I should probably warn people that if you consider cast changes a spoiler then you shouldn't read this. But it has officially been reported now that, following the rumors (and soft denials) that Laura Prepon wouldn't be coming back as a regular for Season 2, she will in fact, be back for just one episode next year to wrap up her storyline.
Now, if you watch the show you know that this is a pretty major shakeup. Prepon was essentially the second lead (she even got second billing after Taylor Schilling) and this would seem to change the storyline in a huge way, because her relationship with Schilling's character, Piper, was crucial and developed throughout the whole season (and appeared to have a lot more territory to explore in the coming seasons). Plus, she was actually really good on the show, much to my surprise, having never thought much of her on That 70's Show all those years. I don't know...this seems like a pretty stupid move on her part, very David Caruso-esque, to abruptly leave after just one season of a breakout show (arguably Netflix's best original series so far).
The big rumor going around is that this has something to do with her religion (she's a Scientologist) and the discomfort with all the lesbian activity she engages in on the show, but I don't get it. If that was the issue, how could she even do one season? That was practically the first thing we learned about her character Alex, in the first episode. I guess the assumption is that there's been some pushback on her now that the show has aired, but she couldn't possibly not know what she was getting into when she signed on for the part. The whole thing's very weird and I think it's a big mistake, but luckily, OITNB is an ensemble show, and I assume with Alex gone, the focus on Piper will have to decrease further as the show adjusts by becoming even more of one now. But it really is too bad, because I liked her (to me she was the only thing that made Piper interesting), and I wanted to see where that story was going to go, especially with all the set-up and back story they gave it.
