BWW Recap: Back in Black; Late-Summer Catch Up with Episode 1 & 2 of 'Orange is the New Black' Season 2

Hello Loyal Litchfield Inmates!

Although Season 2 has long been released and rabidly consumed by all fans of Netflix's breakout series, there is still tons to talk about! Over the next few weeks, I'll be recapping two episodes at a time. From Piper's relocation scare to Red and Vee's face-off, I'll cover it all. With all the friendships, feuds, enemies and scandals to pick a part, it'll hardly feel like the season has ended. And soon enough, we'll have Season 3 drawing upon us!

---

Season 2 of Orange is the New Black opens exactly as many fans hoped: Piper well into her sentence in solitary confinement. However, it doesn't last long as she's soon forced to board a bus and then a plane with no knowledge of her final destination. Piper finds herself in a prison in Chicago and fears her relocation is due to her altercation with Pennsatucky which led to her death. As she tries to acquaint herself with her new surroundings, Piper spots Alex (the two have a knack for finding each other in prison) and we learn the duo are in Chicago to testify in Alex's drug boss trial and that Pennsatucky - although badly injured - is very much alive.

Despite Piper's opposition, the two agree to lie under oath in fear that the drug boss will exact revenge if they speak against him. A few flashbacks between Piper and Alex shows their complicated relationship which often revolved around Alex's deception, and foreshadows the closing of the first episode. Now at the trial, Piper grits her teeth as she lies while Alex does the complete opposite. While Piper is set up for more jail time under her new charge of perjury, Alex is escorted away from a screaming Piper. As much as I love Alex, I don't blame Piper for being livid with her two-timing ex-girlfriend. Now, Piper has to face yet another charge at the hand of her drug-smuggling lover. These two sure do have a complicated romance.

So, Alex walks free and Piper's found trouble once again. Although I enjoyed the short-lived personalities of the inmates in the Chicago prison, one episode without Litchfield is enough. So, let's hope we find ourselves back in our favorite women's prison for the rest of the season.

---

Yay, Litchfield! I bet I'm the only one who has ever said that...Episode 2 "Looks like Blue, Tastes Red" not only welcomes us back to Litchfield, but also shares one of my favorite aspects of the show: a backstory! We soon have a glimpse of Young Taystee at a Black Adoption Festival, using her theatrical and sassy personality to entice potential foster parents. Although she is reprimanded by an overseer, an older woman shows interest in the young firecracker and as time passes, we learn she has become a mother figure - and job supplier - to Taystee who soon becomes a drug dealer. While the woman guides and mentors Taystee, she surely isn't a warm and fuzzy mother. Back at Litchfield, Pennsatucky and Healy discuss their anecdote over the altercation with Piper and in exchange for her help, Pennsatusky gets new teeth. And the girl won't live it down. On top of it all, she seems like a changed inmate, though I'm not sure how long that'll last...

With Daya sick during her pregnancy, Diaz and Mendoza compete to help her, both striving to be a motherly figure much to Diaz's disapproval. Hey, even though Daya's situation isn't the best, she has two caring women looking out for her. I'm really looking forward to seeing this plotline develop. Soon, Daya will start to show and then what? With "Pornstache" Mendez gone, the pregnancy will most likely be pinned on his inappropriate rendezvous with Daya but knowing the show...something will run amuck.

While Mendoza and her girls are now in charge of the kitchen, Red struggles with her newfound "freedom" and is uncertain on her lower status. A group of old ladies - who are actually quite the characters - suggests she lay low and join them, but Red refuses to give in. Honestly, I wouldn't mind running with the oldies. Despite their elderliness, they're in jail, aren't they? That's gotta mean they're even a little badass.

In other news, Litchfield hosts a Job Fair and Taystee shines with the motivation of snagging a job. Pinned against Flaca, the girls compete and in the end, Taystee wins after Flaca makes a move on the judge. Unfortunately, Taystee soon learns the Job Fair was only a game and a job will not be waiting for her after she's released. Instead, she's given $10 on her commissary account. This scene crushed me. A lit up and proud Taystee's enthusiasm slips into complacency as she accepts her prize and moves on. This definitely makes me question her upbringing and I'm sure we'll find out more soon.

Episode 2 ends with a bang as Taystee's mother figure joins the rag-tag group of Litchfield women. Although we only catch a glimpse of Vee, we already know she's one to to watch this season of Orange is the New Black.

---

I know you all binge-watched the entire season as soon as it came out, but what did you think of the first two episodes? Let me know what you thought in the comments below.