‘Orange Is The New Black’ S4, E2 Recap: ‘Power Suit’

Orange Is The New Black episode “Power Suit” sees Maria Ruiz emerge as the leader of a new Dominican gang in the prison, while Piper enlists some muscle to keep her out of trouble.

Orange Is The New Black Recap

Ruiz Leads The Dominicans

In flashback, we learn that Ruiz’s (Jessica Pimentel) father used to be a big-time Dominican gang leader. When she gets older, she brings one of her high school friends home, where her father introduces himself as the leader of the Dominican Pride. Looking out the window, Maria sees a guy she recognizes chuck a bag of drugs while running from the police. She runs outside and grabs it so the police can’t find it. She later returns it to him at a boxing gym, and they end up hanging out together and hooking up. Her father is livid when he learns she’s with a Mexican gangster, and kicks her out of the house. So she goes to live with her new boyfriend, who may or may not be the reason she’s in jail.

In the present, the prison is packed and Ruiz is over trying to fight for a chance to brush her teeth in the morning. Blanca (Laura Gomez) points out that the Dominicans are the majority now. Fights are breaking out in the TV room, and Blanca boots out a few of the new white supremacist inmates led by Sankey (Kelly Karbacz). Tensions rise even further when those inmates jump Blanca in a stairwell. Ruiz catches the tail end of the the fight, and takes charge. She’s ready to follow her father’s footsteps, but she’s going to play the long game. True to her word, she helps the Dominicans usher Sanky into the salon and beat her down.

Roommate Trouble

Red (Kate Mulgrew) confronts Dwight (Shannon Esper) about her snoring – for six f–king hours straight. Piper (Taylor Schilling) suggests taking a few Ativan, but of course, Red can’t get her hands on them. Piper then tries to put her new bunkmate Hapakuka (Jolene Purdy) in her place again, confronting her about her damp towel draping over the bed railing. And again, Hapakuka outwits her. “You’ve got a lot of anger, Chapman,” she tells her after doing leg presses with her bunk. Cindy is not growing any more fond of her new roommate Abdulla (Amanda Stephen), either. And like Hapakuka, Abdullah outwits the longtime inmate. Cindy and Abdullah continue to have problems, with the former putting all of the latter’s belongings on the ground. Things get even more tense when Abdullah leaves a soda bomb on the shelf.

As for Judy King (Blair Brown), she gets a separate room with a roommate, which Healy (Michael Harney) doesn’t exactly agree with it, but he tries to find her an appropriate roommate. In his meeting with Judy, Healy makes a series of his racist comments, assuring Judy that she won’t be placed with any black inmates. Judy describes the only kind of people she doesn’t want as a roommate, essentially describing him. In any case, Judy ends up getting an uncomfortable Yoga Jones for a roommate. Yoga Jones (Constance Shulman), for her part, doesn’t agree with the privileges that come with living with Judy. Judy thinks the real problem is that Yoga Jones feels guilty for actually enjoying those privileges.

Piper’s Power

Piper, who walks up to the telephone line and immediately gets handed a phone these days, is reveling in her newfound power. Red brings her back down to earth, telling her that with that power, comes a greater risk of getting jumped – especially with the rising gang activity. The key, according to Red, is giving the illusion that she’s stronger than she really is, meaning she needs some sort of guard. Eventually it occurs to her that Hapakuka will be her perfect personal guard.

Orange Is The New Black S6, E2 Odds & Ends

Doggett (Taryn Manning) checks in to make sure that that Coates (James McMenamin) hasn’t laid a hand on Maritza (Diane Guerrero).

Morello (Yael Stone) is still obsessing about her marriage.

Alex (Laura Prepon) can’t stop thinking about how she killed someone and buried his body behind the prison.

Gloria (Selenis Leyva) calls her son to inform Sophia’s wife that Sophia is in the SHU, but that she didn’t do anything wrong.

Piscatella (Brad William Henke) is the new Captain of the Guards.

Diaz (Dascha Polanco) is worried about her daughter’s future.