What I’m Watching: Orange is the New Black

Orange is the New Black: Season 5, Episode 3 “Pissters!” (B+)

I think this show is really terrific this season, and I’m so intrigued about where the plot is heading. It’s continually disturbing to see the state of the guards in captivity within the prison, paraded into a cell of their own with one of the more innocent-seeming guards denied his insulin and the whole crew deemed not worthy of food or water. As the inmates become more civilized thanks to the uniting call from Taystee and her crew to list our their demands, the guards are starting to think of how they can revolt, with Dixon already ready to turn the tables on whoever opens the door for them. Starting with a look at how Bailey is doing, frozen and ready to turn himself in despite drinking too much to be coherent, was an effective transition into an episode centered on flashbacks to Linda, who has some good qualities but doesn’t always use them to the best effect. She impressed all of her fellow inmates with her performance, and having her lock eyes with Caputo once she saw the reality of what was going on was an enormously powerful way to end an episode filled with some comedy, thanks in large part to the demands that are being requested by some inmates. Judy getting chased down by the skinheads was a fearsome consequence of letting everyone run wild, especially as she was supposed to be released, and the seriousness of what actually caused this riot was brought home by Crazy Eyes’ touching sanctification of the space where Poussey breathed her last breath.