Orange is the New Black

Orange is the New Black

It’s official! I am addicted to Orange is the New Black and I can’t wait to start binge watching season two, most likely this weekend. Hip! Hip! Horray! Vogue published a great, must-read refresher of where we left off in Season One for each of the characters. This will get you (as well as myself) ready to dive into Season Two!

Piper Chapman
What landed her in jail: This WASPy soap maker was living with her boyfriend in New York when her tumultuous past as the lover of a global drug trafficker caught up with her. Even though she never transported any illicit materials herself, she once carried a large sum of money to Brussels, which was enough to land her in jail for fifteen months.

Where we left off: When the first season ended, Piper had finally lost her uptight composure and became violent after fellow inmate Pennsatucky tried to kill her. We’ll find out what kind of consequences her vicious beating will have on her jail time and whether she’ll be sent to solitary for the remainder of her sentence.

Alex Vause
What landed her in jail: As one of the top leaders of an international drug cartel, Alex traveled around the world and treated her ex-girlfriend, Piper, to a life of luxury. Yet when things got messy, Piper bailed and Alex was left alone with a new heroin habit. While we don’t know the details of her arrest, we do know that she was the one who led the Feds to Piper and dragged her into prison with her.

Where we left off: After a brief rekindling of their relationship, Piper found out that Alex gave her name to the police and so, decided to try to marry her fiancé as soon as possible. Will these former allies become enemies behind bars?

Lorena Morello
What landed her in jail: We have yet to find out how sweet, Catholic Lorna ended up in Litchfield prison. But we’re guessing her fiancé, Christopher—who stopped visiting after her first few weeks in jail—might have something to do with it.

Where we left off: She cut off her prison relationship with fellow inmate and former junkie Nicky so she could stay faithful to her M.I.A. fiancé. Will she try to get her back now that Nicky has moved on with on-the-rebound Alex?

Tiffany Doggett, a.k.a. Pennsatucky
What landed her in jail: Even though Pennsatucky is hailed as a hero by a far-right Christian group after killing a nurse in an abortion clinic, the reason behind the murder wasn’t a pro-life stance but a revengeful attack after being chided for getting a fifth abortion.

Where we left off: After threatening Piper for days, Pennsatucky finally attacked her on Christmas Eve. But things did not go as planned. Piper unleashed her repressed rage and was last seen punching the living daylights out of Pennsatucky. Did she survive the fight?

Dayanara Diaz
What landed her in jail: Daya was left caring for her younger brothers and sisters after their mother, Aleida, went to jail for letting her boyfriend run his drug business from her home. Unfortunately, the apple didn’t fall far from the tree: Daya also ended up in prison after allowing the same man to continue running the operation.

Where we left off: After falling in love with officer John Bennett, Daya became pregnant. In order to avoid a longer sentence time, and possible assault charges for Bennett, Daya sacrificed herself and slept with the universally despised officer “Pornstache” in hopes of pinning the pregnancy on him.

Galina Reznikov, a.k.a. Red 
What landed her in jail: Red once tried to befriend the wives of some wealthy Russian mobsters who were regular customers of her restaurant. After a disagreement with one of them ended badly, Red and her husband were forced to keep mysterious packages in the restaurant’s refrigerator—the likely reason behind her incarceration.

Where we left off: After losing her place as head chef of the prison’s kitchen, and no longer able to smuggle in goods from the outside (Bioré strips were popular), Red has been dethroned as the most powerful inmate in Litchfield. We’ll find out what she’s capable of when she attempts to climb back up to the top.

Sophia Burset
What landed her in jail: After living many years as a man, Sophia desperately wanted to undergo a sex-change operation. The pricey cost of the procedure was her eventual downfall, as she resorted to credit-card fraud in order to pay for it.

Where we left off: Although her wife was supportive throughout Sophia’s transformation into a woman, her wife met someone else and was ready to move on. Sophia gave them her blessing, so here’s hoping we get to see a potential new love interest inside the prison walls.

Tasha Jefferson, a.k.a. Taystee
What landed her in jail: So far, we know only that the fun-loving Taystee has been a ward of the state since she was sixteen, but no explanation has been given as to why she’s incarcerated.

Where we left off: After she is paroled, Taystee temporarily left Litchfield, only to return after a few days. She heartbreakingly explained how her life behind bars was better than the one awaiting her outside, arguing that at least in prison she had a bed and dinner.

Suzanne Warren, a.k.a. Crazy Eyes
What landed her in jail: Her nickname and intense infatuation with Piper—she wanted to be her prison wife—hints at a mentally unstable (and possibly violent) past.
 
Where we left off: Once one of Piper’s fiercest defenders, Suzy was hurt after she found out that Piper had been speaking ill of her behind her back. With a host of new inmates entering Litchfield in the second season, we’re wondering who will be the next object of Suzy’s all-consuming affection.