Season 4 of Orange Is The New Black plunged viewers right back into the chaotic world of Litchfield Penitentiary, and after a year-long wait, the drama was more intense than ever. As the season opened, we were thrown headfirst into a whirlwind of new inmates, escalating tensions, and the immediate aftermath of Season 3’s cliffhangers. Among the most pressing questions was the fate of Alex Vause and the dangerous situation she found herself in. But beyond her immediate peril, a darker secret emerged: the accidental killing of a hitman. This leads us to the burning question on everyone’s mind: do they ever find out Alex killed the guard (or rather, the hitman disguised as a threat)? Let’s delve into the gripping events of season 4 and explore this central storyline, along with other pivotal moments that made this season unforgettable.
Season 4 picked up right where we left off, and the stakes were immediately raised. Piper Chapman’s power trip was in full swing, Stella Carlin was facing the consequences of her betrayal, and Alex was in a life-or-death struggle. Just when you thought the drama couldn’t escalate further, Orange Is The New Black, under Jenji Kohan’s masterful direction, proved us wrong. Episode after episode delivered plot twists and turns that kept viewers on the edge of their seats. While the entire season is packed with significant events, let’s focus on the key storylines, including the question of whether Alex’s secret is revealed (spoiler alert for those who haven’t watched!).
Lolly’s Intervention and the Hitman’s Demise
Lolly Whitehill in Orange Is the New Black season 4, standing with a serious expression, highlighting her complex role in the unfolding events.
The season opener is a masterclass in tension. Alex’s life hangs in the balance as a hitman, sent by Kubra Balik, attempts to strangle her in the greenhouse. In a shocking turn of events, Lolly Whitehill, in a moment of unexpected protectiveness, intervenes. She doesn’t just stop the attack; she brutally stomps on the hitman’s throat, seemingly killing him instantly. However, the initial relief is short-lived. Alex discovers the hitman is not quite dead, merely incapacitated under the tarp where they hid him. In a grim and pivotal scene, Alex makes the difficult decision to smother him, ensuring his death and solidifying their shared secret. Together, Alex and Lolly dismember the body and bury it in the prison garden, a desperate act to conceal their involvement and protect themselves.
The narrative further explores Lolly’s backstory in episode 7, revealing her past as a journalist who spiraled into homelessness and schizophrenia. Her struggles with auditory hallucinations and paranoia cast a shadow over her perception of reality. Lolly’s mental state becomes a critical element, as she grapples with the certainty of whether the murder even occurred, highlighting the blurred lines of her reality. The discovery of the body in the garden ultimately leads to Lolly being placed in the psychiatric ward, adding another layer of complexity to the cover-up and the lingering question of whether their secret will remain buried. As for whether anyone finds out about Alex and Lolly’s actions regarding the hitman, season 4 keeps this secret closely guarded. No other characters within Litchfield discover their crime during this season, allowing the tension and potential for discovery to simmer beneath the surface as the season progresses.
Piper’s Descent and Brutal Comeuppance
Piper Chapman looking distressed and conflicted in Orange Is the New Black, capturing her turbulent journey through season 4.
Many viewers approached season 4 with apprehension regarding Piper Chapman’s character arc, particularly after her increasingly unlikeable behavior in season 3. True to form, the writers took Piper’s storyline down an even darker path. Fueled by a misguided sense of entrepreneurial spirit and a thirst for power, Piper sets her sights on disrupting the thriving business run by the Latina inmates. Her actions become increasingly manipulative and vindictive, culminating in her ratting out Maria Ruiz to the new Captain Piscatella, resulting in a significant extension to Maria’s sentence.
Piper’s descent into moral bankruptcy reaches new lows as she inadvertently fuels racial tensions and, ironically, becomes the figurehead of a white supremacist group within the prison. The sheer audacity of Piper’s actions builds to a point of near-unbearable frustration for the audience. However, in a moment of brutal justice, Piper faces the consequences of her actions. The Latina inmates retaliate, holding her down and branding her with a swastika on her arm. While undeniably violent, this act serves as a shocking wake-up call, a harsh dose of reality that forces Piper to confront the gravity of her behavior and hopefully begin a path back to some semblance of self-awareness.
The Disturbing Reign of a Sadistic Guard
Alex Vause and Piper Chapman in a tense scene from Orange Is the New Black, showcasing the dramatic atmosphere of the show.
