The newcomers stir up ethnic and domestic conflicts, but Maria sees an opportunity. Judy's special treatment raises eyebrows.
Everyone is still adjusting to all of the new people in Litchfield. Overcrowding is proving to be a problem for everyone at the prison. Some are adjusting better than others. It's also important that the show is showing how this changed world can be played both comedically and dramatically. There are a number of stories throughout "Power Suit" that vary in tone wildly. And yet, they all feel in line with what the show does at its absolute best. So things can be absolutely silly and outrageous while at other times they can be devastatingly brutal. That's just what this show does. It's great that it is exploring all of the nuances of this new situation. The inmates and guards are adjusting to all of the change. But they also have to deal with the decisions they made that got them to this point in their lives as well. The show isn't letting any of them forget about their pasts. That leads to a very captivating second episode of the season."Power Suit" confirms that the vast majority of the new population in Litchfield is Latina. That's what it looked like during the crowded shots of the new inmates in the premiere. But now, they are making their presence known in this community. But there is no longer just one Latina community. The show does a very smart thing by showcasing the differences amongst the cultures. So now, there are Mexicans, Puerto Ricans and Dominicans. All of them are different from each other. In past seasons, there was largely one clique of Latina characters. Once they took over the kitchen, they stood strong against the various challenges life in prison threw at them. But now, that community is starting to break up as they are each dealing with their own individual problems and identity. Gloria is still feeling guilty about the role she played in Sophia being sent to solitary. Daya and Aleida are struggling with Aleida's boyfriend being arrested and the rest of the kids - including Daya's new baby - being sent into the foster care system. Flaca and Maritza are still just casually enjoying life not knowing that Pennsatucky is worried about Maritza's new closeness with Coates. And Blanca has gotten close with the new girls and the new opportunities they present because they are now the commanding racial presence in Litchfield.
That leaves Maria who is lost and trying to figure out her place in the new environment. She does not warm to the new Dominicans in the same way that Blanca does. But she also sees her friends retreating to racial lines in order to accept all of the change in the prison right now. Everyone's racism comes out during this episode. It shows just how divided the world can be when put under these extreme circumstances. The flashbacks make their return for the season and show just how familiar this conflict is for Maria. She grew up in a drug dealing family. Her father did his best to strike out on his own after the Mexicans lost control. But as Maria got older, new competition came in that nearly pushed him out of business. He saw it as an invasion to what he was trying to do for his family. Maria saw it as two passionate men trying to do the exact same thing. Race had nothing to do with it to her. She was just a rebellious teen (or young adult, her age in the flashbacks is really vague) connecting with the competition. That ultimately got her kicked out of the house and on the path towards jail and a baby instead of her dreams of being a dental hygienist.
And now, Maria is struggling to find her place. Her attempts to reach out to Blanca are much more contentious than they were in the past. Their dynamic has changed because of overcrowding. Maria isn't sure how to react to that. And yet, it could provide her with new power in the prison as well. When two new white inmates attack Blanca in the stairwell, Maria sees it and does nothing. It could be seen as a betrayal to her friend. But she then comes to her aide to make sure Blanca's new friends don't do anything rash as retribution for this hit. They need to strike back to show their strength in this environment. But Maria recognizes that they need to be smart about it. She's taking control of the situation. Why she does so is a little vague. There really isn't a concise turning point that makes it clear why she is now standing by the rest of the Dominicans. But it's still important that she does. And yes, she does offer retaliation in the same way that the girls originally wanted. They grabbed one of the white girls and beat her up in the salon. It doesn't really showcase that she is a master manipulator who knows how to react to the situation so that it doesn't escalate into anything bigger. But Maria makes her choice on where she stands. There's a vacuum for power in Litchfield right now and Maria is making her play for it. That's newfound importance for the character this season that should be fascinating to watch.
