History Awesome / OrangeIsTheNewBlack

* [[SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic The theme by Regina Spektor.]] Doubles as an EarWorm.

!!Season One:

!!Season Two:

!!Season Three:

!!Season Four:

!!Season Five:

!!Season Six:

!!Season Seven

!!Other:

* Uzo Aduba winning back-to-back Emmys, first as Outsanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series then as Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. She's the first performer since Creator/EdwardAsner to win an Emmy for playing the same character in a Drama and Comedy.

* "Can't Fix Crazy" - Flaca saving Gina's life and extinguishing her arm from the oven grease fire [[spoiler: Red had caused the night before]], and Norma later giving [[spoiler: Red]] a silent WhatTheHellHero by ripping her secret santa slip and throwing it at her. To top it off, Gloria's GenreSavvy enough [[spoiler: to put the pieces together and starve Red out, just how the latter starved out Piper in the beginning.]]
** Fig of all people gets one when she puts an end to [[spoiler: Healy's infatuation over Piper.]]
---> " [[spoiler: Healy]], if you ever contact an inmate's family again out of your lesbian witchhunt shit, I will destroy you. Your mail-order bride will leave you, and you'll never work again. Get some fucking therapy, man."
** Later on, when Suzanne freezes up during the play on her part, [[spoiler: Norma earns herself another CMOA by breaking her silence to save Suzanne and the show.]]
* In "Blood Donut", When Watson antagonizes Yoga Jones about [[spoiler: her accidentally murdering a kid]], Yoga [[spoiler: ''slaps the everloving shit out of her!]]
* When you find out why Claudette is in prison. [[spoiler: She killed the man who was abusing the girl who worked as his maid.]]
* Following her unfair stint in solitary confinement (during Fucksgiving, season 1, episode 9) thanks to jealous prison guard [[spoiler: Healy]] and manipulative hick Pennsatucky, a determined Piper heads straight for [[spoiler: her ex-girlfriend]] Alex and leads her away into the chapel. Once there, the two finally relieve some of their obvious [[spoiler: UnresolvedSexualTension]] since reuniting at the end of the pilot episode. Also may count as a [[spoiler:TheBigDamnKiss]] moment.

---> '''Chapman''': I'm like you Deana. I'm weak too. I can't get through this without somebody to touch, without somebody to love. Is that because sex numbs the pain, or because I'm an evil fuckmonster, I don't know. But what I do know, I was somebody before I came in here. I was somebody with a life that I chose for myself. And now? Now it's just about getting through the day without crying. And I'm scared. I'm still scared. I'm scared that I'm not myself in here, and I'm scared that I am. Other people aren't the scariest part of prison, Deana. It's coming face to face with [[WhatYouAreInTheDark who you really are]]. Because once you're behind these walls, there's nowhere to run, even if you could. The truth catches up with you in here, Deana, and it's the truth that's gonna make you her bitch. (walks out)
---> '''Washington''': Damn, you cold.
---> '''Chapman''': Bitches got to learn.

* In the season 1 finale when finally [[spoiler: getting dumped by both Larry and Alex (her fiance and girlfriend, respectively)]], ostracized by almost every other prisoner, then backed into a corner by an armed [[spoiler: Pennsatucky]] before eventually getting ignored and left to die by a vindictive [[spoiler: Healy]], a desperate [[spoiler: Piper]] snaps on her KnightTemplar nemesis, who'd been planning to kill her for the last several episodes. The resulting NoHoldsBarredBeatdown is truly an epic sight to behold.

