The American Netflix drama-comedy, dramedy, Orange is The New Black is set for Australian release by the end of 2013.

The series was created by Jenji Kohan and produced by Lionsgate Television and was based on a memoir by Piper Kerman's memoir titled, Orange Is The New Black: My Year in Women's Prison.

The story tackles the life of the protagonist, Piper Chapman, a woman from Connecticut who lived in New York City and was imprisoned for 13 months at women's Litchfield, NY federal prison for transporting a suitcase full of drug money. The drug money was for her lover who is an international drug smuggler.

According to Senior Writer Michael Idato of the Sydney Morning Herald, "The most noticeable thing about Orange Is The New Black is that it is very good."

But compared to Australia's Wentworth, Orange Is The New Black "doesn't seem certain of what it is trying to be. Wentworth sits comfortably in shadow, and explores the star brutality of life behind bars with a nose-pushed-up-against-the-glass attitude."

Mr Idato found the story's narrative and tone somewhat jarring and too comedic for its whole women's prison milieu, "Orange Is The New Black, on the other hand, spends a lot of its first episode in flashbacks with notes that at times seem too comedic. A drama set in a women's prison is one thing, a comedy-drama set in a women's prison is something else. They might be desperate women, but they shouldn't de Desperate Housewives."

Watch trailer here:

Taylor Schilling played the role of Piper Chapman, whom while in prison try to understand the life inside to gain position in the "hierarchy". She left her fiancé, Larry, outside waiting for her. For a quirk, Piper is into artisanal soaps before being imprisoned.

For those who are into queer romance, you might be thrilled to know that Piper's past lover, Alex Vause, the international drug smuggler, is played by actress Laura Prepon. Their paths cross again inside prison. Laura grew up being bullied in school until she worked with an international drug cartel.

Other interesting characters are Sam Healy played by Michael J. Harney. Sam runs the prison and manages Piper's case while keeping his relationship with an immigrant who still has two years before acquiring a green card.

Miss Claudette, played by Michelle Hurst, is Piper's 'roommate' which was convicted for running illegal immigration and child labour cleaning services. She got into these dark jobs because she had been one of the victims of child labour and illegal immigration when she came to United States when she was still a child.

Galina Red Reznikov, played by Kate Mulgrew, is a convict who worked for the Russian Mob. Inside prison, she has a group of women, sort of 'sorority'. Those women who want to join the sorority need to undergo and pass two tests before becoming a member.

Larry Bloom, played by Jason Biggs, is Piper's fiancé who believed so much that their relationship can stand the test of their circumstances.

Lorna Morello, played by Australian actor Yael Stone, is one of Red's wing-woman who drives a van for the prison.