Oz

Editor Reviews

• Knox Pemberton

  Rating: 6

  6

  June 2, 2025

  Enter the Emerald City. Oz, HBO's groundbreaking prison drama, premiered in 1997 and immediately set a new standard for television storytelling. Created by Tom Fontana, the series is set primarily in the experimental unit of Oswald State Correctional Facility, known as 'Emerald City', where inmates of different races and affiliations are forced to live together. Oz was unflinching in its portrayal of prison life, depicting violence, corruption, and the complex moral struggles of both inmates and staff with brutal honesty. It featured a large ensemble cast of incredibly talented actors, many of whom became stars. The show was known for its intense atmosphere, morally ambiguous characters, and its use of a narrator (played by Harold Perrineau) to guide the audience through the grim realities of the prison system. It was a bold, challenging, and utterly captivating series that helped pave the way for the golden age of prestige television.