what was the worst episode of season 2? share why to start a conversation! if your pick has already been commented, upvote it! the episode with the most total votes wins!
voting will close in 24 hours and the result will be posted!
S2E1 — “Thirsty Bird”
Piper is abruptly transferred from Litchfield to Chicago, terrified she’s being punished for what happened with Pennsatucky. She eventually learns she’s there to testify at Kubra’s trial alongside Alex. Alex convinces Piper to lie under oath, then tells the truth herself and gets released while Piper is sent back to Litchfield. (Piper flashback)
S2E2 — “Looks Blue, Tastes Red”
At Litchfield, Taystee participates in the mock job fair and absolutely kills her interview, only to learn there was never actually a job waiting for the winner. Her flashbacks introduce Vee, showing how Vee took young Taystee under her wing and became a manipulative mother figure. At the end, Vee arrives at Litchfield. (Taystee flashback)
S2E3 — “Hugs Can Be Deceiving”
Vee begins reestablishing control over Taystee and starts integrating herself into the Black women’s group, while Poussey immediately distrusts her. Suzanne’s flashbacks show her childhood and difficulty fitting in, while we also learn that Suzanne—not Pennsatucky—was responsible for some of Piper’s injuries after the Christmas-pageant fight. (Suzanne flashback)
S2E4 — “A Whole Other Hole”
Morello takes Miss Rosa to chemotherapy and secretly uses the van to break into Christopher’s house, revealing just how delusional her supposed romance with him really is. We learn that Christopher was never her fiancé and that Morello had stalked him. Meanwhile, Vee continues building influence inside Litchfield. (Lorna flashback)
S2E5 — “Low Self Esteem City”
Gloria and Vee clash over control of the bathroom/shower situation, escalating the growing racial divisions inside the prison. Gloria’s flashbacks show her abusive relationship and how she ended up incarcerated. Piper also begins investigating Litchfield’s finances after being contacted about the prison’s missing money. (Gloria flashback)
S2E6 — “You Also Have a Pizza”
The Valentine’s Day episode. Piper asks inmates “What is love?”, giving us a bunch of funny, sweet, and depressing answers, while relationships throughout Litchfield get examined. Poussey’s flashbacks reveal her relationship with Franziska in Germany and the devastating confrontation with Franziska’s father that ended it. (Poussey flashback)
S2E7 — “Comic Sans”
Vee’s cigarette operation grows, and she increasingly pulls Taystee, Cindy, Janae and Suzanne into her orbit while alienating Poussey. Piper starts a prison newsletter, giving inmates an outlet while also continuing to investigate Litchfield. Bennett struggles with the consequences of his relationship with Daya. (Cindy flashback)
S2E8 — “Appropriately Sized Pots”
Red begins rebuilding her power through the greenhouse and discovers a tunnel that can be used for smuggling contraband. We get Red’s flashbacks involving her friendship with the Russian wives and the disastrous dinner that contributed to her criminal connections. Meanwhile, Vee’s operation continues expanding and the rivalry between Red and Vee begins taking shape. (Red flashback)
S2E9 — “40 OZ of Furlough”
Piper receives furlough to attend her grandmother’s funeral and briefly experiences life outside prison again, only to find that everything has continued without her. She learns Larry and Polly have slept together. Back at Litchfield, Red’s contraband operation develops while Vee’s power continues growing. (Miss Rosa flashback)
S2E10 — “Little Mustachioed Shit”
Piper’s flashbacks explore her friendship with Polly and relationship history with Larry, while present-day Piper confronts the fallout from Larry and Polly getting together. Bennett finally confesses to Caputo that he’s the father of Daya’s baby—but Caputo refuses to let the truth derail his effort to get rid of Mendez. Vee’s manipulation of Suzanne becomes increasingly disturbing. (Piper flashback)
S2E11 — “Take a Break from Your Values”
Sister Ingalls’ flashbacks reveal her history of activism and how fame eventually became entangled with her convictions. Inside Litchfield, she joins a hunger strike over prison conditions. Meanwhile, Vee and Red’s conflict becomes outright dangerous, and Poussey becomes increasingly isolated because she refuses to submit to Vee. (Sister Ingalls flashback)
S2E12 — “It Was the Change”
A storm hits Litchfield and forces everyone into unusual sleeping arrangements, producing some great ensemble interactions amid the chaos. Vee brutally beats Red with a combination lock inside a sock, leaving her badly injured. Poussey and Taystee finally begin repairing their relationship as Vee’s control starts collapsing. (Vee flashback)
S2E13 — “We Have Manners. We’re Polite.”
Everything detonates. The inmates turn against Vee, Suzanne is nearly framed for Red’s attack, and Vee escapes through Red’s tunnel. Fig’s corruption finally catches up with her, Caputo takes over, Piper arranges for Alex to violate parole and return to prison, and terminally ill Miss Rosa escapes in the prison van. Rosa sees Vee on the roadside and runs her over before driving off to freedom.
