Season 2
Season 2 treatments are broken down by episode and focus on one or two major themes or social criticisms.
Sweet, Sweet Revenge in 213: “We Have Manners. We’re Polite.”
Season two ends the way it began: with Piper in the SHU (for sneaking into Figueroa’s office). The SIS launches an investigation after Red gets slocked in the greenhouse; Joe Caputo cracks down, with Piper’s help, on Natalie Figueroa’s embezzlement scheme; despite the fact that Sister Ingalls has been excommunicated from the church, her nuns … Continue reading Sweet, Sweet Revenge in 213: “We Have Manners. We’re Polite.”
Family Burdens in 212: “It Was the Change”
Super Storm Wanda forces the women of Litchfield into close quarters; tensions rise between Queen Vee’s clan and Red’s gang of “scarecrows.” Poussey is pushed to her limit and ruins a great deal (if not all) of Vee’s tobacco supply, which causes Vee to excommunicate Taystee from the family. Taystee and Poussey nearly come to … Continue reading Family Burdens in 212: “It Was the Change”
Manipulation in 211: “Take a Break from Your Values”
The combination of Brook Soso’s hunger strike gaining traction and Piper Chapman’s Big House Bugle airing out the prison’s laundry list of complaints drives Natalie Figueroa to stomp on the cockroaches — rather, the inmates. Vee becomes even more domineering and takes even more power in the prison hierarchy of women and attempts to negotiate with Red … Continue reading Manipulation in 211: “Take a Break from Your Values”
Human Rights and Prison Politics in 210: “Little Mustachioed Shit”
Several relationships are on the line — Piper and Larry’s, Piper and Polly’s, Alex and Sylvie’s (in the flashback), Piper and Alex’s, Poussey and Taystee’s, Daya and Pornstache’s (perceived), Red and her sons’, and Daya and Bennett’s. Figueroa and Joe Caputo launch an investigation and begin the paperwork that will eventually get Mendez fired and … Continue reading Human Rights and Prison Politics in 210: “Little Mustachioed Shit”
The Reality of Furlough in 209: “40 oz. of Furlough”
Piper is granted a 48-hour furlough, which is just enough time to attend her grandmother’s wake and funeral, which Cal Chapman turns into his and Neri’s wedding. Meanwhile in Litchfield, Natalie Figueroa makes the executive decision to bring George “Pornstache” Mendez back after his suspension, and he is determined to show the warden just how dedicated and … Continue reading The Reality of Furlough in 209: “40 oz. of Furlough”
Prison Health Care in 208: “Appropriately Sized Pots”
After being the nice guy for so long, Joe Caputo is tired of playing “whack-a-mole” with the contraband problem in Litchfield. The shot-quota fails and he snaps when Susan Fischer decides to speak her mind to him. Miss Rosa is given bad news about her cancer; Piper is given furlough; the effectiveness of the prison … Continue reading Prison Health Care in 208: “Appropriately Sized Pots”
Prison Security and Health Concerns in 207: “Comic Sans”
The Big House Bugle is in full swing as Piper takes on three staff members — Daya, Morello, and Gonzalez — to get the newsletter going. Meanwhile Vee and her girls get the tobacco operation up and running, thus beginning to run things around Litchfield; to compensate, Red is letting everyone know that she is … Continue reading Prison Security and Health Concerns in 207: “Comic Sans”
Conceptions of Love in 206: “You Also Have a Pizza”
Piper asks Sam Healy to begin a prison newsletter, and all because of Larry’s request for her to dig up dirt on the prison’s budget. Chapman also has difficulty picturing a future without Larry — the one she always pictured she would come home to after her sentence. It is Valentine’s Day at Litchfield and … Continue reading Conceptions of Love in 206: “You Also Have a Pizza”
Families of the Incarcerated and Racism in 205: “Low Self Esteem City”
Vaughn “Vee” Parker and Gloria Mendoza rise to duel: among feces-ridden bathroom floors and highly-salted cafeteria trays, the two fight for racial dominance in Litchfield’s fishbowl. Aside from the politics within prison, the politics outside of prison prevent the women from seeing their children and developing and/or maintaining healthy parental relationships and attachments to their … Continue reading Families of the Incarcerated and Racism in 205: “Low Self Esteem City”
The Politics of Age, Race, Education, and Gender in 204: “A Whole Other Hole”
Episode 4 elaborates more on the back story of Lorna Morello, and begins the season-long feud between Poussey and Vee over Taystee. Red finally accepts the Golden Girls’ invitation into their crocheting circle; rather than making herself a “nice hammock,” as Caputo suggests, she discovers that the greenhouse on the grounds has access to a … Continue reading The Politics of Age, Race, Education, and Gender in 204: “A Whole Other Hole”
Women’s Interpersonal Relationships 203: “Hugs Can Be Deceiving”
Episode three of season two was largely a character development episode; despite the lack of action, this episode provided some great details and shaded in some of our beloved characters, which, in Pennsatucky and Crazy Eyes’ case, served to explain prior events (such as why Piper wasn’t put away for good) as well as foreshadow … Continue reading Women’s Interpersonal Relationships 203: “Hugs Can Be Deceiving”
Motherhood and Sexuality in 202: “Looks Blue, Tastes Red”
Episode two gives us an in-depth look at Taystee and the part of her young adulthood surrounding and involving Vaughn “Vee” Parker, who acts as a den mother, while also using her for her skills in sales and mathematics. Natalie Figueroa continues to cover for her own embezzlement of Litchchfield’s funds by providing the women … Continue reading Motherhood and Sexuality in 202: “Looks Blue, Tastes Red”
Individuals and Human Rights in 201: “Thirsty Bird”
Season two picks up a month after the finale of season one when Piper beat the meth-rotten teeth out of Pennsatucky’s face. The episode opens up with Piper being pulled out of the SHU for an unknown reason. A bit disoriented, Piper shows off the yellow warbler she painted on the wall with the previous day’s … Continue reading Individuals and Human Rights in 201: “Thirsty Bird”
Literary Litchfield 