S07.E11: God Bless America

[Meredith Quill]

Quote

Maria tries to make peace with Gloria. Karla and Blanca plead their cases. Figueroa stands up to Litvack. Piper attends a posh fundraiser with Zelda.

[Kroliosis]

Fig just now puts thought into what raising a child would be?  Are you kidding me?  Ive dealt w too many people dealing w infertility that this just completely set me off. 

[TiredMe]

32 minutes ago, Kroliosis said:

Fig just now puts thought into what raising a child would be?  Are you kidding me?  Ive dealt w too many people dealing w infertility that this just completely set me off. 

I don’t think that was it. She was faking everything she said in order to get that woman the abortion pill. She sacrificed herself, so to speak. 

McCullough stalking Piper is creepy as hell though.

[ExplainItAgain]

I had no idea that was McCullough until she said Alex wanted to move on with her. The whole time I was like...who is this?? How does she know Alex? Geez.

Poor Karla, poor Shani.

Yeah, Fig was faking everything to get that abortion pill. But, since she told the woman's story to the doctor, did the doctor pick up on what was happening?

Surely Caputo can get together with Piper to start Taystee's nonprofit? I really thought before the season aired Caputo and Piper were going to team up to do something like this, or write a book.

I think Maria might take the blame for the phone to show Gloria she's changed?

[Kroliosis]

1 hour ago, TiredMe said:

I don’t think that was it. She was faking everything she said in order to get that woman the abortion pill. She sacrificed herself, so to speak. 

McCullough stalking Piper is creepy as hell though.

Ohhhhhhh duh ok. That makes sense. Awwww I’m impressed w Fig then!

Also didn’t recognize McCullough. 

Maybe I should rewatch that episode bc I clearly missed a lot!

[Brn2bwild]

1 hour ago, Kroliosis said:

Ohhhhhhh duh ok. That makes sense. Awwww I’m impressed w Fig then!

Also didn’t recognize McCullough. 

Maybe I should rewatch that episode bc I clearly missed a lot!

After seeing McCullough in this episode, does anyone else think by the end of the series, she'll be an inmate? (Haven't watched the last two yet.)

[whatwouldRigginsdo]

I was such a mess during that scene with Carla talking to her kids on the phone, sobbing; and then thought it was so jarring that it went right into the scene at the fundraiser right after. 

[mj2000]

McCollough clearly needs psychiatric help. She pissed me off to no end. First, by blackmailing Alex and then by interfering in Alex and Pipers relationship. 

I don't usually enjoy a story about abortion, but kudos to Fig by showing more of her softer side and putting herself out there to help.

[Chaos Theory]

On 7/28/2019 at 11:45 AM, Kroliosis said:

Fig just now puts thought into what raising a child would be?  Are you kidding me?  Ive dealt w too many people dealing w infertility that this just completely set me off. 

Fig has never really had to see first hand what her policies did to people. She has always been a numbers person.  Prison has always been a numbers game to her.  I think seeing kids being put into the equation genuinely through her.  

Edited July 30, 2019 by Chaos Theory

[rangell]

How did Alex see a picture of Piper at the event so quickly?  Did she send it to Alex or was Alex stalking the event's PR site?  Not a big deal but I am curious and thought maybe I missed something there.

[ShortyMac]

5 hours ago, rangell said:

How did Alex see a picture of Piper at the event so quickly?  Did she send it to Alex or was Alex stalking the event's PR site?  Not a big deal but I am curious and thought maybe I missed something there.

Piper had someone take a pic of her with her own phone, and sent it to Alex.

So sad for Karla, her boys, and all of those kids in juvenile court. Big kudos to Fig for what she did, getting the abortion pill for the Guatemalan woman.

I knew that Gloria with a phone would be bad. Why wasn't it put on silent, instead of vibrate??

Quote

I had no idea that was McCullough until she said Alex wanted to move on with her. The whole time I was like...who is this?? How does she know Alex? Geez.

Poor Karla, poor Shani.

Yeah, Fig was faking everything to get that abortion pill. But, since she told the woman's story to the doctor, did the doctor pick up on what was happening?

Surely Caputo can get together with Piper to start Taystee's nonprofit? I really thought before the season aired Caputo and Piper were going to team up to do something like this, or write a book.

I think Maria might take the blame for the phone to show Gloria she's changed?

@ExplainItAgain I think so, too...

Edited July 29, 2019 by ShortyMac

[Stiggs]

13 hours ago, mj2000 said:

McCollough clearly needs psychiatric help. She pissed me off to no end. First, by blackmailing Alex and then by interfering in Alex and Pipers relationship. 

