What I’m Watching: Orange is the New Black

Orange is the New Black: Season 5, Episode 11 “Breaking the Fiberboard Ceiling” (B+)

We’re getting close to the end of the season, and I have to imagine that the riot is almost over. It’s hard to believe that it’s lasted so long, and even though the guards have made it out, there are still a few of them, namely Luschek and Humphreys, who are still being held hostage. Those waiting to storm the prison don’t even know that Piscatella is inside, and it’s probably for the best that he was unconscious for the entirety of this episode. At least most of his former captives weren’t up for the idea of torturing him while Red was ready to get started. It would be hard to imagine that, once guards or police got inside the prison, they’d be able to find everyone given that there are so many different places everyone is hiding. Gloria was actually doing a great job of sneaking the guards out to the porter potty area, but then they managed to get away, and now she’s been caught and will surely be punished for her treachery. Maria’s attitude on the whole thing was very interesting, and she’s come full circle in a big way. Linda’s honeymoon period with Boo didn’t last long thanks to that photo of her and Caputo, and the warden wasn’t getting too far in his negotiations with Fig, who I feel like everyone has forgotten about. My favorite moment of the episode was the conversation between Cindy and Alison talking about olam haba and paradise, their versions of heaven.