We know that Season 2 of Netflix's "Orange is the New Black" started streaming two months ago, but not everyone has time to binge-watch 13 episodes. So we are catching up with one or two a week for the rest of the summer.
If you haven't been following along, here is Colleen's recap of Episodes 1 and 2, 3 and 4, 5 and 6, and Episode 7. Now she's back to take a look at Episode 8 of the new season. So, take it away Colleen...
"Appropriately Sized Pots" is the eighth episode of ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK's second season, and focuses on Rosa and her backstory. As we know, Rosa is battling cancer at Litchfield, and steadily receives chemo at a local hospital. However, Healy brings bad news, saying Litchfield can't afford the surgery she needs. While they will continue chemo, Rosa expresses her frustration and basically says Healy's writing her death sentence. Pretty bad news, if you ask me. How much longer will Rosa have? I can't even imagine living out my last days in Litchfield...
Her series of flashbacks centers around a string of robberies and the men connected to them. A younger Rosa is consistently seen kissing one of the men before and after each successful robbery. Cute ritual, right? Not so much. Each man she kisses ends up dying shortly after. A kiss of death perhaps?
In Litchfield news, Caputo shows interest in Red's gardening in the greenhouse - much to her dismay. Will she need a new headquarters for her smuggling business? Or will Caputo's curiosity soon fade away like his receding hairline...?
Meanwhile, Litchfield's newbie, Brooke SoSo, is still letting her freak flag fly. And some of the inmates - Pennsatucky's old gang- aren't pleased with her au natural scent. This ignites the start of Pennsatucky and Leann's feud. The girls are clearly no longer friends, but neither will let the other go. SoSo finally showers, yay!
Piper continues digging around Litchfield, and when talking to the older inmates about Jimmy's releases, she learns that: "Compassionate release is truly just a dump and run."
"No one gives a s about old ladies," one of the golden girls says when Piper tries to convince them that she can get Jimmy justice. Pretty sad, right? It's very dark of Litchfield to conceal something like that with a positive message when they really are signing Jimmy's death certificate. Tons of death surrounding Litchfield, don't you think? Hopefully that doesn't take over as the theme...
Caputo overhears a little lover's quarrel between prison guard Joel and Fischer, and it's pretty obvious he's jealous. Later, he fires Fischer for no apparent reason. Harsh. Fig storms in to rant about gum on her designer shoes, and here it's learned that gum and other contraband is somehow leaking into Litchfield. Uh-oh... Red and Vee better watch their backs!
Daya is worried about hiding her pregnancy, and Vee notices Red and Mendoza exchanging words about sneaking in contraband. Rosa goes to chemo, and we get a few more scenes between her and her young, mouthy teenage friend. I really like these scenes. Seeing an inmate outside of Litchfield (even for something as depressing as chemo), interacting with someone other than an inmate or guard is a good change. The duo even share some secrets and pointers; Rosa cluing the boy in that one of the nurses is a total drunk. Later, Rosa has trouble coping with her imminent death, but as she rolls over for a nap, we see her pull a wad of cash from her shirt. Looks like she's still got it.
Healy is back with more news, but this time it's good. Piper gets furlough. Woo-hoo! But, her good news slowly begins to torture her as the other inmates learn about her luck. Apparently, no one gets furlough, and now that Piper has, everyone hates her. Makes sense, right? Piper tries to give her furlough back (pretty typical on her part), but Healy isn't interested. Piper's mother calls and she tells her that her grandmother has passed away. So, instead of seeing her one last time, she'll be spending her furlough at a funeral. I feel like her reaction is both a combination of missing her grandmother, and the realization that she's going to miss a lot while stuck behind
bars in Litchfield.
And, finally, the end of the episode; this has got to be one of my favorite endings of the season. With Litchfield grossly understaffed, Fig calls in someone she knows who will pick up the slack: George "Pornstache" Mendez:
What did you think? Good episode? What do you think Pornstache is going to bring to Litchfield? Let me know in the comments, BUT NO SPOILERS! I'm slow-watching. Until next time...
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