Season 4 introduces CO Humphrey, a guard who quickly establishes himself as one of the most disturbing characters in the series. His cruelty is not just about maintaining order; it’s about inflicting psychological torment. In one of the season’s most stomach-churning scenes, Humphrey forces Maritza Ramos to choose between eating dead flies or a fetal mouse, holding a gun to her head to ensure compliance. Maritza is forced to consume the baby mouse, a deeply traumatizing act of dehumanization. Another inmate reveals a similar horrifying experience with Humphrey, who locked her in a closet and demanded she choose which parent she would “eat.”
Humphrey’s sadism extends to orchestrating inmate fights for his own twisted amusement. During the interviews following the discovery of the body in the garden, he pits inmates against each other. He selects Suzanne “Crazy Eyes” Warren, known for her mental instability, and forces her to fight her former romantic interest, Kukudio. The scene is brutal and disturbing as Suzanne, fueled by her emotional turmoil, pummels Kukudio into unconsciousness while the other inmates are forced to watch, powerless to intervene for fear of reprisal. These scenes with Humphrey underscore the unchecked power and systemic abuse that permeates Litchfield, adding to the season’s overall sense of unease and injustice.
The Heartbreaking Loss of Poussey
A wide shot of the prison yard in Orange Is the New Black, depicting the setting where much of the season's intense drama unfolds.
The most devastating and emotionally resonant storyline of season 4 is undoubtedly the death of Poussey Washington. The scenes leading up to and including her death are heart-wrenching, and for many viewers, marked the season’s emotional peak. Fueled by the increasingly inhumane conditions and the for-profit prison system that prioritizes profit over rehabilitation and human dignity, the inmates begin protesting in the cafeteria. Tensions are already at a boiling point when Suzanne, in a state of distress, becomes physically agitated. In the ensuing chaos, a poorly trained and inexperienced guard attempts to restrain Poussey using a knee-to-back hold. Tragically, and mirroring the real-world tragedy of Eric Garner and later George Floyd (though pre-dating the latter), the guard applies excessive pressure, suffocating Poussey to death.
Poussey’s death is not just a personal tragedy; it becomes a catalyst for widespread grief and outrage within the prison. It starkly highlights the systemic failures, lack of training, and inherent dangers within the prison system. The scene is made even more poignant by the fact that Poussey was one of the most beloved and compassionate characters on the show, making her loss all the more impactful and a stark commentary on the vulnerability of inmates within the system.
Season 4’s Cliffhanger and Dayanara’s Choice
True to Orange Is The New Black tradition, season 4 concludes with an explosive cliffhanger. In the aftermath of Poussey’s death, the prison erupts into a full-scale riot. Amidst the chaos, a guard attempts to pull a hidden gun from his sock – a blatant violation of protocol. In the struggle, the gun slides across the floor, landing at the feet of Dayanara “Daya” Diaz. Daya, a character who has always been portrayed as non-violent and relatively passive, makes a split-second decision that changes everything. She picks up the gun and points it directly at the head of the nearest guard.
The scene is charged with tension, amplified by dramatic music, leaving viewers to wonder if Daya, pushed to her breaking point by the horrific conditions and injustice, will pull the trigger. Will Daya, a character known for her gentle nature, be driven to commit an act of violence? The season ends abruptly before we see her decision, leaving Daya’s fate and the immediate future of Litchfield hanging precariously in the balance and ensuring viewers would be eagerly awaiting season 5.
Final Thoughts on Season 4
Season 4 of Orange Is The New Black is a powerful and often disturbing season that tackles critical issues head-on. While the question of whether Alex’s murder of the hitman is discovered remains unanswered within this season, the overarching themes of prison reform, the flaws of for-profit prisons, racial tensions, abuse of power, and consent are brought to the forefront with unflinching honesty. The season masterfully blends dark humor with moments of profound tragedy, keeping viewers engaged and emotionally invested throughout. The intense plot twists and complex character arcs solidify Orange Is The New Black as a series that is not only entertaining but also thought-provoking, prompting crucial conversations about the criminal justice system and the human stories within it.
Rating:
ComicsOnline gives Orange Is the New Black: Season 4 5 out of 5 Netflix Stars!
