8 best episodes of Orange is the New Black

Before Orange is the New Black season 5 hit Netflix, we did a spot of catching up.

The past four seasons have been thrilling, to say the least.

Read on to find out which episodes in seasons 1, 2, 3 and 4 we rated highest for suspense, action, drama and pure excitement.

Season 1

Episode 9: Fucksgiving

Fucksgiving had to make the cut, because it’s the episode where Piper and Alex first experience the joy of “lesbianing together” in prison – and it’s all thanks to Healy.

After he sends Piper to SHU for supposed lesbian behaviour with Alex, the first thing she does when she gets out is have sex with Alex. Take that, Healy.

Episode 13: Can’t Fix Crazy

Season 1’s finale Can’t Fix Crazy was tense and gripping – and ended on a massive cliffhanger. Piper loses both Alex and Larry, and, completely alone, goes off the rails.

The ending juxtaposes the prison’s Christmas pageant with Pennsatucky and Piper fighting in the snow with a cross and a screwdriver.

The brutal and terrifying final scene sees Piper beating Tiffany to a bloody pulp, to the soothing sound of O Come, All Ye Faithful.

Season 2

Episode 10: Little Mustachioed Shit

Loads of dramatic stuff happens in the tenth instalment of season 2.

With Vee under her skin, Suzanne beats up Poussey; Piper finds out that Larry and Polly slept together; Daya’s pregnancy is revealed – causing Mendez’s dismissal and arrest – and more of Piper and Alex’s relationship is explored.

Episode 13: We Have Manners. We’re Polite.

Yep, it’s another season finale (they’re all just so intense) – and an exceedingly action-packed one, too. A hell of a lot happens in this episode, but the main focus is on Vee, as things unravel for her.

She manages to escape from Litchfield – only to be run over and killed by Rosa, who is enjoying the outside world (thanks to Lorna) after being given 3-6 weeks to live.

“Always so rude, that one,” Rosa says, before she flattens Vee. Seriously exciting and uplifting stuff.

Season 3

Episode 10: A Tittin’ and a Hairin’

After flashing back to a young Pennsatucky being taught by her mother that men are going to have sex with her “and it’s easier if you just let them sting you”, Pennsatucky is raped twice in A Tittin’ and a Hairin’ – once as a teenager in her backstory, and once by CO Coates in present-day.

It’s difficult viewing, and an extremely sad episode.

Episode 13: Trust No Bitch

Yep, you guessed it – it’s another season finale.

Aside from the beautifully satisfying scene where the inmates experience freedom in the lake, episode 13 leaves us with another cliffhanger.

Alex is cornered in the greenhouse by one of Kubra’s men – and there’s no telling what her fate will be.

Season 4

Episode 11: People Persons

More of Suzanne’s backstory is shown here – revealing her mental illness lead to the tragic accidental death of a young boy.

That’s shocking enough, without the added trauma of Litchfield guards forcing Suzanne and Maureen to fight, with Suzanne almost beating Maureen to death. Truly harrowing.

Episode 12: The Animals

This is the episode where Poussey dies – making it probably the most heartbreaking one to date.

Despite inmates protesting peacefully, Piscatella tells guards to use force to break it up.

While this is going on, Suzanne freaks out about her fight with Maureen, and Poussey rushes to help her.

While attempting to restrain Suzanne, CO Bayley manages to suffocate tiny Poussey in the process.

Taystee breaking down beside her dead friend is OITNB’s saddest scene to date, and sets the stage for everything which happens in season five.