S03.E10: A Tittin' And A Hairin

[EuropeanGirl]

The thing that I don't get is when did the actual fall-out between Piper and Alex happen? It's like all of the sudden it's not working. I remember them having some discussion about Alex's stalking/paid to kill her issues, but I thought they got past it. Also, they worked and got along well when Piper's new business started and developed over the time. Is it about not having the spark that they did while they were love-hating each other in Piper's eyes? I just don't get how all of the sudden Piper doesn't care anymore and is all about being unapologetic while kissing another girl.

 

Piper was always and still is one of my least if not the least favorite character on the show for me.

 

p.s. I was disappointed that Suzanne didn't come in and see that girl although I understood, but I love the scenario about her being somebody's crush!!

[Guest]

I can never keep up with the state of Piper/Alex. I assume now there is no continuity, possibly even on purpose as a creative device?   

 

Then again there isn't a lot of continuity with other characters.  Doggett is entirely different from past seasons, which I commented on previously.  Now Suzanne has no idea about sex, and is too shy to rendezvous with a cute lesbian?  In season 1 when we met her, she appropriated Piper as her prison girlfriend, against Piper's wishes.  

[kingshearte]

 Now Suzanne has no idea about sex, and is too shy to rendezvous with a cute lesbian?  In season 1 when we met her, she appropriated Piper as her prison girlfriend, against Piper's wishes.  

I actually found that very interesting in light of that first season. Unless I'm recalling wrong, nothing ever actually happened between Suzanne and Piper. So really, who knows what "prison girlfriend" really even meant to Suzanne at that point. I don't disagree that there have been some definite continuity flaws, but I'm not sure I would consider this one of them.

[Guest]

I actually found that very interesting in light of that first season. Unless I'm recalling wrong, nothing ever actually happened between Suzanne and Piper. So really, who knows what "prison girlfriend" really even meant to Suzanne at that point. I don't disagree that there have been some definite continuity flaws, but I'm not sure I would consider this one of them.

True.  Suzanne can be someone who writes porn, is aggressively possessive, and can squat and pee in front of a girl to send a message, yet is sexually shy and innocent.  It wouldn't be the first writing choice I found odd.  

 

I have to admit it's a lot more likely than letting women give birth in their cots with no medical assistance.  

[EuropeanGirl]

In the first season, they never defined what a prison girlfriend actually is to Suzanne (what traits and acts does the girlfriend need to have) or what are Suzanne's expectations of it. They played on it now and having in mind that someone on the show said that she's mentally a 6-year old child (with which I agree), I think it fitted well with her overall character.

Edited June 26, 2015 by EuropeanGirl

[Guest]

In season 1 they said she had many prison wives.  I don't think they wrote her quite so innocent then.  

 

http://orange-is-the-new-black.wikia.com/wiki/Suzanne_Warren

[Fredward]

Tucky's character pivot started when she lost control of the meth-heads, though I agree I feel like that wasn't enough/there wasn't enough shown to warrant such a (relatively) dramatic shift. Those rape scenes were just awful. I fucking hate watching those. It's like nails on chalkboard but in your bones. Just fundamentally fucked up. I thought the gorgeous guy would be the usual don't-judge-a-book-by-it's-cover thing but he actually turned out decent so kudos.

 

Morello needs to be in a psych ward, not a prison. She's crazier than Suzanne. At the very least she's substantially more dangerous.

 

I think Piper and Alex get unfair levels of hate shoveled their way but that's just me. But I also get the impression that it's almost intended. Like the writers use them to sort of contrast with other prisoners somehow. Anyway as for their weird relationship dynamic, they clearly get along best when their is wangst/hate present. Not WHOLLY buying into Lolly's crazy. Not yet. I'm sure Kubra DID send someone to shank her anyway. It's either Polly (Lolly?), one of the new guards or Justin Bieber.

 

I didn't see the suicide potential in Scottish like others did before but now...? Maaaybe. I get a feeling this new superiority complex of hers is gonna whiplash but bad.

 

Gloria and Sophia are being idiots. They're letting a relatively small misunderstanding/miscommunication balloon waaaay past anything remotely reasonable.

 

I don't think there's anything in Suzanne's past that suggests she has sexual experience. She's a weather-vane for her intense emotions but I can definitely believe her still being a virgin and being anxious/stupid-stupid-stupid about it.

 

Also, slight side question: the blasted/wasted/vacant look Piper's got in her eyes. What's with that? For real. It was less present less in this episode but it's definitely a thing with her. At first I thought okay, cool. It fits a WASP having everything she knows reorganized but it should lessen over time, surely? Maybe this episode was the start of that lessening I dunno.

[Nanrad]

So-so doesn't really have an superiority complex, she's just tired of being treated like shit and having to beg for acceptance. 

[JBC344]

So now that Lolly is supposedly just crazy, I'm guessing that Stella is going to be Kubra's plant?  I'm imagining this is what may put Piper and Alex on the outs by the end of the season.  We will see.

[Mrs OldManBalls]

Okay Morello setting her latest admirer on Christopher was twisted but I laughed my ass off when the last guy to enter the house wiped his feet first.

