Episode Report Card Kim: B | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Out O' Time
By Kim | Season 3 | Episode 8 | Aired on 09.01.1999
Here we are at my final Oz recap. After this, I hand the reins over to Chuck to recap the new episodes, whenever HBO decides to air them. I must say that it has been interesting to recap the season where (in my mind), Oz truly went over the top from gritty drama to soap opera. And, by the way, Barbara Kopple directed this episode.
Hill sits in front of a fireplace, where Christmas stockings have been hung with care, which is the complete opposite of how Shirley Bellinger will be hanged in a future episode. Hope I didn't ruin that for you. Hill, dressed in red footie pajamas and a Santa hat, recites the first verse of "'Twas The Night Before Christmas," finishing with, "Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse." Hill adds, "The rats, however, are a whole different story."
Said prays in his cell in solitary. Someone walks up to the door and tells Said that there's a gift for him, and then slides a live rat through the food slot in the door. The rat climbs onto Said's shoulder. Cut to the infirmary, where Said tells Gloria that he was bitten by a rat, and then holds up the bloody rat as evidence. Gloria gets someone to take the rat before she begins treatment.
Rebadow and Busmalis discuss how quiet it is on Christmas Eve in Em City. Busmalis expositions that it's quiet because they are on lockdown after the Aryans attacked the Muslims. Rebadow says that he's getting a premonition from God, like he used to. Busmalis wants to know what God has to say. Rebadow fills him in, and God's words are, "Be afraid."
Alvarez has a flashback to his meeting with Rivera, except this time, there is blood running down Rivera's face. Cut to Alvarez meeting with Sister Pete. She informs Alvarez that the Riveras have decided that they don't want to continue the program. Alvarez is disappointed because he had a lot of things to say. Sister Pete invites him to talk to her, but he says it's not the same. Sister Pete reminds Alvarez that Leo is still expecting to hear who raped his daughter, or Alvarez will go back to solitary. Alvarez is silent. Sister Pete advises him to pray, look within, and make a choice.
Father Mukada celebrates Mass for the prisoners, and wishes them a Merry Christmas. Alvarez and the others get up to leave. Ryan catches up to him on the way out, and informs Alvarez that Hernandez, Ricardo, and Guerra are coming back to Em City. Ryan thinks that they will want revenge after Alvarez bailed out when they got busted for drugs. Ryan claims that he's just looking out for Alvarez. As if Ryan ever looks out for anyone but himself. And that's why we love him.