That was a real driving force that Jenji continued to remind us of as well: These are not men. What were some of the things you wanted to accomplish in showing how the women of Orange would riot? You researched famous prison riots in the plotting of this season, which have happened in men’s prisons. It was a Black Lives Matter story, so that core group of black women - who are all so incredible - we certainly talked about everybody on that list and eventually settled on Poussey. 'Orange Is the New Black': How That Fan-Favorite Flashback Came to Be It’s such an incredible toolbox to be able to turn to. Even if I don’t have one of the characters in my script and I’m missing that voice and that talent to depend on, it’s tough. They all have such specific voices, so when you lose that voice I always feel an absence. But I honestly would feel that way about any of these castmembers, because it feels like such a collaboration. I deeply missed writing for the character of Poussey and I really miss having the actress Samira around. We really enjoy working together and it feels very separate from our personal relationship.
Even though I have her in my daily life, I really, really miss her in terms of having someone to collaborate with in our professional relationship. Orange feels like this completely different component of our lives, and it’s one that Samira and I have both really come to value. How far away that flashback felt in the sixth episode this season was a reminder of what a journey this show has been and how young and what a different time it was then when Poussey and Taysee first met.
What was it like to return to set this season without Samira Wiley, the actress, and Poussey, the character you helped create? You also wrote her death episode last season. We spoke about your decision to bring Poussey back in the flashback with Taystee this season, an episode you wrote. 'Orange Is the New Black' Cast: Season 5 Will Find Justice for Poussey For the first time in the series, the fifth season (now streaming on Netflix) condensed its timeline to three days in order to capture the 13-episode uprising that ensued - one that left the future of Litchfield and 10 of its most high-profile inmates up in the air in the show’s biggest cliffhanger yet. The fifth season of Orange Is the New Black delivered on two promises from the season prior: justice for Poussey Washington ( Samira Wiley) and Litchfield never being the same.Īfter killing off the fan-favorite character with a death that mirrored that of Eric Garner in season four, the inmates of Litchfield, incited by Taystee (Danielle Brooks), rioted when the prison refused to say her name.