 

I laughed too. It seemed so absurd that he'd use his manners before beating someone. 

 

The funny thing is with Laura Prepon is that it can get way, way, way worse than it is on this show.  Did you ever watch "That 70's Show?"  One of my all time favourite shows, but she was horrible on it.  Showed absolutely zero range, expression, and emotion.  It used to drive me nuts.  On "Orange is the New Black" she's actually shocked me with her acting, how much improved it is.  That's how bad she was on 70's.

 

In all honesty I am so distracted by her eyebrows I barely pay attention to what she is saying. I'd love to know who made the decision to go with that shape/and tint and why. 

[kathe5133]

In all honesty I am so distracted by her eyebrows I barely pay attention to what she is saying. I'd love to know who made the decision to go with that shape/and tint and why. 

 

LOL!  The 1970 Disco era called.  They want their "brows" back!

[Misstify]

When Donut guy was getting chewed out by Caputo for being late, at first I thought Pennsatucky had set him up, as a result of his creepiness with the whole dog role-play thing.  Sadly, that was not the case.  

 

Lolly is really, sadly, crazy, isn't she?  Just about everyone had a sad storyline in this one.  I still hold out hope, however, that Cindy will succeed in getting on that kosher meal list.  She is persevering.

[klarsonovsky]

Chiming in here because it's as far as I've gotten, and best ep this season to date.

Tucky's rape was about her, her upbringing, and how she felt. Also, rape storylines in a setting of women's prison, and in circumstances like both Tucky and Daya are revelatory about the welfare of people that the general public rarely thinks about.

Really well put. Rape scenes in general are very rarely warranted on tv or movies, in my opinion, for precisely this reason. The victim is too often just that-- someone whose horrific experience is just a way advance someone else's storyline or give someone else the opportunity to be a hero. This felt organic and truly important to understanding Tiffany as a character.

 

I've seen a few posts from people who don't love Pennsatucky's radical character shift-- from season one crazy virulent bitch to season three puppy you'd adopt from the shelter (the sweet bumbling one who was clearly brain-damaged from too many kicks in the head from previous owners). But this flashback for me made everything fit. Sex for Mountain Dew? Rape as a normal thing you just have to accept? Doing meth with your boyfriend because he actually offers a real if twisted relationship (which you've never experienced since that guy in high school who promised to come back for you and probably never did)? Becoming the face of the pro-life movement because a well-dressed person asked you to? Taking on the role of prophet to your needy meth-head friends? Being adopted by Boo and trying to absorb her excellent life skills advice?

 

It all makes sense when you see 9-year-old Tiffany getting the priceless lesson from Mom that life sucks and you are not in charge and the only way to be a good girl is to submit and not make a fuss.

 

Probably being a crazy virulent bitch in season one was her greatest hour-- the only time she had any agency. In prison. And then she got beat into the ground.

 

Other topics:

-Gotta defend Laura Prepon. Totally understand why she bugs, but it really works for me for this character. She's not meant to be likable. I think she really nails the disaffected, I'm-so-much-better-than-this loser she's portraying here.

 

-Suzanne's would-be girlfriend-- anyone else reminded of Amber Benson as Tara on Buffy?

 

 

[DianeDobbler]

Gotta say I absolutely hate the title of this episode - squicks me out. And agree with a comment on Tom and Lorenzo's blog - pure disbelief that anybody has ever used this expression. Jenji Cohen made it up and was so self-enchanted she used it as the episode title.

[jsm1125]

I never thought that I would be clamoring for a second flashback episode from Pennsatucky, but it made complete sense once her scenes with CO Coates were juxtaposed with her flashbacks. Poor Pennsatucky!

 

Who would have guessed that Daya is one of the few characters who actually did something sensible in the episode!

 

Does anybody else think that the actress who plays Maureen looks and even sounds a bit like a baby-faced Crystal Chappell?

 

Is Watson (track star, friends with Cindy) still on the show? She has been given nothing to do.

[EC Amber]

Like flipping a switch. Going from shocked and scared and a little pissed to just lifeless. I am really hoping Taryn is just a spectacular actress because that was... too lifelike. Unlike GoT, I was "ok" (as much as one can be) with how rape was presented here. Women being raped shouldn't feel like the setting for a man to tell his story.  I want Boo to find out what happened. I want her to put on that scary clown makeup and do something horrible to Coates. 

[Mattipoo]

Dayum! Ruby Rose has the most banging bod of any cast member on this show. It's no wonder Piper fell in love right after seeing her naked in the bathroom.

Leanne the bonnet wearing Amish can go to hell. Such an unlikeable character, even in her flashback.

Taryn Manning is such a good actress. I loved all her scenes this episode. Hope she gets some award recognition for this role.

Lori Petty is crazy. And she looks really old. Man she aged badly from her "Point Break" days.

Pornstache without the stache is a sad little mama's boy. Apparently the actor is the younger brother of Liev Schreiber. Don't see much of a resemblance though.

Crazy eyes and her sweet little admirer / girlfriend. Hope they consummate it soon.