** Caputo ''finally'' [[spoiler: getting one over Fig with a BaitTheDog moment, consoling her over her cheating husband, then allowing her to attempt to buy his silence about her embezzlement in exchange for oral sex, and then admitting that he had already noticed the warden.]]
** Norma goes BewareTheQuietOnes in her attempt [[spoiler: to avenge Red's beating by Vee, by formulating an arsenic made out of apple seeds.]] When Gloria points out the flaws and lack of necessities to succeed with this plan, she offers her help. Still gotta give Norma props for trying.
* Sister Ingralls' TheReasonYouSuckSpeech to Caputo and how their "compassionate release", referring to the system [[spoiler: sending a still-senile Jimmy off into the world alone to fend for herself and without nearby or known relatives.]]
---> "What are you going to do about the quality of senior care in this prison? The elderly are the fastest growing population in this prison, and they have special needs. So-called "compassionate release" in lieu of care is completely unacceptable. You can't dump sick, old ladies on the streets. It's unconsciounable, inhumane...and illegal. You must meet your obligations."
* In Episode 8, when the black inmates (and everyone) verbally hound Piper about her [[spoiler:receiving furlough to see her dying grandmother]] and other special privileges for her ethnicity, Piper snaps once again and voices that she's aware of her white privilege, but also lets the girls have it.
--> '''Piper:''' Yes, I am white! We have established that, and [[spoiler:I got furlough, too]]. I guess white privilege wins again, and as a speaker for the entire white race, I would like to say I'm sorry you guys got the raw deal, but I love my fucking grandmother. And yeah, she may be a whitey too, but she's also a fucking person, and she needs me. So you all can shut the fuck up.
* In Episode 4, When Piper is reassigned to room with Red, who denies Piper permission to move Red's belonging to her side of the room, the two have a standoff. Just as you think a fight is about to break out, Piper ''shatters'' Red with a witty low blow [[CallBack referring to back when Red starved her out]] and eventually [[spoiler: lost her position as head chef.]]
---> '''Piper:''' What are you going to do? [[spoiler: Not feed me?]]

* After several occasions when a (sometimes well-meaning) [[spoiler:Alex]] screwed Piper over, Piper finally gets a pretty twisted revenge: [[spoiler: she gets a freed Alex thrown back into prison with her. On the one hand, this is very decent revenge for Alex coercing Piper into perjuring herself while Alex made a deal and was set free, and on the other hand, Piper can justify it by claiming that she was saving Alex's life by getting her out of reach from a man who wanted her dead, which is in fact true.]] It's deliciously messed up and should quite an interesting dynamic going forward.
** Adding to the CMOA is that Piper enlists [[spoiler:Polly and Larry into getting Alex thrown back into prison. Larry rightly guesses that part of Piper's motivation is to get Alex back in with her, and it's not quite a reconciliation between them, but Piper points out that it gives them a chance to screw over someone they don't like.]]
* Cal and Neri's [[spoiler: surprise wedding.]] The sincerity in their relationship is a clear contrast to the lack of it in ''any'' of Piper's.
* Piper's [[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech verbal beatdown]] of [[spoiler: Polly and Larry]] said what some of the audience was thinking at that moment.
** On the other hand, Polly's deflection reflects an already-twisted message of the show: that we can't choose who we love and it just sort of happens (which, as we've already been shown, is true for [[spoiler:Piper and Alex]]). And [[SugarWiki/FunnyMoments her vagina ''did'' bounce back]].
* Healy's forged paperwork that "proves" what he knows to be true: [[spoiler: Suzanne was not responsible for Red's beating.]]

--->'''Morello''': "May you ''never'' have a minute a' peace."
* [[spoiler: Taystee, Poussey, Janae and Cindy all turning on Vee, berating her and letting her know that she's now in a prison full of people out to get her, with no one to back her up.]]
--> '''Black Cindy''': We about to recant our shit.
* The KarmicDeath of [[spoiler:Arturo, Gloria's abusive boyfriend, who's trapped in a room after he knocks over a candle and is burned to death.]]
* Rosa's [[spoiler: final escape, especially when she makes roadkill out of Vee]].
* ''Pornstache'' manages to score one, when [[spoiler:he is escorted out of the prison for getting an inmate pregnant (well, not really, but everyone thinks so): he is completely unmoved by the fact he's getting arrested, leaves the prison with his head held high and only cares about the woman he loves and "his" unborn baby, yelling in front of the staff and inmates that he is not ashamed of Daya, he loves her and will take care of her and the baby when he returns. Even better -- that was exactly what Daya wanted from Bennett, the actual father of her baby.]]

