Orange Is the New Black season 7, episode 12 recap: The Big House

The penultimate episode of Orange is the New Black breaks our hearts–so be sure to grab some tissues.

Orange is the New Black shattered my heart into a million pieces with its penultimate episode. I was not expecting things to go the way they did–at all. Let’s start with Taystee. The past couple of seasons has been rough on her. She lost Poussey, she got the harshest punishment for the riot (no thanks to Cindy), and now, her lawyer has brought some more bad news.

Remember Suzanne’s notebook? The one that was going to hopefully help Taystee’s case? Well, it is no good. Everything that was jotted down in the notebook does not represent evidence of Taystee’s innocence. After everything that has happened, this is pretty much the last straw for Taystee. All she sees is the end of the road.

Unfortunately, she’s still carrying around the drugs Daya gave her and ultimately makes a decision that it’s time to use them. My heart couldn’t fathom that Taystee could go through the process of ending her life. She has come too far, she’s made too much progress, and she means so much to many.

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There’s only one thing that could pull her away from these dark thoughts, that one thing is Miss Poussey Washington. Time for those famous Orange is the New Black flashbacks. Some of you may have forgotten that Taystee did leave prison at one point, but eventually made her way back in. During the flashback, we see a phone call between Taystee and Poussey take place (yay for Samira Wiley coming back one more time!).

During the call, the two joke about Taystee’s living conditions until she comes clean about her struggles in life outside of prison. She’d almost rather be back in Litchfield so she could be close to Poussey. I know, the tears started flowing at this point for me too. It’s recalling this conversation with Poussey that reminded her to hang on for a little bit longer. It’s what Poussey always wanted her to do–and it’s exactly the type of thing to bring Taystee back.

Orange is the New Black continues to crush our very soul as Nicky makes the ultimate sacrifice in letting Lorna go. After the death of her baby, Lorna has been struggling mentally. Despite trying to keep her nearby, Nicky eventually decides to let one of the COs take Lorna to Florida.

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Checking in with Piper/Alex/McCullough, things are not that great over there either. Piper learns about McCullough and Alex’s relationship and proceeds to have a fling of her own. Their relationship is such a hot mess and I don’t see this ending well. And it may not, because thanks to McCullough, Alex is being transferred to Ohio. Not cool–at all.

And now, let’s talk about Pennsatucky. The very same girl we couldn’t stand when the series started has somehow made a special place in our hearts. The GED test has been something she’s been working really hard towards, but when the day arrives, she isn’t given the special accommodations she was supposed to because of her dyslexia. Lushchek never filed the paperwork. Ugh.

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This tears her apart as anxiety and fear take over. She’s convinced she’s failed the test, and its the end of the road for her and her efforts. So when she sees Daya and her people go off to get high, she decides to join them. And it doesn’t end well–because she overdoses and dies. Yes, dies. Just like that, a light is extinguished from Litchfield leaving Taystee in pieces along with the rest of us.

R.I.P. Pennsatucky.

Let us know your thoughts on this episode of OITNB in the comments!

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