Warning! This article contains spoilers from season 3 of OITNB.
Netflix released a new set of new photos from season 4 of its hit original series Orange is the New Black on Thursday that gives fans a sneak peek at what they can expect will go down within the walls of Litchfield this time around.
From the looks of the photos, it appears things have taken a rather darker tone this season. This is the complete opposite of how things ended in season 3. If you recall, the ladies of Litchfield escaped from the prison after finding an opening in the fence that cooped them inside. With a fresh taste of freedom, the inmates all jump into the lake in celebration, which allowed them to forget the circumstances that led them to jail for a brief moment.
While the photos do reveal some spoilers about what's to come, since it has been some time since you last binge-watched season 3, you might need a refresher course on what previously happened.
These are the events that led up to what we see in the season 4 OITNB photos.
Alex Is Still Alive After Facing Kubra's Hitman
Even though the season ended on a light note, that doesn't mean we weren't left sitting on the edge of our seats when it came to Alex (Laura Prepon). In season 2, Alex turned snitch, ratting on the drug lord Kubra she previously worked for (which is the reason why she's in jail in the first place). Since Kubra is so well-connected, Alex has been extremely paranoid that he has put a hit out on her. We see this when she is free and when she comes back to Litchfield in season 4.
However, the walls of the prison won't keep her safe, and in the season 3 finale, she comes face-to-face with the hitman that was posing as a guard. We think this is the last of her when he puts a gun to her head, but according to a new photo, Alex is still alive. She does look in distress, so we are sure her battle against Kubra isn't over yet.
Piper Gets Put In Her Place
Piper (Taylor Schilling) has really come a long way since she first entered the prison. In season 3, she became the queen of a lucrative panty business, but all that power had gotten to her head. Before we knew it, some of her employees were lashing out against her, which continued the divide between the Spanish girls and the other races.
We don't know exactly what will cause the Spanish girls to come after Piper, but it appears that someone finally will put her in her place. This photo shows her gagged and pinned down by Blanca (Laura Gomez), with some other ladies in the group looking on.
Red Learns To Share The Kitchen
Things were bad for Red (Kate Mulgrew) after learning that her beloved food store has been closed in Brooklyn, and previously having to give up her role as head chef in the kitchen to Gloria (Selenis Leyva). However, after starting her own vegetable garden and working things out with her former minion Norma the mute, Red gets her place back where she belongs.
Even though Gloria quit her kitchen duties, she continued working under Red. We see that the two might actually now be on the same team in this image of them standing side-by-side.
New Faces Result In New Friendships And More Tension
The ladies of Litchfield were glued to the TV to follow the case of public figure Jude King (Blair Brown) to see which prison she would be sent to. Even though it was announced she would not be serving her time for tax evasion at the penitentiary, she did turn herself in to our favorite prison during the finale. We see that she is adjusting well and making new friends with Poussey (Samira Wiley), but that doesn't mean tensions won't rise this season.
New prisoners are coming to Litchfeld, and this season will focus on overpopulation, as well as racial and economic differences causing the women to clash.
Other Friendships Continue
In season 3, we saw Boo and Pennsatucky (Taryn Manning) forge a friendship that will continue to grow strong this season 4. Pennsatucky is sexually assaulted by a new guard named Coates, who is assigned to accompany her to her driving duties. Big Boo (Lea DeLaria) and the former meth addict come up with a plan to assault him back with a broom, but abandon ship, and instead, Pennsatucky fakes a seizure to change her job. It looks like this season, the ladies will continue to be concerned about the women's safety.
Suzanne "Crazy-Eyes" (Uzo Aduba) might have found a new love interest in the lake with Maureen, but she is still hanging with her friend Taystee (Danielle Brooks). The two helped each other get through Vee's death and have become closer than ever, although it does seem Taystee is still keeping Crazy-Eyes in check.
Sophia Strips Down
Last season, Sophia (Laverne Cox) was the victim of bullying by the inmates, which started when Gloria blamed her for Sophia's son being a bad influence on her son. The ladies get into a fight, and other inmates spread transphobic rumors about Sophia and boycott her salon. Gloria eventually learns the truth, that it's her son who has been causing trouble. However, Caputo sends Sophia to the SHU for what he believes is her own protection. In season 4, we will see Sophia leaving behind her weaves and struggle with solitary confinement.
Orange is the New Black returns to Netflix for season 4 on June 17.
