Orange Is the New Black - Final Season

I am. On episode 7. Aleida being 37 years old is the most far fetched thing that the series has done.

Male nudity quotient?

Sex scenes?

There’s ass (on a fine black man) and pubes of a guy post coital.

I've enjoyed the show from the beginning. I thought the last season was the best in several years.

I just finished episode 7. Liking it very much so far.

Strongest season in a while. Too much Piper and the boring people in her life though. It managed to have a few surprises but I feel a lot of fans would probably be let down by certain things that happen. The new cast additions were better done this season than last. Won't go into anything too spoilerish incase some people didn't get to see it yet.

R3 Cesar shows some of his ass while fucking Aleida in the car also.

Aleida probably had Daya at 15 or 16.

Aleida probably had Daya at 15 or 16.

The season was dark. At some points, I felt like I was watching Wentworth.

That's one case where the mother looks younger than the daughter.

R10 It was. The ICE storyline, Taystee's struggle, and the fates of two popular, major characters.

What's everyone's guess on whether Aleida solved the problem of Daya once and for all?

Remember back in Season 1, when Daya arrived at the prison with Piper and several other women? A correctional office was leading the group of new arrivals through the facility, when an angry Aleida walked up to Daya and slapped her on the face. Daya explained to her fellow newbies: "that's my mom". It's interesting to compare their first interaction with their last interaction.

I guess it's a case where each viewer gets to interpret it how they wish and choose their own ending for those two.

I hope she solved the problem of Daya, but it was left ambiguously, so we'll probably never know for sure.

R2 unfortunately the blond Mormon guard did not do a strip tease or get nude this season, but he is a hottie!

I liked the Piper storyline. The chickens were dumb and it seemed like filler content.

I liked Piper's scenes with her parole officer. The actress was great.

The chickens were a call back to the Magic Chicken in season 1.

I won't spoil anything, but I finished the season and I thought Piper's story had a good resolution. It was satisfying.

Darkest season by far, but glad I stuck with it until the end

Not a spoiler, but I assumed it would end with Piper writing her book?

I think that was implied, r22.

No not implied at all. No book.

She stopped looking for the next exciting thing.

I’ve started fast forwarding through Piper out of jail experiences. I don’t care and I never liked her character at all.

Which episodes show the sexy dudes?

The Netflix Piper diverged from the real Piper in Season 1. So Netflix Piper doesn't have to write a book just because real Piper did.

Trivia: in the very last scene, the real Piper and Larry have a (nonspeaking) cameo.

Maybe they will do a male version, Stripes is the New Plaid.

I'm glad they had the ICE/asylum seekers story in the last series. It very much mirrors what is really going on with the border. A lot of people who don't watch the news, might see it and rethink their vote. Women who are mothers might identify with the immigrant women who are losing their kids.

R29 Laura Gomez (Blanca) commented that some people who don't watch the news (or crap like Fox News), but you can get a message across to them though the entertainment they watch. Although I'm not sure if the show has a significant conservative female fan base.

Diane Guerrero, Laura Gomez and Karina Arroyave all gave great performances in that storyline.

I'm afraid that too many people will think that the deportation court for children was just fiction and not real-life fact

[quote]Cesar shows some of his ass while fucking Aleida in the car also.

Cesar's ass was fuckin hot, no wonder Aleida can't say no to him.

I agree that this season has been really strong so far, I'm glad the writers are trying to go out on top.

BUT man the car crash in Lorna's episode was embarrassing. That car was barely moving that fast and then it turns into this awful fatal disaster. Guess they couldn't afford a real stunt. Still I get the point of that was supposed to be what caused Lorna to go crazy.

Can't stand Jason Biggs

I want Beer Can!

R32 I found it plausible. It was because of the vehicle it struck the damage was so severe. It was a shocking image. Disturbing but well done.

So we finally found out what sent Lorna over the edge. And nobody ever found out what really happened.

SPOILER!!!!!

I was devastated by the end of episode 12. She was my favorite character, the one who had the greatest arc and had evolved the most. We were led to believe another favorite would be the one to die, and I had accepted it, then they pulled the old bait-and-switch. Shocking. At first I felt it came out of nowhere, then thinking back thru the previous episodes, realized they were planting the seeds. It made total sense by the time it happened.

