“Orange Is the New Black”
Alex (Laura Prepon) will find an unlikely — and lifesaving — ally in Season 4 of Netflix’s “Orange Is the New Black.” Netflix

The Litchfield ladies are back!

“Orange Is the New Black” will return Friday to our small screens — and other Netflix-enabled devices — with Season 4 of the prison dramedy. But before the clock strikes 3 a.m. EDT, there are a few things you should know about the upcoming installment that Jenji Kohan created.

We’re Going to Need a Bigger Prison

At the end of the Season 3 finale, a bus full of prisoners arrived at the gates of Litchfield to make the upstate New York prison their home. But Litchfield won’t just be welcoming new inmates come Season 4 of the Netflix drama — the prison will also become home to a slew of new correctional officers.

Litchfield Gets a New Big Bad

One of the C.O.’s that Caputo (Nick Sandow) hires is a large and fierce man named Desi Piscatella (Brad William Henke). Not only does the enormous C.O. frighten inmates with his abrasive commands and loud blow horn, he also terrifies other correctional officers, like Gerber (Alan Aisenberg).

“I’m kind of scared of the new guards,” he can be heard saying in the Season 4 trailer.

Drama, Drama, Drama

But it looks like the hatred the inmates share for Desi is the only common ground they’ll have in Season 4 of “OITNB.” According to a promo video, the ladies will throw down — and hard — in the upcoming installment.

Piper (Taylor Schilling) will find herself going head-to-head with Maria (Jessica Pimentel) in the new season. Viewers got a glimpse at their feud when the outraged inmate threatened to bury the blond prisoner.

But what are they fighting about? Could it have anything to do with Piper’s thriving panty business? Promo photos from the new season also showed Piper has a beef with Blanca (Laura Gomez), who could be seen holding Piper down as another inmate prepares to either burn or bash the entrepreneur’s hand.

The End of a Romance

While Poussey (Samira Wiley) and Soso’s (Kimiko Glenn) romance blossoms in Season 4, Suzanne’s (Uzo Aduba) love life will take a dramatic dip when her sweet relationship with Kukudio (Emily Althaus) turns sour.

Sophia’s Dark Storyline

TV Guide revealed Sophia’s (Laverne Cox) story will continue to get darker following her heartbreaking Season 3 plotline. In the previous installment, Gloria (Selenis Leyva) and Sophia had a falling out when their sons began causing trouble together. Aledia (Elizabeth Rodriguez) then began to spread malicious rumors about the inmate, which led to a violent attack against Sophia. She was then sent to solitary confinement for her “protection.”

Although Sophia’s situation has been teased to worsen, it’s revealed her true friends will come to her aid during her darkest moments.

Alex’s Fate Revealed

Alex’s (Laura Prepon) paranoia proved to be valid when an assassin was sent to kill Kubra’s (Eyas Younis) snitch in the Season 3 finale. But the inmate will survive the deadly attack — thanks to a “surprising alliance.”

Pennsatucky and Big Boo Grow Strong — Together

The unlikely friends will lean on one another during Season 4 after Pennsatucky (Taryn Manning) was raped by the monstrous C.O. Coates (James McMenamin). Both Pennsatucky and Big Boo (Lea DeLaria) will then have to decide what to do now that Martiza (Diane Guerrero) has been assigned Pennsatucky’s old job with the uniform-clad lunatic.

Flashbacks

According to Entertainment Weekly, Taystee (Daniella Brooks), Nicky (Natasha Lyonne) and Sophia receive less screen time in Season 4. But that means characters like Maritza and Blanca will have a chance to shine! The outlet reported that the origin stories of the two will be told in the forthcoming season.

“Orange Is the New Black” will stream to Netflix Friday, June 17, at 3 a.m. EDT.

RELATED STORIES