I don't usually enjoy a story about abortion, but kudos to Fig by showing more of her softer side and putting herself out there to help.

Agreed on both points. McCollough was truly dangerous. If they'd have given this show another season she would have been wearing orange — she's a ticking timebomb. And she has THE worst poker face on earth. If anyone had been paying attention to her, her very obvious "oh, so let's go do something secret now" looks and her general nervous demeanor were over-the-top. 

When the show first started, Fig was one of those characters I officially loathed and who was horrible, but she always had enough funny truth-bombs to keep me from full-on hating her. I've softened on her over the years, but this season I just plain liked her. Like she finally saw shit that was SO bad she had to call bullshit on her own bravado. The abortion pill scene was powerful and I choked up once I realized what she was doing. 

Edited July 29, 2019 by Stiggs

[zibnchy]

OK the McCullough bit was weird but let's be real, Piper was looking for any reason to sleep with Zelda. Literally any. If McCullough hadn't dropped by she'd probably have stubbed her toe and considered it a sign.

Piper still, as always, sucks.

[Stiggs]

1 hour ago, zibnchy said:

OK the McCullough bit was weird but let's be real, Piper was looking for any reason to sleep with Zelda. Literally any. If McCullough hadn't dropped by she'd probably have stubbed her toe and considered it a sign.

Piper still, as always, sucks.

Oh, yeah - McCullough being an asshole and Piper being an asshole are both true, heh. I haven't really enjoyed watching Piper since season one, but I did enjoy her trying to figure out her post-prison life, though I swear I could smell her brother's apartment through my TV. 

I want to work with the ladies at Piper's office, though, lol. 

[funnygirl]

Karla talking to her sons gutted me. Separating children from their parents is just terrible. 

Glad to see Sophia. Not sure how long she's been out, didn't think it was that much earlier than Piper, but I love that she bounced back quick and is doing well for herself. Piper should heed her advice, but knowing her she won't. 

I honestly don't care about Piper/Alex relationship. Unpopular opinion though it may be, I don't think they're good for each other beyond their life in prison. And I know Alex is trying to be moral and do the right thing, but pissing off a guard is not a smart thing to do. She has how much longer in her sentence? 

Also, McCullough had the perfect opportunity to tell Ward about Hellman smuggling in the drugs. This isn't the army, she doesn't need him to have her back, and he would've gotten fired like he deserves. Oh well, all the guards suck. 

Figueroa for the win! 

Edited July 30, 2019 by funnygirl

[ExplainItAgain]

6 minutes ago, funnygirl said:

She has how much longer in her sentence? 

3-ish years. And more if she doesn't stop doing stupid shit like smuggling in phone chargers or getting caught with a cell phone.

[Ceindreadh]

6 hours ago, funnygirl said:

Karla talking to her sons gutted me. Separating children from their parents is just terrible. 

Glad to see Sophia. Not sure how long she's been out, didn't think it was that much earlier than Piper, but I love that she bounced back quick and is doing well for herself. Piper should heed her advice, but knowing her she won't. 

I honestly don't care about Piper/Alex relationship. Unpopular opinion though it may be, I don't think they're good for each other beyond their life in prison. And I know Alex is trying to be moral and do the right thing, but pissing off a guard is not a smart thing to do. She has how much longer in her sentence? 

Also, McCullough had the perfect opportunity to tell Ward about Hellman smuggling in the drugs. This isn't the army, she doesn't need him to have her back, and he would've gotten fired like he deserves. Oh well, all the guards suck. 

Figueroa for the win! 

It wasn’t much earlier than Piper, but Sophia did get a nice settlement to keep her mouth shut about prison conditions so at least she wasn’t struggling financially. 

Was delighted to see her looking so well, and back in a salon. 

[llewis823]

I just watched this episode last night and I don't want to watch the last two episodes yet - I want to pace myself. I did not realize what FIg was doing either - went right over my head. Then I saw her hand the pill to the woman. I love Fig and especially Caputo. At the beginning of the first season, who knew he'd be my favorite character of all of them? Surely not me! : )

[DoctorAtomic]

On 7/28/2019 at 10:19 AM, TiredMe said:

McCullough stalking Piper is creepy as hell though.

Plus it's a weird plot to pull this late. Alex had already agreed to opening up the marriage so this isn't that interesting to me. 

I hoped the guard just took the phone and threw it out the ride back. 

On 7/28/2019 at 11:15 AM, ExplainItAgain said:

Surely Caputo can get together with Piper to start Taystee's nonprofit?

I was disappointed Caputo had to resign, but this seems like a great idea. 

All right, that sunglasses dude needs to get got, and Fig needs to do it. 

