Ep 1. Mother's Day

Piper Chapman returns to Litchfield Penitentiary for the third season of Orange Is the New Black. In episode one, titled Mother's Day, viewers are reintroduced to the various inmates and their day-to-day lives in Litchfield. As the title suggests, the episode centers around Mother's Day, and various characters must grapple with the complicated relationships they have with their mothers.

The episode opens with a flashback of Norma, the mute inmate who has become somewhat of a cult leader to some of the other prisoners. We see her at home with her mother, who treats her terribly and forces her to perform embarrassing and ultimately traumatic tasks. Back in the present day, Norma is leading a group of inmates in a makeshift prayer circle, and we see how much her role has changed since her flashback.

Meanwhile, Piper is still reeling from her experiences in season two and trying to keep her head down while still maintaining a sense of power in the prison. We see her navigate her relationships with Alex and Stella, two women she has conflicting feelings for, and try to avoid the potential repercussions of her actions from last season.

Other inmates also have storylines in this episode. Taystee struggles with the prospect of spending her first Mother's Day without her adoptive mother, who has passed away. Daya, who is pregnant, must come to terms with the fact that she will soon be bringing a child into the world while still being stuck in prison. Gloria, one of the kitchen workers, grapples with her guilt over the fact that she can't be with her son on Mother's Day.

The episode also introduces some new characters, including new inmate Stella, who catches Piper's eye and creates tension between her and Alex. We also see the return of Nicky, who was sent to maximum security last season, and her reunion with Boo, one of her closest friends.

As with previous seasons of Orange Is the New Black, this episode balances humor and heartbreak, showing the complexities of life in prison and the relationships that form between the women who are incarcerated there. As with the show's previous episodes, Mother's Day highlights the various forms of power and control that exist within the prison, as well as the ways in which the inmates must rely on each other for survival. The episode ends with a surprising cliffhanger that sets the stage for the rest of the season.

Overall, Mother's Day is a strong start to the third season of Orange Is the New Black, reintroducing the audience to familiar characters while also introducing some new ones and setting up some intriguing plotlines for the rest of the season. The show's unique blend of comedy and drama makes for an engaging viewing experience, and fans of the previous seasons are sure to be pleased with this episode.