S02.E09: 40 Oz. of Furlough

[David T. Cole]

Piper's relationship with Larry faces a real-world test; Red's effort to redeem herself is finally rewarded. A familiar figure returns to Litchfield.

[Happy to be here]

So Piper and Larry are ove. 

 

We find out the beginnings of Vee and Red.  

 

Oh Boo you traitor you.  

 

Piper's scenes with her family were interesting.  They all want her to be the person she was and Piper knows she is no longer that person for better or for worse.  

[Dusty]

 

They all want her to be the person she was and Piper knows she is no longer that person for better or for worse.

 

But was she ever that person that they thought she was?  She has a whole year of life that they never even knew about.

[ElectricBoogaloo]

Cal's eulogy turned wedding announcement was amazing.

I was dreading the return of Pornstache but who knew that he would be the voice of reason and Bennett would be the one losing his shit? Geez.

Why was Boo on the outs with Red? I can't remember why she would go to Vee with info about Red's new smuggling operation but it was clear that she was pissed before the dinner even began.

I felt bad that Piper went all the way out to Red's only to find it closed. No piroshki for you! And I feel bad that next she has to deliver the news to Red.

And damn, Taystee already knew that Vee was bringing in drugs. I was much sadder seeing Taystee and Poussey's relationship end than I was seeing Larry and Piper's end.

Vee has officially become evil for having Taystee give heroin to Nicky. Don't do it, girl!

Edited June 8, 2014 by ElectricBoogaloo

[Pixel]

Piper's scenes with her family were interesting. They all want her to be the person she was and Piper knows she is no longer that person for better or for worse.

I read this scene as Piper realizing the disconnect between who people thought she was (and who she used to think she was) and who Piper really was. She thought she was a good person, but her time in prison has given her perspective to know she was never the wonderful, upstanding person she believed she was, and she doesn't want to go back to that person because she's a better person now.

[ElectricBoogaloo]

I don't know if she's necessarily a better person now (I'm thinking of her threatening Brook on her second day) but she's being a more honest version of herself and being around her family's friends at the funeral made her realize that she doesn't want to go back to pretending to be a nicer version of herself just to make other people feel more comfortable. Just having to deal with all the comments the guests made about her being in prison brought that into sharp focus for her.

[bravelittletoaster]

I think this was my favorite of the season so far.  It has that "episode 9 and shit's getting real" vibe to it.  I love that Piper and Larry had weird abortive sex and seem to be over for now.  I kind of love Boo's double cross, though I don't full understand it .  I loved Mendez's stride down the hallway when he returned and Red and Nicky's reaction to it.  I love the flashbacks to how shit went really south between Vee and Red, and the deep sense of betrayal Red must feel.  I love the really sinister gift of heroin to Nicky [and let me be possibly the first ever person to say Fuuuuuuck you, Taystee, you overrated character you] and having to wait to find out how Nicky will handle it.  And I love the very sad revelation that Red's shop is shuttered.  I remembered them filming that, but hadn't actually remembered the shop was shut down, so I didn't know how that was going to turn out.  Really poignant and it'll be interesting to see how Piper delivers the news to Red and what effect it has on her.

 

And finally to Piper, embracing "new" or "honest" or whatever Piper, the best Piper IMO, and walking away from it all and enjoying a 40 and a burger on a bridge with NY in the background.  I got a whole new lease on my love of Piper in that moment.  I could be the last viewer on earth who loves her and Idgaf.  Stopping my binging for now, but can't wait to see the shit hit the fan over the pregnancy and also getting anxious now for Alex's triumphant return, in whatever way, shape or form it takes.

 

.

Edited June 9, 2014 by bravelittletoaster

[Pixel]

made her realize that she doesn't want to go back to pretending to be a nicer version of herself just to make other people feel more comfortable.

 

That's kind of what I meant by better.  That the person they think she was was never real, and she doesn't want to fake it anymore.

[Cranberry]

I felt bad that Piper went all the way out to Red's only to find it closed. No piroshki for you! And I feel bad that next she has to deliver the news to Red.

