“Thirteen hours of television later, and season five’s cliffhanger ends nearly exactly as season four: with women, many of whom are queer, many of whom are of color, in peril and facing an unknown future. Instead of grounding this season in a fight for social justice, they gleefully reveled in unnecessary violence and humiliation.”
The SWAT team approaches and Larry returns. LARRY.
After an episode of literal torture, OITNB focuses on the stories it tells best: the ones about family.
Spectacles rely on spectators, and I for one am not going to be pulled into this show anymore just to watch violence for the sake of violence. I can watch the news and do that, thanks.
“This was the point in this episode, and there were points like this in almost every episode, where I went cold and just thought ‘Why am I still watching this fucking show?'”
“Tied To The Tracks” is a slow burn compared to the season’s first six episodes of Orange Is the New Black that mostly boasted a crowded ensemble acting out cruelly in the name of justice for Poussey.
This is the show that I fell in love with. Women, helping each other through their pain. Women, finding family. Women, finding support from one another while in the pits of the darkest places they can imagine.
I’m not going to lie, there was something oddly cathartic about seeing a pile of Cheetos burst into flames.
After four episodes of chaos and lack of direction both within Litchfield and the overall arc of the season, Orange Is the New Black finally managed to pull it together enough to produce an episode worth watching (save for one MAJOR issue).
Angie announces, “I’m the jefe now!” with one of the harshest American “j” sounds ever and decides there will be a talent show and the guard/hostages will perform. So, we know where this is going.
Really, Linda? Really?
Hey did y’all know white guys have feelings too?
“You’re gonna want a quick, catchy clickbait. Something to really grab the liberal market — that’s who you wanna appeal to.”
“These women are angry, and rightfully so. They aren’t treated like humans. Their lives are taken away from them, sometimes literally, and they don’t even have names. They tried a peaceful protest and someone was killed. Their riot is righteous, but at the end of the day, they’re going to be the ones punished. There is no justice.”
“With one more episode in this heart-wrenching season, we are all still gasping for air and dreaming of justice.”
Suzanne’s backstory is so heavy it feels almost unnecessary.
All the women of Litchfield deserve so much better.
Sophia! And Nicky! (Who in the world thought we needed more Sam Healy flashbacks?)
Soso proves that people well-versed on racism can still be racist.
That’s the thing about racism: It doesn’t have to take the form of slurs or stump speeches. Yeah, it can look like a Cheeto with a mouth running for president. But it can also look like a Regular Guy walking around in an $1,100 suit.
