20 biggest TV moments of 2018 we’ll never forget

Blanca gets deported – Orange is the New Black

What happened: In the last moments of Orange is the New Black‘s sixth season, there were some moments that left fans exhilarated and desperately sad. While Piper gets to go home to her life, Blanca isn’t so lucky.

While Piper meets her loved one outside the gate to head to freedom, Blanca gets led in the opposite direction. Blanca is met by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, and immediately handcuffed by ICE police.

Why it’s important: At the same time that this finale offers some intense drama for its characters, it’s also mirroring current events in America. With the President’s policies on immigration becoming more and more treacherous for those living in the country, the show is putting a personal face to the problem.

By attaching this particular issue to a particular character, it eliminates an apathy that many Americans feel towards news stories that “don’t pertain to them.” It’s as important as it is topical, because these are stories that need telling. In a time when we can’t always trust the stories being delivered in a 24-hour news cycle, it’s important we don’t become complacent about what’s happening in our cultural backyard.

What was your top TV moment of 2018?