Orange Is The New Black Episode 308 Recap: Fear and Loathing in Panty Town

Big Boo and Morello are playing chess. I want them to be doing this in Union Square park so bad. Maybe if we all shut our eyes and pretend, it’ll come true! Anyway, in a scene that I wish would have lasted much longer, Boo and Morello break down the philosophy of one of the world’s oldest games.

Big Boo: Pawns are called pawns for a reason. They’re minesweepers, uneducated militants with suicide vests. You must protect your more important people.
Morello: All of my people are important people and I mourn them all equally. Just cuz you’re a horsey or you can move diagonally does not mean you are better than little nubby guy who moves one spot at a time.

Morello drops these life lessons on all of our beating hearts, y’all. I hope we’re all listening.

Piper drops in to share her Clever Asshole Grin with the world. Big Boo sniffs her out and asks what’s going on in the land of uncooked boxes of spaghetti.

And lo, the Angel of Ramen came upon them, the glory of the flavor packets showed round about them and they were so afraid and the angel said unto them, “Fear not! For behold, I bring you tidings of great joy that involve an illegal panty ring and shrimp, pork, and chicken flavor packets, for unto you was born this day in the prison of Litchfield a White Savior who is Piper, that’s me, Piper Kerman, the new Al Capone of Panties.”

Piper: I need your vadge sweat and maybe some, uh, colorless discharge. I’m starting a business selling stinky panties to perverts.
Jones: That’s the miraculous adventure?
Piper: It’s easy. I give you flavor packets and you give me something you’re already giving away for free.
Big Boo: And you get to keep the money
Piper: And you are supporting a local business.

I don’t know what intersectional feminism is but as long as we have white fragility on our side, we don’t need it.

And this is absolute bullshit. Piper is really good at co-opting the language of the people and using it to provide legitimacy to her unscrupulous pursuits but also to ease her conscience should it ever bubble up and cause her to question her morality.

Jones calls her business plan “disgusting,” but I think we all know,she’s also calling Piper disgusting. Not because selling panties is inherently bad at all but the slick oil salesman way Piper goes about it is disgusting.

But of course, Piper doesn’t listen to herself when she speaks so she goes on for a minute about how she used to be grossed out by her own cootie scent. Again, she utilizes the language of the oppressed and points to the patriarchy and because she’s in the company of white women, this tool works. White women are oppressed by white men and it’s white men that have made white women hate their cootie scents. So her panty-selling business is actually FEMINISM Y’ALL.

Her one good point is that the same men who want to shame women’s bodies/scents are the same men who will buy used prison panties in bulk. There’s no lie there, Piper. Ningun.

She ends her speech on a picnic table summoning the spirits of a thousand white suffragettes. In that moment the symbol of the patriarchy, C.O. Stone Cold Steve Austin, orders Piper to step down from the table and resume her position as the inferior sex.

All the prisoners are in there like swimwear and are ready for Operation Stanky Drawers.

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We find Soso in Healy’s Office of Last Resorts. Papa Roach is playing and it’s all very early 2000s when emo tried to become scream rap. Soso still needs a friend. Healey still needs a hand job and I’m terrified of what’s gonna go down between them. We almost lost Red to this human sack of instant mashed potatoes. Soso goes on and on about how she can’t have friends because she talks too much. And then she says the thing that makes Healey fume, she says, “The only place I feel like I can really talk without getting jumped on is in Berdie’s drama class. Is it possible to change counselors?”

Healey can’t handle the fact that a Black woman is making him obsolete because she’s that much better at her job. He won’t switch Soso to Berdie’s counsel. Instead he gives her the wisdom of men: Depression is all in your head. Go take a pill. No one likes a sad broad.

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Daya Pregnany Update, Gestational Week 435: STILL PREGGZZ

Aleida tells Daya that someone should rub her feet but ha, it ain’t gonna be her. She asks Daya if she’s thought some more about giving her baby to Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. Daya shrugs; she’s not sure if they can handle another baby. Aleida’s smacks Daya in the face and asks her if she’s that stupid. Of course they can. This would be their first Latino baby so you know it’d get spoiled.

Stupid Daya.

Aleida: You gotta realize this isn’t for you. It’s for her. A better life. Washers and dryers in the building. Math tutor. Shit involving horses.
Daya: If I really love her, money shouldn’t matter.
Aleida: Daya, stop being such a selfish bitch and commit to this. Now. Because if you’re still on the fence when this thing comes out of you, you’re gonna keep it. Do the right thing.

And with a few love slaps to Daya’s thigh, Aleida’s out that bitch and heading to Chang’s Commissary and Beauty Aids to pick up some new rolos for her doobie.