[DoubleUTeeEff]

On 7/28/2019 at 1:15 PM, ExplainItAgain said:

Yeah, Fig was faking everything to get that abortion pill. But, since she told the woman's story to the doctor, did the doctor pick up on what was happening?

Yes, the doctor knew exactly what Fig was doing. Good for them for doing the moral thing in that situation.

On 7/28/2019 at 11:20 PM, whatwouldRigginsdo said:

I was such a mess during that scene with Carla talking to her kids on the phone, sobbing; and then thought it was so jarring that it went right into the scene at the fundraiser right after.

I felt the same. I think it might have been intentional in order to juxtapose the actual horrible situation to a fancy benefit intended to help children. The fundraising was also for foreign children (Syrians) when there are children being treated horribly in the US (God Bless America). Not that you can't care about both but I think they were trying to make a point there as well.

Definitely the saddest episode for me with the children in the hearing who didn't even have lawyers much less an adult advocate (even a baby!) along with Karla's kids being separated from their mother and after their father dying, too. I really hope they get to stay with one family and don't have to be shuffled around in the foster care system. I think they said it was a foster care to adoption situation. As wrong as it is that they don't get to stay with their mother, I hope they are adopted just for the stability, I'm pretending in my head that they get to see their mother again and she is a part of their lives one way or another.

[foxfreakinmulder]

On ‎7‎/‎28‎/‎2019 at 10:15 AM, ExplainItAgain said:

I think Maria might take the blame for the phone to show Gloria she's changed?

I thought she was going to speak up and say the phone was hers.

Piper and Alex sure are drifting apart quick.

The actress that plays Karla killed that scene on the phone.

This episode is why people that come to America to have a better life and live here should become American citizens. Especially if you have kids. This is heartbreaking to watch and if I'm here and from a country that I'm afraid to go back to then I would want to be a legal citizen to avoid deportation. Or marry for convenience, whatever it takes to keep you from being deported. Poor Maritza didn't have a chance because her mother lied to her, she could have easily found an American man to marry.

It doesn't look like this show is going to give anyone a happy ending. Well maybe Piper, she could probably live a good life with Zelda if she wanted to.

I didn't recognize McCullough either she looked so different with her hair down.

[jsm1125]

27 minutes ago, foxfreakinmulder said:

I thought she was going to speak up and say the phone was hers.

Piper and Alex sure are drifting apart quick.

The actress that plays Karla killed that scene on the phone.

This episode is why people that come to America to have a better life and live here should become American citizens. Especially if you have kids. This is heartbreaking to watch and if I'm here and from a country that I'm afraid to go back to then I would want to be a legal citizen to avoid deportation. Or marry for convenience, whatever it takes to keep you from being deported. Poor Maritza didn't have a chance because her mother lied to her, she could have easily found an American man to marry.

It doesn't look like this show is going to give anyone a happy ending. Well maybe Piper, she could probably live a good life with Zelda if she wanted to.

I didn't recognize McCullough either she looked so different with her hair down.

Didn't Maria already take the fall in this episode? I could have sworn I heard Flacca ask the woman CO who's not McCullough what would happen to "Ruiz." 

[foxfreakinmulder]

1 hour ago, jsm1125 said:

Didn't Maria already take the fall in this episode? I could have sworn I heard Flacca ask the woman CO who's not McCullough what would happen to "Ruiz." 

If she did I missed it.

[Cranberry]

I can't believe this show has made me genuinely like Fig.

[Kel Varnsen]

Good episode, although I think I would have liked it more if less time was spent with Piper and more was spent with the detainees. Plus I swear if the series ends with Piper sitting down at a computer to start writing Orange is the New Black, that will be the cheesiest thing ever.

The immigration stuff was good, although how do you deport a baby? Like just the process of it, the baby is all alone, how does ICE prove it wasn't born in the US and what country it came from?

Glad the McCollough plot is changing and making her kind of a psycho. Her thing with Alex was creepy from the start for me, and just as inappropriate as what Pornstache or the guy who got Daya pregnant were doing. So I am glad they are not trying to frame it as something different.

Also anyone know what language the detainee woman who Fig gave the abortion pill was speaking?

[ShortyMac]

5 hours ago, Kel Varnsen said:

Also anyone know what language the detainee woman who Fig gave the abortion pill was speaking?

Ki'che', a Mayan language spoken by one million people in Guatemala.

[RealReality]

Please, for the love of all that is good, please don't tell me our country has baby immigration court.

Please tell me there aren't people so in love with the idea of being a judge that they would be okay with that.  That can't be a thing. 

You'd have to have an advocate in the court for a child.  I cannot imagine anyone....anyone okay with two kids under 10 not having legal representation.  

