Orange is the New Black: Season 3

[*Anya*]

Starting to grab us; episode 4 finished last night.

What kind of confuses me is that at the end of season 2, Piper was so mad at Alex Vause getting out of prison and Piper was still in; the next thing (just about) Vause is back in and they are passionate lovers again.

Angry sex at first, yes, but then they let the anger go.

How could Piper let it go so quickly? Guilt at calling Vauses' Probation Officer about the gun? Getting Vause re-arrested?

How could Vause let her anger at getting busted because of Piper, just disappear? Because she really loves Piper? It did not seem like it last season. It appeared from the flashbacks, Piper was more of a plaything to Vause.

It just did not ring true to me though it is entertainment, not real life (as my GF likes to remind me).

What do you think about that quick turn-around?

[CherryWine]

That also struck me as strange, Anya. As did the fact that it seemed like their roles where completely reversed all of the sudden, with Alex becoming the weaker of the two.

That being said, the show did get better with each episode, in my opinion. We now only have one episode left, and I am a little sad.

[imperfect_cupcake]

From what I understood of the relationship, Vause talked tough but was quite in love with piper. She just didn't show it and was very selfish. Same with piper. Being obsessed with how someone makes you feel emotionally - feeling love, not acting love - is often seen in relationships. Alex and piper feel passion and codependancy. Big huge druggy feelings that is extremely addictive. They can't seperate themselves from each other. Like codependant people can't do, no matter what happens. No matter what the other person does. There is anger, resentment, vendictiveness , fighting, incredible sex, making up, honeymoon, then fucking each other over again... trying to tell each other what to do and how to do it.... Seems pretty real to me lol

[imperfect_cupcake]

Plus I like watching how prison is changing charachters, not always for the better. I like seeing the horrible side and the good side. And sometimes people act well and sometimes vicious. Seems more realistic and human. Not unidimensional TV with a moral message.

[Cin]

It is always enjoyable for me, as a butch woman, to see other butch women... period... full stop. But of course, it is even more enjoyable to see one in the media. So much of our daily lives as butch women, through no fault of our own, and with little or no effort on our part, is about being in society's face, so it's nice to see that addressed. The episode “finger in the dyke” that focuses on Lea Delaria's character Big Boo, examines how butch woman live with the judgment that we make our own problems and if we didn't insist on looking like such bull dykes we would experience less hatred and oppression. It is always a shock to discover that who we are seems like some kind of offensive costume to the rest of the world, even to a variety of other gay people. Butch is a costume that, if we had any taste at all, we would just take off. It is no surprise that this fuels anger in butch women. It is so disturbing and frustrating because this is who we are, it is no costume, no choice we make to be or not to be. As a butch woman it is who I am, it is my heart and soul. It is society who tries to force us into masquerading as something we are not. It wouldn't be so devastatingly heart wrenching if the prize for turning your back on your own self wasn't the offer of acceptance. Society wishes us to believe, that in order to be accepted as a human being deserving of respect and deemed worthy of love, a butch woman has to trade her very self. Anyway I liked seeing that explored, at least to some degree, in that episode by a real actual butch woman playing a butch woman. Just like it's always nice to explore butch issues on a butch/femme website.

[imperfect_cupcake]

Although boo's character creeps me out from how she behaves and some of the things that come out of her mouth, it was really nice to see her background and actually have that story. It's also nice to see other aspects of her personality.

My favourite is still poussay. And yes, I see her that way. She's very much an old fashioned type real gentle butch in my eyes. She doesn't follow rules, or "Butch codes" of behaviour. She follows her own moral compass. Which to me is the hallmark of an independent gentleman/gentledyke. I like seeing one person, once a year, on media, I actually find a bit of a dream boat.

And then you see the actress in an interview out of character wearing a ball gown and your heart sinks and mojo dies.

This why I don't have "crushes on celebs" or "think celebs are hot"
No, I think the characters they play are hot.

And it is nice to see Lea DeLaria play a butch. The character I wouldn't romantically go anywhere near, but it's bloody nice to see and a relief. And finally see that identity explored on TV.

