Before I begin let me warn you that there are SPOILERS in this article, so discontinue reading this if you are not all the way finished with season four of "Orange Is The New Black." Now that we have that out of the way, I have been a dedicated "Orange Is The New Black" fan ever since it came out on Netflix. I must say the first season is still my all-time favorite, and up to season three, the excitement level of the show declined, but knowing fans disappointment with season three, Jenji Kohan, the producer of "OITNB" exceeded our needs, making the world fall in love with this binge-worthy hit on Netflix all over again. Season four explored race, flaws in the government and criminal justice system, and mental illness, while still making us laugh and cry in every episode. Although there are so many great moments, here are fifteen times in this season that made it acceptable to finish 13 hour long episodes in just two days.
1. Race Wars
So, right off the bat the racial tension in Litchfield Penitentiary is evident. This season showed just how divided and racist it is inside prison and outside of the prison. Not only did they incorporate the Black Lives Matter movement, but it also showed the division in Latin Americans, and added a white supremacists group to the mix. Don't get it twisted though, "OITNB" has always shown racial tensions in the prison from the very first episode. However this season it was blatantly raw and raunchy, and I'm still not sure if all of it was necessary.
2. Murdering The Guard
Holy cow! This murder was so unexpected. At the end of season three, we were left with Alex being strangled by her ex drug lord's hit man. How ironic that all of season three we thought Lolly was plotting to kill Alex, but in the end Lolly ended up saving Alex from her death. Lolly ended up murdering the hit man/phony guard and to top it all off the way they got rid of his body which was even more disturbing.
3. Lolly
Despite her looking like Ellen Degeneres' first cousin, this girl's character ripped my heart into a thousand little pieces this season. "OITNB" really highlighted the sadness of mental illness and how our prison system failed not only Lolly, but several other inmates with mental issues.
4. Piper Snitching
I knew Piper was fake, but she didn't have to snitch on my girl Maria. But it's all good because Piper messed with the wrong one and she received brutal reprimand for her foolish actions. In the end, she learned her lesson.
5. Maria
I mean I always knew Maria was a bad b****, but she took the phrase "HBIC" to a whole other level in season four. The journey her character has made is mind blowing. I was scared of her just watching. Every action she made had me shook.
6. Branding Piper
Now this scene was really hard to watch because I'm a wuss. No matter how much I have grown to hate Piper's character this scene was grueling. However, I think branding her with a swastika showed that although Piper isn't running around the prison yelling the n-word and physically fighting other races, she is just as bad as the rest of them. She is the leader of their supremacist movement.
7. Piscatella and Crew
Piscatella and the other new guards were completely off the chain this season. They were the source of my anxiety and the inmates' hatred all season long. I thought Pornstache was an awful human being, but no Piscatella and these other guards outdid themselves. Although I hate him a whole lot, I hope to get some more on his backstory in season five.
8. Flores' Flashback
Whoa, this flashback was crazy. All I have to say is I want to know more, but I wish I saw less.
9. Suzanne's Tragic Crime
I have become so emotionally attached to Suzanne this season, that out of respect I refuse to call her "Crazy Eyes" anymore. While watching the whole reason she was in prison, it just broke my heart as she had no idea that her hanging out with Dillon was considered kidnapping. As her and Dillon both became increasingly frightened, he then fell off the fire escape, leading us to believe it ended fatally. All in all, one of the most heart wrenching scenes to watch and it shows once again how the prison system has failed mentally ill inmates.
10. Judy King
She is symbolism for a Paula Deen, Martha Stewart offspring and she is just a terrible person. The threesome scene killed me. That is all.
11. Maritza Swallowing a Rat
OK, for starters, Maritza's character is so underrated. She is the hottest inmate and constantly makes me laugh, but this scene was so creepy and furthered my hatred for the guards. It really showed how sick these guards were. I'm actually gagging just thinking about it.
12. Suzanne's Fight
13. Sophia in the SHU
I really missed my girl Sophia Burset throughout season four. Although "OITNB" showed the struggles the LGBTQ community face in the prison, Sophia's presence was missed and I can't wait for her to get back to her old, happy self. Although, whenever we did get a glimpse of her in the SHU, her emotions were raw and deep and were easily connected to the audience. It was a great contrast from what we usually see from her and it will be interesting to see in the next season how she reclaims her position in Litchfield.
14. Healy (Almost) Committing Suicide
Healy manages to confuse me more and more every episode. He is a terrible person just like the rest of the staff at Litchfield Penitentiary, but it's like when you almost feel bad for him he just ruins it and pisses you off again. This season we got to see more of his background and why he is the way he is. The whole scene where he thought he was talking to his mother, but it was actually just a homeless woman was just pitiful and then he goes on to almost drown himself, but he runs out of the water when he thinks his estranged Russian wife is calling, but it was actually just Kaputo. Then he returned to the office in his wet uniform, once again leaving viewers confused on whether to feel bad for the guy or hate him even more.
15. Poussey's Death/Finale
Oh last, but certainly not least... the death of the beloved character Poussey Washington that had every "OITNB" fan in tears. This destroyed me beyond measure. Like many other viewers, Poussey was my favorite character. This death took everything from me. However, as much as I hate to admit it, the death of Poussey was important. It was iconic. It got people thinking. Poussey's death and the unpunished guard showcased very important issues in today's world revolving around police brutality. "OITNB" mirrored her death to real life deaths such as Eric Garner, Michael Brown, and Sandra Bland and for that I respect it, but I will forever wallow in my sadness over the death of Poussey Washington.
All in all, hats off to the cast and crew of "OITNB". Season four was a banger. Now I will just sit here and piece my heart back together until a year passes and it gets shattered all over again during season five.