I felt stupid for being so upset, mourning the death of a fictional character.

[quote]Aleida probably had Daya at 15 or 16.

Except that back when the series started in 2013, Daya was at least 18 years old (so born in 1995) which made sense with her name, which practically did not exist in the Puerto Rican community before Dayanara Torres (Mark Anthony’s second wife and Miss Universe 1993) made it popular (it was basically a made-up name). This would make her 23-24 years old by season 7, whose historic landmarks clearly tell you it’s happening in 2018-2019.

So Aleida being 37 in 2028-2019 is still a stretch. It would mean she had Daya at age 13-14. A possibility if ice cream guy was the daddy but I doubt it.

[quote]There’s ass (on a fine black man) and pubes of a guy post coital.

Don’t forget the interrupted sex/hard-on scene where Mr. Clean had to readjust his crotch when he got the emergency call from work and had to run out of his Aleida sex session.

But, yeah, NBA guy was mighty fine!

R38 You can't go by the timeline of the show. It's like your typical daytime soap timeline. Totally fucked up. A few review sites have written about it, most notably AV club. The writers have been trying to keep the show updated and relevant by writing in timely references, but in actuality, the story takes place over a period of slightly less than 2 years, (Piper's sentence).

The Shield was very much the same way. The show was on for 7 years, but the series of events depicted took place barely over 2 years.

You’re right, r40. I’m over complicating things.

Also, it's been less than a year since Daya gave birth and gave up her baby. She got pregnant within her first year. I'd say Daya aged from 18 to 21, and Aleida aged from 33 to 36.

In actuality, the actress who plays Daya is 3 years younger than the actress who plays Aleida.

But the series went past Piper’s sentence, and way past the fulfillment of her parole, so the time span is more than just two years

Elizabeth Rodriguez, the actress who played Aleida, really is 37 years old. She looked older on the show because they really hardened her up with the hair, makeup and clothes, but IRL she looks much softer and more youthful.

I wish they hadn't sent Yoga Jones to Ohio. I fucking loved her.

Fun Fact: The actress who played Yoga, Constance Shulman, was the original "Annelle" in the first production of Steel Magnolias off-Broadway.

It went from being one of the best shows I've ever seen in seasons 1 & 2 to being completely unwatchable. I thought I'd give the last season a chance since I figured they'd try to bring their A-game, but apparently they no longer have one. I gave up halfway through the second episode and just read all the seasons instead. And that was closure enough for me. I'd be surprised if any of the original writers had been involved for some time

/ ("season spoliers" I mean)

/ ("season spoliers" I mean)

The final season was the best season imo. Very dark, though. I almost turned it off during the kids ICE court scene. Too much. Saddest of all, in reality it’s probably even worse than the show depicted.

I could have done without the propaganda ICE storyline. They should have stuck to the truth or stayed out of politics altogether.

On episode 7. Total snoozefest so far.

What episodes have the man sex?

Stayed out of politics r51? The entire show is a political condemnation of the prison system, this season added a condemnation of the immigrant detention system. Something that was way overdue and ended up being especially timely even though this show was produced last year.

You sound quite dumb, or just a triggered Trumpkin I guess.

I still can't believe Crazy Eyes was ever even nominated for an Emmy, let alone won, for that overrated performance. There were many better actresses on this show.

I liked the actress who played Gloria. She gave a great performance.

R55 I feel Uzo (Suzanne/Crazy Eyes) has been overrated quite a bit, but don't think she was underserving. That's a very hard role to play (someone very mentally ill) and she handled it well for the most part. It was a very showy part as well, and those tend to get attention. I feel the character peaked very early on and was used too much overall. I personally was over the character after Season 2 or so.

It's really too bad most of the very talented cast were overlooked for individual awards for the most part. Several were worthy of nominations. Hopefully some will get recognition for the last season.

R56 Selenis Leyva (Gloria) was fantastic throughout the entire run of the show. She deserved more praise than she has gotten even though Gloria seems to be a character most fans really like. I hope she gets a lot of work on other projects now that the show was over.