[imperfect_cupcake]

It's also nice to see a genderqueer too. Stella identifies herself to Piper as female, clarifying that this is only because "my options are limited," alluding to the fact that she has a non-binary gender identity.

And she is covered in tattoos.

Hot.

Gosh I get so excited over tiny crumbs of characters in genders I am attracted to.

[cinnamongrrl]

*NOT LOOKING*

I loveeee Orange is the New Black! I've been savoring the last of season 2 so it wouldn't feel like such a long wait for season 3...

I've been uber busy and haven't finished the last couple episodes....I have a very short day tomorrow. I think it will be a good day to get started on season 3!

[HoldMeSteady]

Totally Spoilery

It was hard for me to watch Piper become such a bitch. It was not where I thought she was headed. As Imperfect Cupcake said - it is interesting to see how jail changes people - not always for the better. However, at first, jail did seem to change Piper for the better. At the beginning of this season, she seems, again, to realize how selfish she is and she seems to care about it. Then the next thing you know, she's messing with people all over the place and cheating on Alex. However, in addition to the finding herself trajectory, there has always been the getting colder and rougher trajectory as well. And, as it was made abundantly clear, Piper was into Alex for the excitement. So as Alex became more mature, Piper became less interested.

I've also been thinking about what Anya said re: how did Piper and Alex give up their anger so quickly? One answer could be that Piper didn't - so her cheating on Alex as well as disregarding Alex's fear of the big drug dealer's revenge makes sense.

But then I've been thinking about how it really did go down in the real Piper's book. She didn't meet up with the real Alex until they were both in Chicago - at the end of Piper's sentence and for a short time (I think about 2 weeks?). She said they all did forgive each other (the real Alex's sister was there and involved too) in that short time, partly because in the awful prison system, with other more menacing people around, they had to be friends. Also, this is when Piper started to take more responsibility for her part in the crime.

Other plots:

I'm glad Poussey and SoSo became girlfriends. They have a similar past and similar sensitive personalities. It was so cool that Tasty and company stopped her from going to the psych ward.

I'm real glad Red put a pin in it.

The season definitely picked up but I didn't love it.

[Jane Bond]

[QUOTE=HoldMeSteady;995524]Totally Spoilery

It was hard for me to watch Piper become such a bitch.

It messed up the butch femme dynamic between her and Alex, and that Aussie butch was no match for Alex, yet Piper was so cavalier about running off with her. I know women are supposed to get hardened by prison, but Piper? With her upbringing and short time sentence, she's selling funky prison panties? Alex would think of that, not Pipes.

This is my first post here besides the "I am new and scared" one but I can talk about OITNB for hours.

I forgot-Crazy Eyes was offered sex by a fairly cute woman and acted like she was a scared virgin. But in season one she was gagging for Piper and seemed like she really loved to swirl, swirl. It stretched credulity and I like my OITNB inmates to stay in character

[Orema]

I don't watch OITNB—causes me anxiety and it has too many damn triggers for me (no, I have not been in prison), but am listening to the Diane Rehm show and thought others may be interested in hearing Ms.Mulgrews thoughts.

Kate Mulgrew, from OITNB, on the Diane Rehm Show

[jools66]

Hi everyone
I have to say that so far in viewing season 3, I really like that boo and Pennsatucky are like talking, and just generally getting along.
Pennsatucky is so well acted, even though she a real nutter lol
But she's kinda growing on me this season.
I think she's mellowing lol
You watch she will go off the rails again.
I am also warming to boo more this season to
But where as little boo gone.
Were they just training the dog?
I have heard some spoilers, and this I am not gonna say about.
But ya just know the shits gonna hit the fan.

[afrcnqueen]

My friend and I just finished watching Season 2 again. I have been very good about not reading anything written regarding season 3 ....but it has been a challenge lol.. Anywho, we will start episode 1 tomorrow.

P.S Wentworth is a great show!!! Watched all 3 seasons of Wentworth already. I think I'm leaning more towards that being my favorite than OITNB..