‘Orange Is The New Black’ Episode 2.02 Recap: “Looks Blue, Tastes Red"

Orange is the New Black’s episode 2 of the second season, “Looks Blue, Tastes Red,” focuses on Tasha Jefferson, better known as Taystee (Danielle Brooks).

The episode opens with a very young and innocent Taystee at a “Black Adoption Festival.” She’s upset because she’s getting too old to be adopted, when an older women, Vee (Lorraine Toussaint), known as a big drug dealer in the neighborhood, approaches her. Vee attempts to bring Tasha, who she names Taystee, into her ring of illegal activity. Though Taystee fights going down the wrong path with Vee, she eventually gives in due to her lack of a home, family and money. Later in the episode, a teenage Taystee is shown living with Vee and another boy who is part of the drug ring. For once, Taystee seems truly happy as she looks around the kitchen where Vee, the mother she never had, is cooking and looking out for the kids she calls her children. Unfortunately, Taystee’s close friend/brother figure in Vee’s family is killed, exposing Vee’s inability to take care of the kids for the first time. At the end of the episode, in the present, Vee shows up as a new inmate at Litchfield, and viewers see a displeased Taystee, who blames Vee for the trouble that landed her in prison. Taystee has just won the job interview contest and is heartbroken when she finds out that her win does not actually get her a job for when she finishes her sentence.

As for the other inmates, chaos, of course, is around at all times. Pennsatucky (Taryn Manning) has been released from SHU. Officer Healy (Michael Harney) calls Pennsatucky into his office to cover his tracks; he fears Pennsatucky will tell people he allowed her and Piper to fight nearly to death. The once nice and caring officer now shows his odd obsession with ridding the jail of lesbians by any means necessary.

Larry (Jason Biggs) talks to his father about his unfortunate situation with Piper and his father tells him he needs to move on. Larry says, “She’s in prison a few weeks, bam, lesbian again.” While he knows he should move on, it’s apparent that Larry may be unable to.

Though Red (Kate Mulgrew) is finally allowed to eat in the cafeteria again, her old friends, still mad, won’t let her sit at their table. The Golden Girls reach out to Red and invite her to join them in the cafeteria, though Red politely declines their offer. It is clear that the Litchfield hierarchy has really been shaken up!

– Jennifer Hogan