Happy to see someone mention Gloria, she was one of those characters that was the glue that held things together and was believable all the way through. Can't say the same for Ruiz, that character made no sense to me especially at the end and really fucking bugged me.

Selenis accent was music to my ears. As a New Yorker out here on the West Coast I miss the sound of that accent. Every time she spoke I felt like I was home.

I thought the season MVPs were McCullough and Fig (who has always been tremendous). I really get a kick out of the Jamaican lady as well. The obese ginger guard is physically painful to look at.

I thought the standout this season was Natasha Lyonne. Fantastic acting

I LOVE Natasha Lyonne. I hope she continues to have a good career. She's always very funny and sharp in interviews, too.

So many good performances this season, but at the top for me would be:

Selenis Leyva (Gloria)

Natasha Lyonne (Nicky)

Alysia Reiner (Fig)

Danielle Brooks (Taystee)

Laura Gómez (Blanca)

Karina Arroyave (Karla)

[quote]That's a very hard role to play (someone very mentally ill) and she handled it well for the most part.

Also, it became evident early on that she brought a lot on her own to the development of her character. This was not someone who was directed and hand-held. This was someone who ran with certain colors and nuances, made them work, and perhaps was stopped if she went too far.

Yeah I'm not getting the criticism at Crazy Eyes. Her performance changed quite a bit this season. There were moments she seems normal then all of a sudden the old Crazy Eyes would appear again but it didn't feel inauthentic or forced.

It realistically felt like she had changed and we were leaving her in a better place than when we first met her.

R44 she’s pretty, but looks early 40’s to me.

I hated Aleida from the start. Couldn’t stand her character. And hated Daya by the end.

Pornstache looked good, though. The haircut and mustache from season 1 weren’t doing him my favors.

Is that who that guy playing with the baby was at the end? DAMN! I was wondering who it was then didn’t care enough to dig further! He looked fine!

Ok so judging from the toddlers age, the whole series covers a period of about three years, right?

18 months, or there abouts. Piper says she spent 18 months in jail.

[quote]18 months, or there abouts. Piper says she spent 18 months in jail.

Again, the series lasts longer than Piper’s jail sentence. It goes into her release and clear past her parole.

And the show doesn’t just do that for the sole purpose of Piper’s character exposure and advancement. Every other character’s plot on season 7 happens after Piper’s release.

I liked the final season. They tried hard to stay within the characters and current social issues. Watch it.

Alieda was the sickest psychopath in the final season. She symbolized the inmate who will never reform and continue to be a predator. She made this a fact when she murdered Dya.

Was that even made clear and definite, r72?

R72, R73 She didn't according to Dascha Palanco in the article linked below.

We got to see why Aleida turned out the way she did this season and how that can become a vicious cycle for several generations. Aleida's attack against Daya was trying to prevent her younger daughters going down the same inevitable path.

Too bad Aleida chose to do it where there were so many people around.

This final season started off slow but I got into it about halfway in. The deportation storyline was well done. Hated all the chicken scenes with Suzanne and Lori Petty.

Is Norma back on?

I want to see Norma not talk again. She was the most compelling character.

^^^She’s in some of the final concluding shots. I think she went to Ohio?

It was awesome how they got all of the actors who exited for series to make at least a cameo in the final season. Though the noticed Matt McGorry as a notable exception.

^^^ I wonder what pay they get for that kind of appearance? Would it be a daily scale?

Yeah I thought Bennetts absence was notable as well, I assume the actor was too busy to make a cameo.

Did they show the jerk with the prosthetic leg who knocked up Daya and abandoned her?

That’s who we’re talking about, r82.

R82 No

R74 I know Aleida was trying to protect her kids, and that’s why I didn’t like her remark to Daya about Daya giving up her kid for adoption. I can’t remember exactly what she said, something snotty, but I was thinking, ‘that’s the only way the kid is going to have a chance in life. All aleida’s kids will probably be criminals eventually. At least Daya gave her baby a chance by getting her out of a bad environment.’

But Aleida saw it as being a failure as a mother.