 

I haven't watched anything past this episode yet, but I was expecting Red's market to be shuttered, and I expect Piper to lie and say that the piroshki was delicious.

[CodeNameDuchess]

Damn, is Piper allergic to honesty?!  I understand if she wants to spare Red's feelings about her business, but it's only a matter of time before she learns the truth. 

 

Pipe's furlough wardrobe was on point though.

[SaabStory]

Damn, is Piper allergic to honesty?! - CodeNameDuchess

 

 

I can never recall Piper's outright lies. For some reason I have a mental block. But I can remember times when (I think) she has been refreshingly honest and it was a nice surprise.  I think of when Larry asked her if she loved Alex. She could have easily said no. It was over the phone.  I think of the spoon scene when she asks Alex why she feels so inevitable. Telling Alex at the end of S1 that she was choosing Larry. I'm not finished with the season yet, so who knows where it will all end up. Maybe what I see as refreshing honesty is just what she needs to say to get her through that particular situation.  Maybe she doesn't even know her real truths. I do like when the character is part of any scene.  I think TS is doing a wonderful job.

Edited June 9, 2014 by SaabStory

[bravelittletoaster]

I'm going to be really interested to see what happens to Nicky going forwards and what happens to people's perceptions of Taystee at the end of the season.  I really feel like the character has evolved [devolved?] a lot over the course of the season so far.  But preying on Nicky's addiction?  Damn, that's low.

[CodeNameDuchess]

I can never recall Piper's outright lies. For some reason I have a mental block. But I can remember times when (I think) she has been refreshingly honest and it was a nice surprise.  I think of when Larry asked her if she loved Alex. She could have easily said no. It was over the phone.  I think of the spoon scene when she asks Alex why she feels so inevitable. Telling Alex at the end of S1 that she was choosing Larry. I'm not finished with the season yet, so who knows where it will all end up. Maybe what I see as refreshing honestly is just what she needs to say to get her through that particular situation.  Maybe she doesn't even know her real truths. I do like when the character is part of any scene.  I think TS is doing a wonderful job.

 

Piper lied under oath about not knowing Kubra at the start of the season.  I think she struggles with being completely honest.  Like when she fessed up to her mom about seeing "Dazed and Confused" but omitted the cheating daddy part of that story.  Schilling is great in this role...even when Piper gets in her own way, I still root for her.

[Skittl1321]

 

but omitted the cheating daddy part of that story

She didn't omit that. She told that part before she mentioned which movie it was.  After she tells her mother her Dad kissed another woman, her Mom asks which movie, and then grounds her.

[smrou]

Piper lied under oath about not knowing Kubra at the start of the season.  I think she struggles with being completely honest.

I don't think her lying under oath has anything to do with her struggling to be completely honest (which she may, though I'm not sure).  That was a decision she made basically because Alex convinced her to.  It was primarily done in order to protect Alex, as far as I could tell.  Left to her own devices I'm pretty sure she would have told the truth.  

 

Like when she fessed up to her mom about seeing "Dazed and Confused" but omitted the cheating daddy part of that story.

But she did tell her mom about the cheating daddy.  Her mom just chose not to respond to that.

[Kristen]

I'm going to be really interested to see what happens to Nicky going forwards and what happens to people's perceptions of Taystee at the end of the season.  I really feel like the character has evolved [devolved?] a lot over the course of the season so far.  But preying on Nicky's addiction?  Damn, that's low.

 

Not gonna lie, I was super upset when Taystee gave Nicky that baggie of heroin (that was heroin, right?). What's gonna happen? WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN? I guess I'll find out tonight when I finish the season. Oy, the stress!

[Pixel]

I think Piper's lie to Red was a kindness. She knows Red can't do anything about what's happening outside, and she gave her the gift of peace of mind. When Red gets out (if she gets out), I think she will realize that it was a service Piper did her.

 

Edited June 10, 2014 by Cranberry
Added spoiler tags!

[bravelittletoaster]

er, not that that's the biggest spoiler in the world, but that actually hasn't happened yet.  Careful binge watchers!!  ;)

[Cranberry]

I took care of it. Minor spoiler, but I spoiler-tagged it just to be safe. Thanks!

