Four Things I Hope To See in OITNB Season 4

I am fascinated by OITNB. The characters are the definition of diverse and unflinchingly real. The storylines range from whimsically crazy to homicidally heavy. As a writer and a storyteller, I learn from studying it, but as viewer? I consume.

As far as I can find, there’s no official drop date for s4. I had binged s3 and gotten it out of my system enough so as not to be thinking about it, until someone in my house had to go and watch it again, stirring up all the anger and angst! So, to combat those unruly thoughts, here are four things I hope will be covered.

From this point on, I am assuming you’ve watched all three seasons of OITNB. Otherwise, spoilers ahead.

1. NIKKI 

I am hoping against hope and wishing against wish that Nikki somehow miraculously comes back from max to rejoin the shenanigans at Litchfield. I miss Nikki’s rowdy, unapologetically sarcastic flavor. Plus, I would love to see Nikki slap some taste out of Luschek’s mouth. Jerkface.

2. BERDIE

One of the most hopeless things about being a Litchfield inmate would have to be the presence of administrators and guards that care more about their own egos than the people trusted to their care. Berdie Rogers was a breath of fresh air in s3 in the midst of the likes of Caputo and Healy. She genuinely cared for the women and tried new ways to engage them instead of just manage them. Healy’s perfidy in the wake of TimeHumpChroniclesGate gave her the boot (temporarily, hopefully!) and ignited my fandom rage.

S4 will score some serious cosmic BONUS points if, upon Berdie’s return, something unspeakably horrible happens to Healy.

3. ALEX

I haven’t always liked Alex. In fact, in the first season, I really kind of despised her. Not on behalf of Piper and her constant victimhood, but because I felt her to be grating, and too cute by half. She’s omg!quirky!sarcastic!but!beautiful! S1 Alex is kind of like the equivalent of Doctor Who’s Clara Owsald, an irksome product of trying too hard to create an omg!so!unique female character.

My checkered history with Alex aside… s3 Alex was much more palatable and sympathetic. The scene with Alex and Lolly in the bathroom? Priceless. But her trapped in the greenhouse with Kubra’s hired guard? One of s3’s cruelest cliffhangers! I am anxious to see the outcome because anything can, and often does, in OITNB. But since Laura Prepon posted this pic to her IG, I feel a little better about things.

4. SOPHIA

Oh, Sophia. It was a rough season for Sophia because of Michael’s antics, then the whole Gloria debacle. S3 closed on Sophia in Seg after being attacked in her own salon, and my heart just breaks for her. I’m not excusing the little scuffle she and Gloria got into, or the fact that Sophia couldn’t just originally admit she was wrong about Michael not being the instigator, but the simple fact is Sophia didn’t deserve to be attacked or thrown into Seg. With everything going to hell in a handbasket in the season finale, who knows when Sophia’s problems will even be addressed.

BONUS: 2 Ships I Hope Sink In OITNB S4:

Suzanne + Four Topics Girl

Suzanne is one of my favorite characters in the entire show. You can tell she aches for love and affection, and every time a relationship fails (not even just romantic relationships, but also the relationship she had with Vee), it’s like the hole inside her gets bigger. I want Suzanne to be happy and loved, but I have my doubts as to whether Four Topics Girl can provide what Suzanne needs. Also, who throws defenseless turtles?! Oroku Saki, that’s who!

Poussey + SoSo

Despite this adorable fanart by the talented Maria, I’m not a fan of this pairing at all. While the romantic side of me likes the idea of broken people reaching out and finding someone that makes them less broken, the pragmatic side of me doesn’t want valuable screen time taken up with this when there’s so much ground to cover. Also, Poussey can do so much better, unless SoSo really ups her game in s4.

EXTRA BONUS:

In my search to find a date for s4, I stumbled across an interview with Ruby Rose in which she says that “it could go either way” when it comes down to Stella making an appearance in the new season. I hold no great love for Stella, but if her return heralds a new level of hell for Piper, I’m all in!