Orange Is the New Black 1.02

Tit Punch

Chapman continues to get punished by Red (who runs the chow hall) for insulting the prison's food. Her punishment comes in the form of being denied food. Using her skills from the outside world Chapman makes it up to Red by scrounging some supplies and making her some lotion for her back. The peppers that go into the lotion come from Crazy Eyes, another inmate, who asks for nothing in return. The episode ends with Crazy Eyes doing her another kindness, but how altruistic is she? When is she going to come to collect?

Alex is in this episode briefly in a few scenes. She passes Chapman a piece of cornbread. Chapman tosses the food without eating it. Others are watching and news of what Alex did gets back to Red. Just as Chapman is given her first plateful of food, Alex is being cut off.

There are two series of flashbacks in this episode. One series is about Piper and Larry. She remembers them doing a cleanse together. I guess this helps her to cope with the lack of food. She also remembers the origins of the soap business she had before she got locked up.

The other series of flashbacks focus on Red (Kate Mulgrew) and her life before she got locked up. She ran a Russian deli with her husband. She pissed off the local Russian mobsters when she punched one of the mobsters wife in the chest and popped the implant in one of her breasts. This story is left hanging, is not told in full so hopefully they will return to it soon. I did not recognize Kate Mulgrew in the first episode. It wasn't until I saw her name in the credits that I was able to see that it was her. She looks and sounds very different than other things I have seen her in.

Chapman gets a visit from Larry in the middle of the episode. She's freaking out because she is so hungry. She makes him promise not to watch Mad Men without her. He does but towards the end of the episode they show him at home watching Mad Men. He's starting to slide down a slippery slope. Where will it end? Is this the beginning of the end for Piper and Larry?

Awesome. Two for two. There's no doubt in my mind that I want to continue watching this show. It isn't clear exactly where things are going at this point but I'm okay with that.