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We find Caputo doing what he does best — actually what he does best is hate-bang Figeuroa — so it’s what he does second best and that’s try to improve the lives of the women at Litchfield. Caputo at his core actually gives so many mustached fucks.

He’s trying to get their books back, like the good ones, the law books that will help them get out of jail, and he’s trying to get them college courses. He’s put in for all these programs and all he’s getting is budget cuts. And smarmy annoying Corporate Shmuck, Jr. doesn’t have much to offer Caputo besides constipated looks and weasely shrugs.

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On the road again with Pensatucky and bug-eyed drifter C.O. Coates, we find ourselves in that weird place on this show where it’s hard to tell if people are flirting or abusing their power or reminding those in power that they’re dangerous criminals. So like it’s hella uncomfortable and this might be a good time to soak your feet in some Epsom salts and smoke an American Spirit.

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Piper and Stella are sewing partners in the workroom. But they’re also trying to lowkey smash, you know? So, Stella goes the direct route and asks if Alex is Piper’s main chick or if there’s wiggle room for a quickie in the janitor’s closet. Piper admits that Alex is her girlfriend but doesn’t make eye contact which is code for “my gf doesn’t have to know that we finger bang tho.” Wink wink.

Not only is Stella gorgeous but she’s also so goddamn smart that she figures out Piper’s super secret plan to seduce Gerber Baby into smuggling out the panties. She’s got her looks, her pretty face, but she never underestimates the importance of BODY LANGUAGE. HA!

Officer Gerber Baby has the sexual charisma of Michael Cera in every movie role he’s ever played and I know there’s an appeal to that, the awkward baby-faced cutie pie who gets nervous around real life girls but is still really nice; I get that niche or whatever.

But Piper flirting with him is like watching a used up Real Housewife flirt with their teen daughter’s boyfriend. Are any of us here for that? Nope.

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Alex is pulling weeds in the garden, again looking mighty fine. Tank Girl offers her a bouquet of poison ivy as a symbol of love and friendship. Alex declines and wonders if it’s really a symbol of imminent death.

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Flashback! Alex and Fahri are in a hotel room. He’s freaking out because the pizza and drugs are still in jail. He’s also freaking out because he left the top level drug boss exposed and he’s probably gonna die. Newsflash: He dies! Gets shot right in the head in front of Alex by his own henchbro.

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Coates and Tucky talk donuts in another attempt at a cute/light-hearted scene that does nothing but build an impending sense of doom. Eat your donuts, Tucky, and get TF back to Litchfield.

Coates: A donut that’s selling donuts is basically a slave trader.

Take a shot if you literally smacked your forehead at any point during this asinine conversation. And remember that we could be watching Poussey and Taystee do something or Black Cindy reading a smuggled in copy of the Torah or Yoga Jones doing yoga, but no, we’re watching Tucky suffer this fool. They end up at a lake feeding donuts to the ducks.

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Over at the League of Unfairly Wealthy Sociopathic Shareholders, we meet Linda. She’s a woman with a brain who isn’t ugly. The men let her speak. She wiggles into the old boys club by offering money-saving solutions instead of radical ideas. She’s the perfect woman. Speaks when spoken to and only says things they want to here. Well done, Linda! Now, show the boys in legal how well you can make a sandwich.

Corporate Weasel Jr. uses his time at this meeting to bring up Caputo’s requests: books, college courses, job-training, etc. But not one person gives a shit about the women at Litchfield; this is what corporations do to prisons, schools, farms. They suck the humanity out of them and turn them into dividends and profit margins. Dude actually tries to push forward initiatives that would help the prisoners and elevate their quality of life but he’s shut down fast. He’s also reprimanded by Daddy Corporate Weasel.

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Daya and Delia Powell, Pornstache’s mom, meet up for another round of Hot Potato Baby Edition. God, Delia Powell is the foxy, rich MILF I’ve been searching for my entire life. Jeezus. Daya’s still down to give her the baby. She asks that Delia write to her and let her know the baby is doing okay. Daya’s also convinced the baby is going to be a girl.

Pornstache’s mom is relieved that Daya’s only asking for letters. She thought Daya was going to up the baby service fee that Aleida put into place. Daya is shocked. She had no idea that mom dukes was extorting Pornstache’s mom. In this moment, Daya stays true to her character and tells Pornstache’s mom that Pornstache is NOT THE FATHER.

Daya was down to lie to give her baby a better life but she’s not down to be involved in the same lie with money exchanging hands.

