Narrative Structure and Tone Season 1 uses Piper Chapman’s entry into Litchfield Penitentiary as the narrative spine, but it deliberately decentralizes her perspective through frequent flashbacks and character-focused episodes. The tone oscillates between sardonic comedy and wrenching drama, inviting viewers to oscillate between empathy and discomfort. This tonal fluidity enables the show to humanize inmates while exposing systemic injustices.