And could they have picked kids that were any cuter?  I just wanted to scoop them up.

[merrick715]

6 hours ago, RealReality said:

Please, for the love of all that is good, please don't tell me our country has baby immigration court.

We do. John Oliver did a segment on immigration courts. The Texas Tribune and The Atlantic have both written articles about it.

Edited August 3, 2019 by merrick715

[RealReality]

2 hours ago, merrick715 said:

We do. John Oliver did a segment on immigration courts. The Texas Tribune and The Atlantic have both written articles about it.

JFC.  What is our country turning into.

[Aim123]

On 7/30/2019 at 12:28 AM, Ceindreadh said:

It wasn’t much earlier than Piper, but Sophia did get a nice settlement to keep her mouth shut about prison conditions so at least she wasn’t struggling financially. 

Was delighted to see her looking so well, and back in a salon. 

I was so happy to see her as well! However, when they cut to Piper at the gala, her hair looked absolutely terrible! It look like Sophia added three inches of black roots to her hair.

On 7/31/2019 at 6:03 PM, foxfreakinmulder said:

This is heartbreaking to watch and if I'm here and from a country that I'm afraid to go back to then I would want to be a legal citizen to avoid deportation

Yes! If you knew you could be separated from your kids, wouldn't you do everything you could to be a legal citizen?

[possibilities]

It's not like people are here who refuse to become citizens -- there is not always a path to legally becoming a citizen. Marrying a citizen is not necessarily enough, either; that is a misconception.

[DangerousMinds]

4 hours ago, possibilities said:

It's not like people are here who refuse to become citizens -- there is not always a path to legally becoming a citizen. Marrying a citizen is not necessarily enough, either; that is a misconception.

There is not always a path, especially for those without much money.

[tennisgurl]

Wow so McCullough really went from zero to stalker in about three seconds flat! And judging by how she was looking when she confronted Piper, she has apparently been hitting the crack pipe, like holy crap lady are you sleeping? 

The three backstories were all so depressing, especially knowing that they apparently dont have happy endings. So much of this could be at least helped if this country just had a sensible path to legal immigration, especially for people in such dire situations like Karla and Shani, instead of the overly complicated time consuming and expensive clusterfuck that we have now. Karla on the phone with her boys was just so horribly heartbreaking, and so soon after losing their father! Those poor boys, I am just holding out hope that they can be reunited with their mother at some point. And kid court, holy mother of god! How do you expect a baby to mount a proper legal defense, exactly? Or little kids who dont even know what a lawyer is? 

Who would have guessed that eventually I would grow to like Fig so much?

At least Sophia is doing well, living her best life doing hair and being awesome! 

Edited August 9, 2019 by tennisgurl

[iMonrey]

What did Maria do to Gloria anyway? I don't remember much about her. She's one of those characters I was never able to keep track of very well.

[ShortyMac]

2 hours ago, iMonrey said:

What did Maria do to Gloria anyway? I don't remember much about her. She's one of those characters I was never able to keep track of very well.

She freed the guards/hostages during the riot, even though Gloria did all the hard work of getting them into the porta potties and planning. Gloria was trying to do so in order to get furlough to see her son, Benny, in ICU, after he was beat up very badly and was in a coma. Maria sabotaged her in order to see her daughter.

[Dobian]

A very moving episode.

[ComtesseCrumpet]

I’m bugged by Fig’s IVF story. The writers were portraying the IVF process accurately until they melded it with the abortion storyline. During IVF, you go through a few weeks of stimulation to produce multiple eggs, which was shown with the shots Fig was getting. So far, so good. You also go in a few times a week for ultrasounds and bloodwork so the doc can evaluate how you are responding to the stimulation meds. There is no way the docs would have missed a 9 week pregnancy when she was getting so many ultrasounds.  The embryo would be very visible on ultrasound at that point. Maybe they were trying to show the doc was just going along with Fig’s plan to help the immigrant woman, but, if so, the writers didn’t make it clear.

Also, why would Fig go to her fertility doc for abortion meds? Why not get the meds from another doc and continue with her IVF as planned? I get that the writers wanted to show Fig making a big personal sacrifice for the other woman, but the way they went about it was unrealistic.

Edited August 30, 2019 by ComtesseCrumpet

[CrystalBlue]

@ComtesseCrumpet I totally agree.  I didn't really like the IVF storyline to begin with.  What woman walks around with a filled urine sample cup in her handbag anyway?  Being the savior of some random Guatemalan woman who wants an abortion didn't ring true to Fig's character either.  Also, how is Fig going to adopt a child with Caputo when she's still married to her gay husband?