[kitcloudkicker]

Damn, is Piper allergic to honesty?! 

 

This seems to be a pretty clear theme of Piper's storyline this season, dishonesty in all it's WASPy forms. It's even in the flashback with her Grandmother in the first episode:

 

Grandmother: "Sometimes it's not about right and wrong. It's about making a choice that will cause the least amount of pain to others. Keeping things to yourself, sitting on information and feelings, and living with your secret."

Piper: "That sounds horrible!"

 

Grandmother: "Oh it is, dear."

 

[Pixel]

I took care of it. Minor spoiler, but I spoiler-tagged it just to be safe. Thanks!

 

Oh, shit! I'm really sorry - I thought that happened in this episode.  I'll be more careful in the future!

[millennium]

I'm going to be really interested to see what happens to Nicky going forwards and what happens to people's perceptions of Taystee at the end of the season.  I really feel like the character has evolved [devolved?] a lot over the course of the season so far.  But preying on Nicky's addiction?  Damn, that's low.

 

Civility (what there was of it anyway) is deteriorating with each passing episode.   It's getting very Lord of the Flies in there.

 

Boo is a repulsive character.   I wonder what she did to land at Litchfield.

 

And what is it about Larry that makes women throw themselves at him and coerce him into sex?   Is that just a Hollywood fantasy?  He's a big nothing.    I don't understand it.  

Edited June 11, 2014 by millennium

[ElectricBoogaloo]

I think that Larry's appeal to both Piper and Polly is that he's safe, non-threatening, stable, and present. He's not going to abandon his wife for a month as soon as their baby is born. He isn't going to stay out until 4am drinking and hooking up with bar chicks. As boring as it sounds on paper, that's how low the bar has been set for a lot of relationships. I don't like Larry as a character, but as a person, he mostly seems like a good guy. If you look at the other male characters on this show, the fact that he isn't abusive, selling drugs, a serial philanderer, or a total loser puts him head and shoulders above most of the other guys.

[mledawn]

I don't understand why Boo - who seems to be a prison vet and smarter than your average bear - would reveal her info on Red to Vee so early in the game.

 

I'm disappointed in so many characters as this season moves along. Tastee, come on now with the drugs! Gah.

[Skittl1321]

I think she thought it would put her in Vee's good graces. Not get her dismissed as a snitch, rather than a useful spy.

[smrou]

I don't like Larry as a character, but as a person, he mostly seems like a good guy.

Yeah, I don't generally enjoy watching Larry's storylines and I think to a certain extent his character is a bit of an energy suck, but I can totally see why someone would date him.  Jason Biggs isn't super attractive but he's fine looking.  Larry seems to have a good sense of humor, he's pretty stable (doesn't have a stable job, I guess, but it's not like he isn't trying at all), and he mostly seems like a good guy.  And he was really fantastic with Polly and the baby so I can see why, with her husband having been absent, Larry would suddenly seem very appealing and attractive. 

Edited June 11, 2014 by smrou

[junemeatcleaver]

So Boo snitched to Vee about Red's business because she felt slighted?  Boo went to the dinner with a bad attitude... Why am I questioning the morality of a woman who forced a dog to go down on her?

 

I get where Taystee is coming from with her devotion to Vee, Vee is Taystee's mother figure and abusive relationships are very complicated, but it was still disappointing seeing her give those drugs to Nicky.  I hope Poussey went over there and knocked that shit out of Nicky's hand after Taystee left.

 

Still don't give much of a crap about Piper or Larry, together or seperately, but I thought their breakup scene was nice.  I'm midly curious to see how the show pulls them back together because I imagine this isn't the end of Larry on the show.

[ElectricBoogaloo]

he's pretty stable (doesn't have a stable job, I guess, but it's not like he isn't trying at all)

Normally not having a stable job would be more of an issue for women like Piper and Polly but since he is providing a pretty cheap place to live via his parents and he clearly has enough money to keep shopping at Whole Foods, it's not as big a deal (for the time being - if his parents ever start laying down the law and he truly has to be financially independent while freelancing, that might be another story).

[DangerousMinds]

I thought Larry still lived in the apartment he had shared with Piper before she left for prison? Does his family own it?

