Ep 8. Baker's Dozen

After six long seasons of twists, turns, and heartbreak, "Orange Is the New Black" comes to a close in its seventh and final season. The eighth episode, "Baker's Dozen," sees tensions running high both inside and outside of Litchfield Penitentiary.

Piper (Taylor Schilling) finds herself struggling to navigate life outside of prison. After landing a job at a UPS store and reconnecting with her family, she starts to think that things might finally be looking up for her. But when she receives a surprise visit from Madison (Amanda Fuller), a former inmate who tried to strangle her, Piper realizes that she may never truly escape the ghosts of her past.

Inside the prison, tensions are brewing between the various factions. Tasha (Danielle Brooks) is still reeling from the aftermath of her son's death, and she's become increasingly disillusioned with the idea of fighting for any kind of justice. Daya (Dascha Polanco) is trying to piece together what happened during her drug overdose, while also struggling to reconcile with her mother and deal with her own addiction issues.

Meanwhile, Blanca (Laura Gómez) is trying to navigate her relationship with Diablo (Miguel Izaguirre), who is facing deportation. As she grapples with the possibility of losing him, she starts to wonder whether she's been holding herself back from fully experiencing life.

All of these storylines come to a head in "Baker's Dozen," which sees the inmates banding together to fight against the mistreatment and neglect they've endured at the hands of the prison staff. As tensions escalate and the stakes get higher, the women must find a way to come together if they want to survive.

Throughout its seven seasons, "Orange Is the New Black" has been praised for its nuanced portrayal of women, the prison system, and the many social and political issues that intersect with both. "Baker's Dozen" is no exception, as it grapples with questions of justice, accountability, and the human cost of the criminal justice system.

As the series comes to a close, viewers will undoubtedly be left with a lot to think about and reflect on. With its powerful performances, incisive writing, and unflinching honesty, "Orange Is the New Black" has cemented its place in television history as a groundbreaking, thought-provoking, and deeply moving show.