Both are cunts!

Finished it--not bad, but depressing--particularly the ICE stuff and the Karla story line. I found it kind of overkill, frankly--multiple deaths, inmates going bonkers. And the big happy ending felt kind of forced--enough so that every one's least favorite character spells out why it doesn't really work--sounds like there was an argument in the writer's room.

The T. story line also seemed forced--you have two witnesses and one of them can't be found even though she has a job and would be reporting in to a parole officer--just so things could stay grim and nearly hopeless.

Really, they should have trusted the Daya/Aleida storyline to carry a lot of the grimness. And no need to add the final kicker to the Karla storyline.

Meanwhile, the comedy stuff--the chickens, Piper doing Piper seemed disconnected and didn't really work.

Luscek was such a piece of shit, but I laughed after he got fired and he’s like I don’t have to clean out my locker, there’s nothing in it, except maybe a snickers. I hope there’s a snickers in it! See ya...

I’m glad Taystee didn’t die and I think she’ll eventually get her sentenced reduced for the riot or thrown out completely. Now that she isn’t suicidal maybe she will pursue it more.

I loved that Blanca and Diablo got a happy ending. Sort of- he was deported, but at least they were together. Their relationship was the best one on the show I think.

Fig turned out to be a decent person. Glad she gave the abortion pill to that one lady.

I was hoping guard Hellman would die. What a total scumbag. So, of course he’s promoted to warden.

What happened to the guard that had a thing with Doggett? Did he die?

I figured that there was no way Taystee was dying--not after what happened to Poussey--no way were the showrunners going to kill off another central Black character. I suppose Tiffany actually passing the GED was kind of meant to be a sign to Taystee that she shouldn't give up.

The politics of adoption was pretty screwed up by the end--Fig going from trying for years for a baby and then giving up right before IVF to go adopt an older child--yeah, not how it works. One is not a substitute for the other. I have the utmost respect for good adoptive parents of older kids--though why Caputo's restraining order is suddenly not an issue when it means he can't volunteer in a prison . . .eh, sloppy plotting, always an issue with OITNB.

At least the Ruby Rose character didn't make a cameo. Worst actress the show ever had.

Funny that the real Piper married Larry and had a kid--a substantially more mature and low-key person than fictional Piper, but then the real Alex isn't nearly as alluring.

Perhaps Natasha Leon's greatest ongoing accomplishment as an actor is managing to sleep with Fred Armisen without becoming physically nauseated.

"Lyonne," I know.

Taystees story was realistic, the idea that this poor black felon would be able to prove that decorated members of law enforcement killed the guy and not her is incredibly slim.

Even if she got Susan (a crazy felon) and Cindy (a felon) on board it's not going to help that much. The agents would say that is bullshit, and that is that.

I love this show for all of the great NYC-based actors that were truly able to deliver “real” looking characters of such diversity, and not just “real” in that they were without makeup in spartan surroundings. Some like the Ruby Rose character were poor choices that took you out of the world, but overall it was such a treat to watch real working actors act. Something like this would be more difficult to pull off in LA. You got a good cross section of the U.S. with these women.

In addition to Bennett, I don’t believe we saw Miss Claudette from Season 0ne, though she was mentioned in the Poissey flashback. And whatever happened to the nun?

The guard who got Daya pregnant and ran off was the smartest one. That is one fucked up family.

We didn't see Bailey the guy who killed Poussey either. Did we see the Hawaiian chick?

This show had the worst opening credits/theme of any show I’ve ever watched. I couldn’t hit ‘skip credits’ fast enough.

Good final season, though. I got a little bummed when Maritza was deported and it showed all the women disappearing from the plane and she was last. But I bet she’ll do fine in Colombia. She’ll hook up with some rich dude and live it up.

I liked that we got to see more of Maria’s hot ex-boyfriend. He didn’t say much but he was fine.

They had some good music this season.

Maritza's storyline was the most effective of the deportation storylines, even if it wasn't the most tragic because we knew the character and she's disappeared--we have no idea what will happen to her and neither does she. Though, I also like to think she'd manage--she's pretty and bilingual.

