Over the course of its seven seasons, Orange is the New Black has done an unparalleled job of building out a large ensemble cast of nuanced characters. A cursory count reveals that there are over 65 named characters with substantial storylines. It would have been impossible for the series give every single character a proper goodbye, but it actually comes pretty close. The last few minutes of the series finale offer audiences a peek at the fates of a bunch of characters, and it makes for an emotional gut punch of an ending. The Orange is the New Black Season 7 montage will make you sob, and it will satisfy the most dedicated fans. Warning: The following posts contains spoilers for Orange is the New Black Season 7.
The final Orange is the New Black montage begins with Suzanne (Uzo Aduba) watching the guards dismantle her chicken coop and begin to set the prison’s chickens free. "I never prepared them for life on the outside," Suzanne cries out. She’s talking about the chickens, but she could easily be talking about all the women of Litchfield Penitentiary. If there’s one thing Orange is the New Black has taught audiences, it’s that people are never fully ready for what comes next. But, everyone figures it out as they go, whether that’s in prison or in the outside world, and that’s what audiences get to see in the final Season 7 montage.
The scenes in the montage show the Orange is the New Black characters in familiar situations, but they’re also evolving. Nicky Nichols (Natasha Lyonne), runs the detention center kitchen while barking the same orders and offering the same motherly advice that her mentor Red (Kate Mulgrew) did. She even carries on Red’s traditions by wearing red lipstick. Flaca (Jackie Cruz) promises to help immigrant detainees just like Gloria (Selenis Leyva) did before her. Speaking of Gloria, audiences get to see her finally reunited with her children at home. And after months of being detained by ICE, Blanca (Laura Gómez) is freed and returns to her boyfriend Diablo (Miguel Izaguirre). In an especially bittersweet moment, Red comforts Lorna (Yael Stone) after both of them have lost their full grasp of reality.
Alex (Laura Prepon) is in a new prison in Ohio, where she’s joined by a whole bunch of characters fans haven’t seen in seasons. Alex sits at a table with Boo (Lea DeLaria), Yoga Jones (Constance Shulman), Nora (Annie Golden), and Gina (Abigail Savage). A new inmate joins them, and Yoga Jones gives her the same speech she gave Piper in the very first epsiode of the series. If that’s not enough to make you cry, then you might want to check up on your tear ducts.
The Ohio prison also offers a touching look at old characters, including SoSo (Kimiko Glenn), Angie (Julie Lake), Leanne (Emma Myles), Janae (Vicky Jeudy), and Alison (Amanda Stephen). Fans don’t get to see much from them, but just enough to know that they’re doing all right with the rest of their time.
One of the sweetest final scenes is when audiences get to see Taystee (Danielle Brooks) teaching a group of soon-to-be-released inmates about life after prison. She’s started the Poussey Washington Fund in her late friend’s honor, and audiences get the sense that she’s found purpose in helping others.
In the last moments of the series, Piper (Taylor Schilling) drives to visit Alex. As she does, her voiceover repeats lines that she said in the series’ first episode. Piper says that she loves "getting clean," and the final montage gives the sense that all the characters are on their way to building a clean slate.
Season 7 of Orange is the New Black is streaming on Netflix now.
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