What happened in Orange is the New Black season 6? Full recap before final OITNB season
AFTER a year away from our screens, Orange Is The New Black is about to return to Netflix for the much-anticipated final series.
But what happened at the end of season six? And what can we expect from the seventh? Here’s a recap…
How did series 6 of Orange Is The New Black finish?
Season six saw the inmates moved to Litchfield maximum security prison following the dramatic riot in season five.
And sadly, Taystee got sentenced to life in prison when she took the fall for the riot and was found guilty of the murder of CO Piscatella (Brad William Henke) – even thought it was a crime she didn’t commit.
In the final episode, Joe runs after the SWAT team – who covered up Desi’s murder – and warns them that he knows what happened, and they will pay for it.
Thankfully, there were no major deaths in season six out of the main cast of the show, so fans can expect to see most of their favourite characters return for series seven.
But warring sisters Carol and Barbara (played by newcomers Henny Russell and Mackenzie Phillips) fatally stabbed each other in the season six finale.
The show’s central character Piper also “married” her fiancée Alex in prison, although the wedding wasn’t official.
But the big surprise of the finale was when Piper was granted early release, simply because a guard wanted to get rid of her because she knew about the drug dealing going on in the jail.
The final scene ended with Piper being picked up by her brother and him asking her, “What are you going to do know?”.
Sophia, played by Laverne Cox, also got an early release in the previous season, as well as Blanca Flores [Laura Gomez].
Ahead of series seven, producers left several other key threads hanging.
These included Daya’s (Dascha Polanco) drug addiction and Lorna (Yael Stone) going into early labour.
What’s in store for Orange Is The New Black season 7?
Netflix revealed: “In its final season, the ladies of Litchfield come to terms with the fact that prison has changed them forever.”
Notably, Piper, played by Taylor Schilling, will be forced to adapt to the outside as she struggles in the real world after being granted early release from prison.
It’s thought the fan-favourite character might start writing the memoir she first mentioned in season six now that she is a free woman.
The final series will also draw on themes of institutional racism and corruption in the prisons system, something which the show has been highly praised for since the first season.
Fans can also expect to see immigration return as a major theme – just like in season six when ICE (Immigration Crime Management) purchased the prison.
Elsewhere, Taystee’s friendship with Cindy remains under threat with the prospect of her life sentence.
ALL THE GOSS ON OITNB
When does season 7 of Orange Is The New Black start?
The show will return for the final time on FRIDAY (July 26) on Netflix.
You will be able to watch the new series from 8am that morning.
And in true Netflix style, all 13 episodes will drop at once – so eager fans can binge the entire last series in one go.
Just like the previous 6 seasons, each episode will be an hour in length.
The news was announced by Netflix’s See What’s Next Twitter account. They also treated fans to lots of new photos from the season, which sees Piper out in the real world for the first time.
To watch Orange is the New Black on Netflix you can sign up to a 30-day free trial.
After the trial is up, you will have the option to subscribe to Netflix from £5.99 per month
The cast confirmed on October 18, 2018 that the show will come to an end after this series.