Delia Powell thanks Daya for her honesty and gets the eff out of Litchfield. Her good white lady armor has been shook to its core and she needs a spa treatment and a martini ASAP. God, I love her tho.

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Sophia and Gloria squash their beef in line for the payphone. Sophia apologizes for thinking Benny’s a scumbag. Both of them wish they could be home parenting their kids in person, not from prison.

Suzanne hands off her latest spot of brilliance to Poussey. Gilly and Rodcocker have an orgy with the cast of Sense8. Poussey just about loses her shit. She even gives up her place in the phone line to read Suzanne’s newest chapters.

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Tired of serving sewage chowder and meat slop soup to her fellow inmates, Red barges into Healey’s office and quits. She can’t quit though, not officially.

Healey can’t help her because despite all his rage he is still just a rat in a cage. Red leaves her chef’s coat in his office. Healey takes this as an opportunity to sniff it and inhale her essence. He’s one step away from buying all the dirty prison panties, I swear to God.

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Berdie catches him at peak sketchiness.

Berdie: What are you doing?
Healey: Oh, sometimes the inmates sneak cigarettes so I gotta smell their clothes.

Berdie let’s his absolute filthy bullshit slide. She turns the conversation to Soso, and Healey’s ineptitude. Berdie thinks that throwing meds at Soso isn’t going to help anything. Healey argues that he handled the problem with truth, justice, and the American way. Obvs that doesn’t fly with Berdie.

Berdie: When someone’s feeling vulnerable, they need their pain acknowledged, not be made to feel worse for having it.

Can the congregation of individuals like myself dealing with mental health and emotional well being issues say Hallelu? Gracias a Dios? Round of applause for Berdie.

Hell hath no fury like a white man scorned, tho. Let’s be real. Healey can barely contain his smug rage over Berdie calling his actions into question.

Healey: Well, look, no offense to you but she’s my counselee and I don’t need to take advice from someone like you.

Aka someone who is Black and a woman and more qualified in every way to run the world.

Berdie handles all of his patriarchal hot air with a grace and a dignity that Healey doesn’t deserve. She maintains her position as someone with a Masters in Psychology that Soso shouldn’t be on meds. Healey gives up, salutes her like an asshole, and hands over Soso’s files.

I could watch Berdie do this all day. Can someone let her into the board room of the League of Unfairly Wealthy Sociopathic Shareholders?

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Taystee catches Poussey in the stairwell reading A Series of Unfortunate Rodcocking. But alas, Poussey’s been dipping into her stash of hootch and our poor, sweet, beautiful lamb is all sorts of drunk and sad.

Can anybody find her somebody to love? Taystee tells her that she needs help. She needs to go to AA.

Poussey: I don’t need to talk about how I need a drink. I need a reason not to drink. Is AA gonna make me feel useful? Tell me I have a future? Give me somebody to spend that future with?
Taystee: You got me for whatever future we got. You got me.
Poussey: That’s not enough. I’m lonely. I’m always gonna be lonely.

Oh Poussey, you’re breaking our hearts. You deserve the love of a million fangirls. And Taystee deserves a medal for being this season’s caretaker of sad souls and misunderstood literary geniuses.

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Flash to Corporate Weasel Jr dumping on Caputo for leaving work early.

Cue Caputo and the Whiskers jamming out in their garage singing songs about destroying The Man.

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Taystee passes the Cult of Norma as they silently reflect on Taylor Swift and her girl posse. They send to her and her posse strength, compassion, and incredible bangs that never fray or split at the ends. In the middle of it all is Poussey who got lost on her way to AA but heard the opening snare pop of Blank Space and knew she’d found home.

Disappointed, Taystee sends bad energy into the group. It ripples through La Santa Blanca. Everyone feels it. The door is shut on Taystee’s face.

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Over a game of Old Maid, Piper tells Alex that Gerber Baby is down to be the panty mule. Alex still thinks Tank Girl is out to kill her.

Tank Girl admits to staring at Alex but only because Alex is staring at her. The first one to laugh loses the game of life. Piper tells Alex her paranoia is all in her head because Piper is actually Healey’s first born daughter.

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Flashback! Alex has made it to the fire level and must defeat King Koopa. Instead of a battle, he offers to send her to rehab because he’s a criminal mastermind with a heart of gold and a soft spot for troubled white girls.

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Masturbation alley is filled with moans and sighs of Christ’s love as Suzanne’s latest erotica hits the dormitories.

Tank Girl hasn’t read A Series of Unfortunate Rodcocking but it’s all good. She’s got other thing on her mind.

Tank Girl is rodclocking Alex’s every move.