*** Boo is pretty much made of Awesome in Season 3, especially the way she stands up for Doggett after [[spoiler: a guard rapes Pennsatucky]].

* Norma finally asserting a degree of independence after a lifetime as a perpetual ShrinkingViolet by [[spoiler: quitting her long-held position as Red's underling.]]
* Chang's character development. Until this season, we know her as the LadyLooksLikeADude introverted Chinese woman who occasionally opened her mouth to make crass remarks. Well: [[spoiler: she was a Chinese immigrant who spoke no English, was pushed around by her family too much- even to the point where ''her own family'' attempted to coerce her into an arranged marraige just for their own personal gain. She took to illegal sales with a friend of hers, and after one night of being ripped off, grew a fucking spine and made it her initiative to take no prisoners and fuck up whoever got in her way]]. BewareTheQuietOnes, indeed.

* A rather dark example, but Piper [[spoiler:taking revenge on Stella for stealing her money by filling her bunk with contraband. And then placing a tip in with the guards, ensuring that she gets sent to Max. It's a vicious and cold-hearted move and Piper's unemotional stare while showing her new "Trust No Bitch" tattoo really sells it.]]
-->[[spoiler:Piper: I don't fuck around. Let the people know.]]
* The ending of "We Can Be Heroes." [[spoiler: The veteran guards are discussing creating a union and Caputo comes to confront them at the bar. After he goes on about all the union-busting tactics that corporate is going to use, they ask him to be their union rep, to which he agrees. It ends with O'Neil starting to sing "[[Film/LesMiserables2012 Do you hear the people sing?]]," which then goes into a full-blown cast recording over the credits.]]
* During the Season Three finale, when [[spoiler: DEA agents arrive to bust Cesar. Not only do they take him down swiftly and smoothly, but he shows a skewed PapaWolf sensibility in trying to protect his children.]].

* In the opener, one of last season's cliffhangers is resolved in a brutally awesome manner. [[spoiler:Alex is being choked to death when Lolly comes in and single-handedly beats a professional hitman to death (well, almost death). Lolly's calm manner is rather disturbing, but the fact remains that she saved Alex's life.]]
* Caputo runs into one of the guards from the prison that [[spoiler: walked out on him last season]] and when you think he's going to offer an apology, he instead unleashes a pretty epic TheReasonYouSuck speech.
* Sister Ingalls [[spoiler: punching Gloria in the face to get sent to SHU in order to obtain proof that Sophia is there. Even Gloria praises her for it.]]
** And when [[spoiler: Sister Ingalls's plan fails, it's Caputo who takes a photo of Sophia and smuggles it to a journalist.]]
*** The journalist in question being [[spoiler: [[HeelFaceTurn Danny Pearson.]]]]
* Blanca [[spoiler: lasting several days into her Jane Eyre-esque punishment of standing on a table instead of letting herself be broken.]]
** Not to mention that the only reason [[spoiler: she got down off the table was because the prison was forced into full lockdown. Even with the guards' sadism, they completely failed to break her.]]
* In "The Animals", after a series of horrible and inhumane actions inflicted upon the inmates by the guards, all of the inmates [[spoiler:stand together in peaceful protest against the guards. Everyone.]]
* In the finale, [[spoiler:after hearing that Poussey's killer won't be arrested, Taystee creates a riot involving all the inmates that sweeps through the entire prison in only a couple of minutes. Then, if things couldn't get any better, all the inmates convene on Humphrey, McCollough, and Judy King. Humphrey attempts to pull out his hidden pistol, only to have it knocked out of his hands and land at Daya's feet. Daya then picks it up and takes control of the situation, forcing McCollough to the ground and pointing the gun at Humphrey's head. The camera then spins around, centered on her, letting us see the rage and blood lust of the inmates surrounding her.]] Epic cliffhanger.
** Even better, the inmate who [[spoiler: knocks the gun out of his hands is Maritza, who he terrorized and made eat a baby mouse.]]
* Caputo puts Piscatella in his place after [[spoiler: Poussey's death]], and the big, scary guard takes it. At that moment, Caputo's almost like a white [[Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine Sisko]].