The new Latina takeover is just one of the consequences of overcrowding. Caputo is doing his best to manage the new situation. He's making sure that all of the errors of the past few days are being addressed and handled in a way that ensures security for his job. He enjoys being the man in charge of the prison. He's now the one going to meetings to discuss the future of the facility. It's a change in operation for him. He's still going through an adjustment period as well. He still has command over Litchfield. The inmates still view him as an authority figure they can talk to and trust. But now, he is a representative for the corporation in charge of the facility. Their decisions are much more oppressive and compromising than the previous management. And now, Caputo is going to have to support those decisions. It allows him to be a part of the conversation about the prison's future. He fights hard to get more experienced (or at least disciplined) guards on staff. He comes up with the solution of housing them in the cabins next to the prison - which were just casually introduced in the premiere. He also has new confidence when walking the halls of Litchfield. He can threaten Healy's job in order to push his own agenda forward. Plus, he is able to hire Piscatella as the new captain of the guards to bring order to the facility. But Caputo is still the man on the ground responsible for the life-changing decisions that affect the woman. What MCC has done to Sophia is horrifying. He can't just walk away from that. Gloria and Sister Ingalls won't let him forget it. And yet, he hasn't yet crossed that bridge of compromising his morals to buy an $1100 suit. He's close. He does feel bad about the consequences of his actions on these women. But he's also enjoying the new perks of his job as well.
Elsewhere, Judy King is still able to enjoy the perks of her white celebrity privilege in Litchfield. She has managed to avoid the conflicts from overcrowding. She has gotten a near private room thanks to Caputo. She is learning how this environment works. She recognizes that Healy is a bit of an idiot at his job when he gives her a white, non-threatening roommate in Yoga Jones. She didn't ask for any kind of special treatment. But she's still going to accept it when it's handed to her. She recognizes that this life is much better than what all the other inmates have. She's enjoying that for as long as it comes her way. It's a feeling that doesn't sit well for Yoga Jones. She doesn't feel it's right for her to avoid all the struggles her friends are dealing with throughout the prison. This special treatment isn't going to last very long this season. Taystee looks in on this quiet and peaceful room in the midst of chaos and doesn't feel like it's right. Judy has been allowed to be a separate quality in this world. Her problems and existence have been kept away from the rest of the prison. But her luck is going to run out. Her charm will get her through a lot of the tough times. But her privilege will become envious by the other inmates who will do anything in order to have the good fortune that she does.
Some more thoughts:
- "Power Suit" was written by Sara Hess and directed by Constantine Makris.
- It would have been so easy to give Piper a yes woman to work by her side as she attempts to expand her control over the prison. But her dynamic with her new bunkmate is so much more compelling and nuanced than that. Piper doesn't like her but recognizes she needs a Secret Service-type person to have her back. But that doesn't mean her new friend is just going to let Piper get away with whatever she wants. She still has to go through the meal line just like everyone else.
- Red struggling to sleep because of her bunkmate's snoring is probably the most light-hearted story of the episode. It does have a dark edge to it when she thinks about how quiet it would be if this woman were dead. But it has a solid and effective concluding beat as well with Red taping an object to the new inmate's back which leads to her accidentally falling out of the bed and breaking her nose.
- When Red brings up the snoring issue, Piper mentions that Larry used to snore as well. Ugh Larry. It's still so good he's no longer on the show. And of course, he would be a snorer. Plus, bringing him up is not helpful in the slightest for Red.
- Black Cindy is in conflict with her new bunkmate as well. Their conflict is an escalation of religious beliefs via a prank war. Again, some solid comedic material that comes from the two not really believing in each other's religion. That should be a fun story this season once it becomes a little more nuanced.
- After the awkward adventure in the forrest with Maureen, Suzanne is starting to question whether she really has a soulmate out there. Black Cindy assures her that she does. It's just so frustrating to Suzanne right now while she also hopes her soulmate speaks English.
- When Crystal arrives to talk to Caputo about what's happening to Sophia, he wonders just how much she really knows her wife. Crystal doesn't believe Sophia could be inciting violence. But Caputo counters with prison changing people. They need to do whatever it takes in order to survive. He's harsh but it's what he needs to say in order to justify these actions.
- Morello is still very much in the honeymoon phrase of her wedding bliss. She's making it out to be much bigger, romantic and special than it really is. She boasts of a special connection but then Alex ruins it by asking what his favorite color is.
- There's definitely a spark between Poussey and Soso, right? It's great that Soso has a friend willing to protect her now - especially in such a crowded environment. Plus, Poussey just has so much heart. It's fantastic to watch her being so charming like she is here.
- How long until some of these new inmates start getting some names? It's already frustrating that I have to refer to many of them as an established character's new bunkmate.
As noted in previous reviews from this series, every episodic review was written without having seen any succeeding episodes. Similarly, it would be much appreciated if in the comments, the conversation would only revolve around the show up to this point in its run.