[ElectricBoogaloo]

Yes, in the first season (I think even in the first episode), Larry tells his parents that he doesn't have enough to pay that month's rent and he asks if he can pay them later.

[Helena Dax]

Wow, shame on you both, Taystee and Boo. I'm worried about Nicky now. What a shitty thing to do. Vee's probably the worst person in that prison, she's like poison.

 

Piper's brother is the best. 

[bravelittletoaster]

I love Cal.  I wasn't sure how much of him we'd see this season and I was pleasantly surprised to see him get about the same amount of screentime.  I like that Piper has an ally in her family because her parents' expectations weigh so heavily on her.

 

I haven't rewatched ep 9 yet but it occurs to me that last season episode 9 also featured a pretty big turning point for Piper, where she comes out of the SHU breaking all her promises to behave and keep her head down and pimp walks her way to Alex.  Now in this ep 9 we see her finally have the courage to tell the people from home that this is who she has always been.  When she's sitting on that bridge eating that burger and drinking that 40 I don't think I've ever loved her more.  I love to see her working through her shit and letting the facade drop that she's held onto for so long.

[Knittzu]

[and let me be possibly the first ever person to say Fuuuuuuck you, Taystee, you overrated character you]

 

 

ITA. Right now I think she's so awful that I can't even vaguely recollect why I loved her last season. It feels like she's been rewritten into an entirely different, utterly unlikable person. 

 

At this point I'm really, really missing Alex.

[TheRealWendy]

I'm just realizing that Vee stands for Virus. She's not poison, per se. She's a virus getting all the healthy cells to turn against each other. 

 

God I hate her.

[Lillybee]

Who knew that Red would be my favorite character right now?

[angora]

Re:  Big Boo, an episode or two ago, she wanted matches, but Red just turned her down flat and condescendingly said she'd get Big Boo some candy or something.  Not what I'd call traitor-worthy, but it's something, anyway.

 

They did a nice job working Piper's grandma lightly into the season before introducing the furlough subplot.  In addition to the flashback with her in the premiere, there was the scene where she mentioned her only mail being a card from her grandma.  I enjoyed Piper's story in this episode - from her overjoyed reaction at seeing Cal and smelling the apartment to feeling uncomfortable at the wake and drinking/eating on the bridge, everything felt really genuine.  I'm curious to see what impact this trip has on Piper once she's back at Litchfield.

 

Taystee is going down one dark road.  Preying on Nicky's addiction is SERIOUSLY low.  I'm trying to tell myself that it'll be okay - I don't think they'd kill a white junkie by an overdose in the second half of both seasons - but this plot is weakening my resolve to pace myself and only watch an episode a day.  I hope Poussey does something to help Nicky or put a stop to Vee's business, or both.

[FozzyBear]

I don't know if she's necessarily a better person now (I'm thinking of her threatening Brook on her second day) but she's being a more honest version of herself and being around her family's friends at the funeral made her realize that she doesn't want to go back to pretending to be a nicer version of herself just to make other people feel more comfortable. Just having to deal with all the comments the guests made about her being in prison brought that into sharp focus for her.

I agree and disagree. Yes, she's a more honest version of herself, but herself kind of sucks. She's selfish and dramatic and manipulative. She had to be reminded that she needed to go to her grandmothers funeral, she barely showed an interest in anyone else, she continued to berate her father even after he reminded her that his mother had died, she manipulated her ex into sex by mocking his sexual prowess, and consistently broke the conditions of her release. I'm not saying that Piper's friends and family don't suck too (lord they do!) or that her reactions weren't kind of understandable given what she's been through, but they don't make me like her any better. She didn't come across as someone who had learned from her mistakes. The Piper in this episode should not be sent back into society. No way, no how. It would take her 10 minutes before she morphed into Nancy Botwin.

[bravelittletoaster]

Ha.  I also loved Nancy Botwin.  At least they're not boring.