** Gloria shutting down Aleida, letting her know that Daya [[spoiler:shooting Humphrey]] is but the culmination of her bad parenting.

* Flaca and Maritza doing one final vlog was heartwarming in itself, but doing it [[spoiler:live during the SWAT raid]] was pretty awesome.
* The Nazis and Hispanics led by Ouija [[spoiler:joining forces for an awesome LastStand against the incoming SWAT team. Obviously a lost cause at this point but in no way was it not cathartic to see them deliver such an impressive opposition to the armed and trained officers.]]

* Piper resolves to "make prison suck less" and does so in grand fashion by bringing back kickball...which helps end a ''thirty year'' bloc war. ''By accident''

* In the same episode, Piper's epic speech to Healy from her cell.

* Piper ends a ''thirty year'' block war ''by accident''..because she managed to bring kickball.
** Maria deserves credit as well, TakingAThirdOption to avert the imminent brawl ''without'' snitching and convincing a nervous [=McCullough=] to go with the mixed teams, which finally brings the blocks together to cheer for ''teams'', not ''blocks''.

** Healey tries to take advantage of the fact Soso is still recovering from her attempted suicide by drug overdose, by getting her to testify against her counselor, Rogers. Soso's response is a deadpan "You're really bad at your job, you know that?"

* It may have been an accidental result, but Piper end a ''thirty year'' block war...by bringing back kickball.
** Maria deserves credit as well, as her mixed-teams idea finally bring he blocks together to cheer for ''teams'', not ''blocks''

* In "Blood Donut", When Watson antagonizes Yoga Jones about [[spoiler: her accidentally murdering a kid], Yoga [[spoiler: ''slaps the everloving shit out of her!]]

* Following her unfair stint in solitary confinement (during Fucksgiving, season 1, episode 9) thanks to jealous prison guard [[spoiler: Healy]] and manipulative hick Pennsatucky, a determined Piper heads straight for [[spoiler: her ex-girlfriend]] Alex and leads her away into the chapel. Once there, the two finally relieve some of their obvious [[spoiler: UnresolvedSexualTension]] since reuniting at the end of the pilot episode. Also may count as a [[spoiler: BigDamnKiss]] moment.

** On the other hand, Polly's deflection reflects an already-twisted message of the show: that we can't choose who we love and it just sort of happens (which, as we've already been shown, is true for [[spoiler:Piper and Alex]]). And [[CrowningMomentOfFunny her vagina ''did'' bounce back]].

* [[AwesomeMusic The theme by Regina Spektor.]] Doubles as an EarWorm.

* In Episode 8, when the black inmates (and everyone) verbally hound Piper about her [[spoiler: receiving furlough to see her dying grandmother]]and also special privileges for her ethnicity, Piper snaps once again and voices that [[GenreSavvy she's aware of her white privilege]], but also lets the girls have it.
--> '''Piper:''' Yes, I am white! We have established that, and [[spoiler: I got furlough, too.]] I guess white privilege wins again, and as a speaker for the entire white race, I would like to say I'msorry you guys got the raw deal, but I love my fucking grandmother. And yeah, she may be a whitey too, but she's also a fucking person, and she needs me. So you all can shut the fuck up.

---> "You know which children suffer in this world, Melanie? The one that are told they are different, the one that never give the chance to succeed alongside any other kid their age, and I'll be ''damned'' if I label my child less than so the rest of the world can put her in a box and dismiss her before she's had a chance to succeed in life."

* Piper's [[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech verbal beatdown]] of [[spoiler: Polly and Larry]] pretty much said what some of the audience was thinking at that moment.

* Uzo Aduba winning back-to-back Emmys, first as Outsanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series then as Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. She's the first performer since Creator/EdwardAsner to win an Emmy for playing the same character in Drama and Comedy.

* Caputo putting Piscatella in his place after [[spoiler: Poussey's death]], and the big, scary guard takes it. At that moment, Caputo's almost like a white [[Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine Sisko]].

* Caputo putting Piscatella in his place after [[spoiler: Poussey's death]].