The stunning second season of Orange is the new Black takes a more sinister turn as new inmates join Litchfield. Jenji Kohan the creator of Orange is the New Black, uses Litchfield as a replacement for the faults in society. New arrival in the prison Vee played by (Lorraine Toussaint) is recognised by other inmates at Litchfield. Taystee (Danielle Brooks) and Red ( Kate Mulgrew ) both have history with Vee and immediately want nothing to do with her. But when Vee scans her surroundings she’s complains about what she is seeing saying that back when she was in prison ” black women used to run this joint ” and begins to recruit an alliance using her Svengali like manipulations. Vee’s first recruit was Suzanne also known as “Crazy eyes” she saw Vee as a mother figure and would do anything for her. Sociopath Vee starts to flood the prison with tobacco as well as other substances with the aid of her new companions making a business for herself trying to regain the status quo was when she was last in Litchfield. As a result new groups are formed and old ones form a tighter bond and old friendships are destroyed because of Vee’s will.
This season is also when we get more of a background about more of the inmates. Morello, Poussey, Black Cindy, Miss Rosa and others get their own flash back episodes. It kind of serves like a pointillist painting. From up close each dot has its own individual idenity and meaning, but when you stand back they merge into something different and dependent on each other. If season 1 was about Piper Chapman and what Litchfield can throw at her then Season 2 is undeniably about disruption with the structure of Litchfield been thrown into disarray by Vee, palpably seen most between Poussey and Taystee as the strong bond dies out because of Vee’s interference. But all it takes for these two is a meaningful hug and some Amanda, Makenzie role-playing to rekindle their friendship.
Season 2 is filled with a lot of dark drama and mature themes but still remains its hilarious characters and accomplished script based on a true story Orange is the new Black still is one of Netflix’s most outstanding shows to date. Its bigger than any single character, bigger than Piper or Vee or Taystee, it is their collective story but it also, thankfully, ours as well.