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| Nick Sandow |
Welcome to the new recap series on the second season of the Jenji Kohan Netflix hit Orange is the New Black. Over the next few Saturdays, we will be looking through the episodes and highlighting the events that make this comedy/drama a stand-out in general TV. Does the series have what it takes to make another phenomenal season of TV, and can the tales of Piper Chapman and her inmates satisfy expansion? Stay tuned and make sure to follow along at your own pace.
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| Uzo Aduba |
With the blacks and the Latinos still having turf wars over the bathroom, they decide to put aside their differences for Valentine's Day. Piper Chapman (Taylor Schilling) gets a visit from Larry to celebrate. She decides to start up a prison newsletter, but finds issue when few people want to answer her question on what the meaning of love is. Red (Kate Mulgrew) is busy getting her operation underway. Poussey (Samira Wiley) is still conflicted on her romance with Taystee (Danielle Brooks) before Vee (Lorraine Toussaint) convinces her otherwise. Caputo (Nick Sandow) convinces a lot of staff members to come see his band play. The episode ends with everyone having some form of love or expression during Valentine's Day.
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| Samira Wiley |
MVP:
Poussey Washington (Samira Wiley)
When you're in prison, love is a complicated thing. However, one have really had it rough during this episode as much as Poussey. While having a very strong season so far, she manages to come to the center of attention in an episode that exploits one of the most tragic, cyclical truths of her life. It isn't that she's gay, but that she can never be with the one she loves because others disapproves. She is destined to be alone and forever just be somebody's friend. Along with great acting, it is a testament to the character and writing that she is so fully formed here and able to capture so much sympathy in an otherwise very comedic episode.
Flashback
Poussey is with a German woman who she is deeply in love with. They feel comfortable talking and having sex with each other. They are so happy that it seems like nothing could ruin their good thing. That is until they are caught naked and having sex in front of Poussey's girlfriend's father. This leads to immediate disapproval not only because of the shocking details, but because she is gay and black. Poussey is despised, which leaves her to fend for herself to find love in someplace else, which as evident by the present scenery, is still a problem.
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| Taylor Schilling |
Overall Thoughts
Another strong episode that is only made stronger by having a central focus: What is love? Mixing in occasional Woody Allen-esque interview segments, the episode feels particularly unique and mysterious at first. It seems like a strange gimmick that eventually pays off. However, everything surrounding it builds to the thesis in awe-inspiring ways as the inmates all express some form of love or disdain for the holiday. What results is one of those euphoric episodes where everyone puts aside their differences to just party and have a great time. Sadly, Poussey gets rejected again, but it helps to paint a full picture in ways that the show has been slacking on this season. A very good episode that at very least offers plenty to admire about the show and its perverse take on traditional concepts.
Rating: 4 out of 5
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