Taystee's is the sort of case where she might get out eventually--particularly if she gets support from well-known people like the fake Martha Stewart. With enough reasonable doubt, her conviction could get overturned, even if there isn't enough to try and convict the officers. It happens.

If the show were to go another season, at some point, Black Cindy would figure out Tastee sent the letter, or Tastee would realize she needs Cindy's help to reopen her case - some scenario like that - the two would eventually meet up again, beat the shit out of each other, make up, and resume their friendship with Black Cindy ultimately helping Tastee to win her case.

But there will be no season 8.

What was Piper studying for at the end? I couldn't tell. I loved that she moved to Ohio to wait for Alex. Did they say how much time Alex had left?

Civil procedure.

I adored Fig and Caputo’s relationship. I found their story very satisfying.

Luscheck was always sexy to me.

I think Alex had about three years left.

Would piper be allowed to move out of state? I thought you had to stay in state until your parole was up?

I think it was up, R105.

Yes her parole was up. She was a free woman.

R87, or anyone - I gather our least favorite character is Piper (at least she's mine), but what did I miss? Who said the happy ending didn't work - what's the story?

R108, not Piper, Larry--people liked the Piper/Alex storyline, but Larry was so unpopular that they killed the storyline, even though, of course, the real Piper married Larry (they're in the front of the last scene where Piper is talking to Alex at the prison.

Ah, okay - thanks, R109.

The real Piper married Larry? But in the story Larry's father was Piper's lawyer who advised she plead guilty - in Season 1 Piper's mother comes to visit and makes it clear that Piper's family thought that he had done her wrong in doing so.

In another scene, Larry's father advises Larry not to tell Piper that Alex named her and that's how she got caught, and says "let her look forward to the wedding, even though it might not happen" to which Larry says I know you never liked her and the father says "Not true. I think she's the nicest felon you've ever dated"

I got a strong vibe from how they portrayed the father as someone who badly wanted Larry not to marry Piper (because she's not a Jewish girl? whatever) and that maybe he helped events along by ensuring Piper went away when she wouldn't necessarily have had to do time if he'd acted differently as her lawyer.

Yeah real Piper used real lawyers and worked out a plea deal. She then kept her head down in prison, served her time and ran into real Alex once as real Alex was somewhere else.

Real Piper did, however, date several women. Larry was a platonic friend at that point, but things changed and they got engaged before she went to prison. She then got out, they married and had a kid. She wrote a bestseller and is a show producer.

Interestingly, she moved to Ohio in 2015 and teaches writing at a couple of prisons, so sounds like she's more interested in prison reform than television producing.

Just finished the season and feel very satisfied. It was so nice to see all the MIA actors/characters back for one last hurrah/goodbye, and I thought the cast farewells during the closing credits of the finale were a sweet touch.

As others have noted, I think Danielle Brooks and Selenis Leyva have been MVPs since day one, and both turned in fabulous performances throughout the final season, too. And who would have thought that Taryn Manning would go from one of the show's most-hated characters to one of the most beloved?

Also: am I the only one who *loved* Beth Dover as Linda Ferguson, the PolyCon exec?

I thought she was consistently fantastically funny.

R90 I still haven't forgiven this show for putting that charisma-free mannequin Ruby Rose on the map

R113 she's a good actress, but her money over human beings no matter what...too close to reality to be anything but deeply uncomfortable

R113 Funny thing is that Danielle was only slated to be In two episodes and Selenis was only booked for one. But they impressed and their roles were expands and made full time cast members.

R114 Rose's character was kind of blip on the radar on the show but it probably helped her get the press that got her in the position she's in now. Laverne Cox is the same way although her character was more visible on the show. Both are two of the least talented cast members and yet have gotten big breaks. Just shows how unfair the entertainment industry can be.

Hellman getting promoted to warden annoyed the hell out of me. I was patiently waiting for him to get his comeuppance, but it never came. Evil gets rewarded in this case (very Trump-esque). That being said, I’d let Greg Vrotsos and Josh Segarra, who played Hellman and Stefanovic, double team me anytime.

Is stefonovic the furry stud who did the riot strip show last season?