 

She had to be reminded that she needed to go to her grandmothers funeral

If you're referring here to her pep talk from Healy, I think that's kind of a mischaracterization of what that scene was about.  She didn't forget that she needed to go to her grandmother's funeral, she was just frustrated and flustered by the fact that all the prison hated her for getting what she had every right to ask for.  They're entitled to resent it for her, too, but I don't think she has to opt out of fighting for herself because she's blonde and people aren't going to like it when she gets what she's striving for.  But I think she felt like she was in a damned if you do / damned if you don't situation. 

 

Which she ought to be used to by now...

Edited June 16, 2014 by bravelittletoaster

[Misstify]

I think "being reminded that she needed to go to her grandmother's funeral" was after she arrived at Larry's house, and Cal was like, "Um, there's this one thing that we actually have to do..."

[FozzyBear]

Ha. I also loved Nancy Botwin. At least they're not boring.

If you're referring here to her pep talk from Healy, I think that's kind of a mischaracterization of what that scene was about. She didn't forget that she needed to go to her grandmother's funeral, she was just frustrated and flustered by the fact that all the prison hated her for getting what she had every right to ask for. They're entitled to resent it for her, too, but I don't think she has to opt out of fighting for herself because she's blonde and people aren't going to like it when she gets what she's striving for. But I think she felt like she was in a damned if you do / damned if you don't situation.

Which she ought to be used to by now...

That was what I was referring to and I agree with you that it was complicated. I'm just saying that for all her sad talk about her grandmother it took her two seconds before her trip became about burgers and drinks. As in it took 2 seconds before it was about her.

I actually agree that I love Nancy Botwin and Piper as characters. I'm just saying as people they suck. But that's one of the things I admire about JK's writing. She won't let you go too far before reminding you that there's a reason these women ended up committing some serious crimes.

[ganesh]

Yeah, there's no way I'm going within 20 miles of Nancy. 

 

I think that Larry's appeal to both Piper and Polly is that he's safe, non-threatening, stable, and present. He's not going to abandon his wife for a month as soon as their baby is born. He isn't going to stay out until 4am drinking and hooking up with bar chicks. As boring as it sounds on paper, that's how low the bar has been set for a lot of relationships.

They said it on the show: he's the good kind of boring. Also, he's going to do as he's told and not try to throw his dick on the table all the time. 

 

 

So Boo snitched to Vee about Red's business because she felt slighted?
Re:  Big Boo, an episode or two ago, she wanted matches, but Red just turned her down flat and condescendingly said she'd get Big Boo some candy or something.  Not what I'd call traitor-worthy, but it's something, anyway.

 

That's it? This seems short sighted to me. I'd go to Red first and threaten to spill the beans to see what she'd offer. Vee's not going to hold up her end. What's she going to do then?

 

I do like in the flashback that we actually saw a beat down. Vee's been walking around like she can strangle people with her stare and I wasn't buying it. I'm having a hard time thinking the likes of Taystee and Back Cindy are just going to beat someone up on her say so though.

 

Why the drugs now? It seems greedy. And greedy people make mistakes. The business with the cigarettes was cruising along.

 

I'm sad Red's store is closed, and I really hope Nichols flushes the drugs. I really didn't see Bennett going all in like that, so now I'm really interested in what's going to happen. Although Pornstache wore a condom, no? I like Healy actually trying again too.

 

I really haven't been interested in Piper much at all so I don't have anything to say about her vacation. 

[janie jones]

I think "being reminded that she needed to go to her grandmother's funeral" was after she arrived at Larry's house, and Cal was like, "Um, there's this one thing that we actually have to do..."

 

For some reason, I thought Piper had missed the funeral, so I took that scene to mean the Piper thought she had, too.

 

I don't know how much drugs cost in real life, but is selling them for a couple sheets of stamps profitable?  And then what are they going to do with the stamps?  Sell them for money?  Maybe I'm lazy, but it seems like too much work and risk for the payoff.

[FozzyBear]

I don't know how much drugs cost in real life, but is selling them for a couple sheets of stamps profitable? And then what are they going to do with the stamps? Sell them for money? Maybe I'm lazy, but it seems like too much work and risk for the payoff.

Why would Piper have been released if Grandmother was already dead and she missed the funeral? I assumed the funeral was why she got out.

