is some serious talent across the board. Uzo Aduba has deservedly won two Emmys for her work as Crazy Eyes, but in truth so many are deserving of recognition, from Natasha Lyonne's hilarious but tragic Nikki, Kate Mulgrew's fierce Red, Danielle Brook's wonderful Taystee, Laverne Cox's Sophia, or Elizabeth Rodriguez's Aleida. And that's just a handful of many, many names that are worth mentioning; I could literally go on and on and on.

These aren't big name stars, in the way, say, House of Cards has Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright, but that works in OITNB's favour. There's no one that dominates everything, instead they're all working together, and complement each other perfectly, forging wonderful chemistry and relationships. The fact that they're mostly women, and of all races, is another reason they should be celebrated (and still something that's all-too-rare to see), but it's that plus their undoubted talent that really elevates them above the competition.