As the inmates enjoy their couple days of freedom, we see a comedic yet revealing role reversal - the COs, now hostages, are coerced and beaten and humiliated just as the inmates had been. We get the satisfaction of seeing the inmates act so sadistically, which was both fun and a little scary to see trauma being perpetuated by the traumatized. The "talent show" that was held was fun comedic relief, but I thought the methheads had wayyyy too much screen time. Even though I have a soft spot for Angie, the two of them didn't really add an intellectual depth to the story, and their comedy was enjoyable only sometimes - mostly just mildly disturbing. Especially when they peed in Pennsatucky's yellow juice. :(
Taystee's story was very well done! Her initial outrage at Poussey's death being put at odds with Soso, whose sadness prompted her to build an open air library in the hallways of the prison - a beautiful tribute to Poussey and her love of books. As Taystee's friends convince her to open up the list of demands to a vote from all the inmates, we see her indignity and feelings of betrayal as she realizes that most other inmates do not prioritize prosecuting CO Bailey, Poussey's killer. As she steps up as a leader and representative of the inmates, she lets her pride get in the way of accepting a deal that would have changed the lives of hundreds of inmates for the better. Her character arc was made even more compelling by the fact that the riot ended with none of their demands met, and instead, women being beaten by cruel SWAT team members and friendships being torn apart as the inmates board separate buses that are supposedly taking them to new prisons.
On that note, it was touching to see Flaca and Maritza tell each other that they found best friends in each other at prison. To see them being separated while boarding buses was heartbreaking, and it was the one time my eyes welled up with tears. The idea of families and friendships and communities being torn apart again and again seems to be a recurring theme in the history (and present) of how America treats people of color, who incidentally are given longer prison sentences for more benign crimes, and I can't help but think of how that parallels the way black families were torn apart through the slave economy the second this country was established. This is what happens when one is seen as less than human.
Overall, I enjoyed the tight storyline of this season and a couple of moving character developments. Interested in seeing what becomes of our beloved characters!
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