I think it's just that they can't have cash in prison or many things that work as a good cash substitute. So stamps are portable, have a value, and are something they are allowed to have so they're low risk in that way. And Vee probably does sell them to the other inmates and then sends them to someone to sell on the outside.

[janie jones]

I would think that once furlough is granted, furlough is granted.  It would probably be another whole pile of paperwork to revoke it.  Which, the reason she was being released had already passed, since she didn't get the furlough to go the funeral; she got the furlough to visit her before she died.

Edited June 19, 2014 by janie jones

[ilovese4]

Taystee offering Nicky free smack was particularly despicable when you consider they go to AA/NA together.

[TeresaDee]

Why such surprise that Nicky was given drugs? I've never met a drug dealer that gave a damn about anyone's sobriety. It's all business to them...and an addict, recovering or not, is just another potential customer. And Taystee is simply an abused child still trying to get Mom (substitute's) love and approval.

[Lurky McLurkerson]

Right now I think she's so awful that I can't even vaguely recollect why I loved her last season. It feels like she's been rewritten into an entirely different, utterly unlikable person.

Last season, we got to see the fun and the vulnerable sides of Tasytee.  She and Poussey had a fun friendship doing their white people impersonations, and they showed the strong commraderie that came from being stuck in a shitty situation.  Her joy at being paroled, her struggles on the outside, and her finally giving up and reoffending -- they made for a good and compelling story, and you felt for her.  Even in the first part of Season 2, she fought really hard thinking the prize for the Dress for Success workshop was an actual job.

 

After that, she turns her back on Poussey and is one step behind Suzanne in her efforts to remain in Vee's good graces.  She's not fun, she not loyal, and she's using her smarts to help run Vee's cigarette business instead of preparing for her release.  It's possible that we're meant to think that the misguided loyalty she feels towards Vee and her being defeated after her release and the Dress for Success let-down pushed her back in the direction of making bad decisions, but the dots weren't really connected if that is the conclusion we were supposed to draw.  I think her storyline could have been handled much better to reach the same end but with more shading in the middle.

[Hanahope]

Ah, I thought Poussay wasn't working for Vee.

 

I liked seeing how Red and Vee met, and how Vee initially conned Red too.  Shame about Red's market.

 

And Piper's still a narcissist, and so's her brother - though nice of him to take the scandal off Piper.  Her actions kindof remind me of the Survivor contestants that just orgasm over food and alcohol. 

 

You don't mess with the golden girls!  haha

 

Oooh, Bennett's going to break.  Looks like Caputo hates Mendez too, he looked rather happy to have a way to get rid of him.

[Fisher King]

Boo and Taystee are officially on my shit list now.

 

The funeral/wedding was wild and cringe-worthy.

[Chaos Theory]

Last season, we got to see the fun and the vulnerable sides of Tasytee. She and Poussey had a fun friendship doing their white people impersonations, and they showed the strong commraderie that came from being stuck in a shitty situation. Her joy at being paroled, her struggles on the outside, and her finally giving up and reoffending -- they made for a good and compelling story, and you felt for her. Even in the first part of Season 2, she fought really hard thinking the prize for the Dress for Success workshop was an actual job.

After that, she turns her back on Poussey and is one step behind Suzanne in her efforts to remain in Vee's good graces. She's not fun, she not loyal, and she's using her smarts to help run Vee's cigarette business instead of preparing for her release. It's possible that we're meant to think that the misguided loyalty she feels towards Vee and her being defeated after her release and the Dress for Success let-down pushed her back in the direction of making bad decisions, but the dots weren't really connected if that is the conclusion we were supposed to draw. I think her storyline could have been handled much better to reach the same end but with more shading in the middle.

As much as I liked Taystee season 1 she was little more than a bit player with little or no storyline. Yes her reoffending after getting released was sad but besides that she was there for snark. Season 2 we are seeing what made Taystee Taystee and why an otherwise smart girl would turn on a true friend. Vee for all her faults was always the closest thing Taystee had to a mother. That kind of power and influence is hard to understand and shake off. It made for a compelling story for both Taystee and Poussey. Edited December 31, 2014 by Chaos Theory