Oz

1997 • HBO
4.7
1.03K reviews
TV-MA
Rating
Eligible
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Season 1 episodes (8)

1 The Routine
7/12/97
In the 'Emerald City' experimental unit of Oswald State Penitentiary, we meet some of the diverse inmates who exist in a pecking order of Gangbangers, Latinos, Muslims, Westies, Aryans and Wiseguys.
2 Visits, Conjugal and Otherwise
7/14/97
With Schibetta and the prison brass in a race to uncover Ortolani's killer (for very different reasons), we see how inmates react to visits both from their wives and (in one case) family members who are also in prison.
3 God's Chillin'
7/21/97
Friction is growing in the wake of two deaths so Said, Wiseguy leader Schibetta and Gangbanger Jefferson Keane are brought together by Warden Glynn, who tells them to keep their boys quiet or else he'll lock the prison down.
4 Capital P
7/28/97
Governor Devlin has reinstated capital punishment in the state--and the first Oz prisoner scheduled to die is Jefferson Keane, who killed a Latino in their skirmish. Before he's executed, Keane donates a kidney to his ailing sister.
5 Straight Life
8/4/97
The infiltration of drugs into Oz has reached scary levels, and the efforts of McManus and Glynn to find out who's smuggling backfire in a deadly way. Despite a lockdown, drugs continue to trickle in--and the blame shifts to corrupt officials.
6 To Your Health
8/11/97
The prison's health service is kept busy by a variety of prisoner complaints: Beecher flips out and sends Schillinger to the hospital; mob boss Schibetta develops stomach problems thanks to some ground glass; and Said has a heart attack.
7 Plan B
8/18/97
A recovered Said ostracizes Huseni Mershah for turning his back on him when he was dying--and orders all the Muslims to cast him out. Impressed by Said's power, Groves decides to kill Glynn in his honor, but ends up stabbing an officer by mistake.
8 A Game of Checkers
8/25/97
In the Season One finale, a riot breaks out and frustration, sexuality, hate, revenge and racism all rear their ugly heads. Finally, after several officers are taken hostage, tear gas is thrown into Em City and the SORT Team arrives, guns blazing.

About this show

You wanna punish a man? Send him to Oswald Maximum Security Penitentiary. HBO presents this gritty drama series about the corrections officers and inmates of this experimental prison within a prison.

Ratings and reviews

4.7
1.03K reviews
Amanda Krenicki
April 24, 2018
Putting this simply: I was too young when it first came on, but watched it a year ago. I'm rewatching and it's just as good! One of the best shows to have been on tv!
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Beverly Beam
November 27, 2014
TOTALLY ENJOYED this season/series! Not just the first season either. The ENTIRE /ALL seasons! The portrayal of prison life was quite authentic with the exception of a few areas that were "Hollywood-ized". Anyone that has served any prison time will pick out those areas right away. HIGHLY ADDICTIVE series! Done very well. I only wish they had created more seasons.
21 people found this review helpful
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Ron Lawray
December 15, 2021
Retired correctional officer who starred out working in a MaxSec Facility my first 8 years on the job. I was not a witness to a lot of violence but the everyday routine and stresses are realistic....so realistic, that l vowed to NEVER get locked up for anything... Best movie about prison life l have ever seen.
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