I think the only cast member who did not get a final goodbye was hinky leg from How to get Away With Murder. Too bad, I would have liked to see him visit the baby.

Wonderful to see Annie Golden in the finale.

We also didn’t see the nun. The last time we saw her she was put in solitary. Later Sophia finds out she was released but I don’t recall it being shown. Maybe the actress who played her pissed off Jenji or something.

Compassionate Release - so she probably croaked?

If sr. Ingalls received compassionate release she would probably do pretty Well. Unless there was something said about her being sick? The one lady on the first season had dementia and was cruelly released but it doesn’t mean death for everyone.

Compassionate release after diagnosed with pneumonia.

I was kind of sad to see it end.

I agree with the poster upthread who thought that the but with Karla being abandoned in the mountains was completely unnrcessary. Karina Arroyave was really fantastic as Karla, though.

I loved that there was snow in the Ohio sequence with the inmates from previous seasons. That gave it an otherworldy quality.

I stopped watching after season 3, am I missing anything?

Yes, You missed it all.

Anybody know who the hot piece was who played Judy’s secretary in the finale. Fucking credits didn’t identify who played what.

I just finished the season last night and how fucking depressing when a show ends after so many years and there isn't even a happy ending.

I was surprised that Piper worked as a waitress and did not get a better job. That was very realistic. She will probably continue working at restaurants or fast food joints for a long time. But do you guys think she will eventually get a better job or is your life totally ruined after 2 years in prison?

I first felt really sorry for Alex but when I saw her with all her old Litchfield friends, she probably won the jackpot. They transferred her from a supermax prison to minimum security where the inmates have a yard and so much more freedom. I would die if I had to spend 3 or more years in that depressing Litchfield yard with those huge walls and no trees or nature and you couldn't even see the sky. I think all the cell blocks had no windows or any natural light either. That is fucking torture. But how wonderful to see all these old faces again.

Did anyone actually get a happy ending? Sophia maybe?

Piper has a felony record, which will severely limit her employment opportunities.

Who did Piper end up with in the end? Was it with Alex are the rich lady?

Piper ended up with Alex at the end. Piper moved to Ohio to be close to Alex's prison so they could see each other and wait out the next three years until Alex was released.

I felt bad for the prison guard who fell in love with Alex.

R129 Gloria and Blanca got good endings.

Piper is shown in law school.

Finally got around to watching this season, good to read this thread after to see what everyone thought.

At first I was thinking that she'd made a major mistake by not choosing the trust fund lesbian at the end, but thinking about it, she probably needed to dump her old life (and NYC) entirely to move on.

We had to google to figure out who that was with the babies and pots at the end

Hopefully the show served a purpose and made people far more aware of the problems with our prison system and private prisons in particular.

And hopefully the actors from the show will continue to get more work and not just the good looking male prison guards. (Though there are clearly places for them too, lol.)

One other thoughts --it seemed that the series played fast and lose with time. At some point Piper says she's only been away for 18 months, but it certainly seems like the series went on for much longer. Some of that is because it's been six or seven years since the debut and we've seen the actors age, but a lot of plot points seemed like they would have unfolded over a longer amount of time.

I'd watch a spinoff of Beer Can and Fig. Call it Beer Can & Fig.

I don't know, I thought Piper should have or would have picked her new redheaded woman over Vaus, but then would have cheated on the redhead with Vaus.

I would watch a spinoff based on any of the following:

Fig (I love her and find her so sexy) Black Cindy ("You know my name isn't really Black, right?") the new warden (Cindy's friend; I love her facial expressions and acting in general) Yoga Jones (saw her in Rose Tattoo in a very small role and realized how distinctive her voice is; heard her before I saw her, really)

I would watch a spinoff with Fig, Caputo and that corporate chick.

Linda Ferguson is a riot. Such a horrible person, and the actress makes me hungry For screen time every time. And yes I could listen to Constance Schumann read the phone book.

Fig is on The Deuce (HBO show)

[quote] don't think she was underserving.

Oh, dear.

Holy shit, that ICE stuff was heartbreaking. And I'm sure it's 1000 times worse in real life. Especially now with coronavirus.