Welcome to the fourth installment of the show that keeps on giving. Let's begin, shall we?
Opening credits. A few new fight scenes which, let's face it, we needed. Gratuitous rape scenes...the usual tattoo. Opening scene, we see a naked Augustus Hill, our near and dear narrator, in solitary confinement. The door opens and a guard tosses him a robe, since his punishment is over. Our wheelchair-bound inmate intones, "Oz, the name on the street for the Oswald Correctional State Facility, level four. As you can see, we've had some tension around here after four fun-filled days of being in lockdown." He's kind enough to illustrate the tension by letting us know the prisoners are in such close quarters that they can smell the other's...uh...let's just say "bodily emissions," shall we? Yummy! Basically, tensions were high last season before lockdown and now they are at an all-time high. We see sour expressions on the faces of various inmates, as though to convey how bad the smell is. As a special treat, we also see someone stuff a gun in his underwear. Hey, is that your firearm or are you just happy to -- well, you get the idea. Cut to Officer Sean Murphy announcing prisoners to be released first. The inmates are all black, which, when we cut to inmate Schillinger's pod, he graciously notes and ponders why -- oh wait, he actually utters a racial slur that I won't even type. My bad. Anyway, Leo Glynn, warden and Ghostbuster extraordinaire, speaks to all prisoners about the racial tensions in Oz from the past two weeks; they are separated by race, and he warns them that the lockdown has ended and will remain over based on their behavior, but if they don't get over themselves he will lock them away, black or white, for the rest of their lives. Uh, correct me if I'm wrong here, Glynn, but aren't they already, ya know, locked up? As they break, we hear inmates within each group make comments about how the other race is responsible for the lockdown. Yes, I can see morale is MUCH higher.
Cut to a reporter on TV explaining that Hamid Khan's wife has decided to take his body off life support after being hit in the head during the boxing match from last season's finale, courtesy of Cyril O'Reily. Then we go to McManus, who asks Said to say a prayer over the body right before they remove Khan from life support. Said asks him to bear in mind that, after what happened between himself and Khan, he's aware something's up. Now, that isn't what he says verbatim, but as many times as I rewound the damn tape, I can't make it out...anyway, you get the idea. Said enters the room where Khan's body is. Arif is there waiting, and tells him the Muslims want Arif to lead them, and asks whether Said will oppose him. Said tells him he's lost the taste for power, and that he hopes Arif uses his new power more wisely than he did. End of scene.
Cyril is lying in his pod. He can't sleep and is talking to Ryan about the match, except he doesn't understand it was fatal. He asks Ryan if Khan is going to be okay, and Ryan, in his usual sensitive way, tells Cyril Khan's gonna be okay in about ten minutes and for Cyril to go the hell to sleep. You know, I can't decide if Dean Winters is hot or not. I'd like to figure it out this season. ["Here's a tip: he's hot." -- Sars] Cyril has a dream that Khan visits him wearing a white robe with some glowing gold stuff. Hey, producers, Charles Dickens called. He'd like a bigger coffin to turn over in, and a pillow. Thanks. Khan holds out his hand to Cyril, who takes it, and we go to a boxing ring, where Khan tells Cyril that he killed him as well as Preston (Dr. Gloria's husband), and they will always be in his head and will never leave him,. Cyril wakes up screaming, and Ryan comforts him. Aw. Other than the godawful sound that Scott Winters makes when he cries, it's kinda touching. I think Ryan can hold me. Damn. Do I dig him or not?
Cut to Ryan asking Sister Pete what can be done to ease Cyril's nightmares. He's apparently not been sleeping at all since the match. She tells Ryan the guilt is what is causing the nightmares. Wow, you think? Murder causes loss of sleep. Who knew? Anyway, she says Cyril should express his remorse to the family of Khan, Dr. Gloria, and her husband's parents, and this will ease his guilt somewhat. Ryan agrees and says for her to sign Cyril up. Not so fast, says Sister Pete: Ryan has to go with him, or Sister Pete won't ask Dr. Gloria to participate. Ryan grudgingly agrees.
Then we see Dr. Gloria refusing to be a part of the therapy. Sister Pete tells her it's a chance for closure, for her and for Preston's parents. Dr. Gloria goes into a speech about how people treat her like she's a nurse. I'll spare you the details, since it boiled down to "I'm not taking shit from anyone anymore." I think that's a no.
Sister Pete finds Ryan in the kitchen and tells him that since the therapy won't be happening, they should just increase Cyril's medication. Ryan waits until she leaves, then uses a knife to cut himself in the hand. Egh. Dr. Gloria, of course, sees him in the infirmary (not that we all saw that coming a mile away or anything), and they have meaningless dialogue about how Ryan is glad Khan is dead and how his brother won the fight fair and square. I guess the fact that drugs were involved doesn't affect his thinking at all. I'm curious as to how Ryan thinks this method of harassment will convince her to help Cyril, or perhaps he's just pissed because she wouldn't help so he's simply torturing her -- who knows? Anyone care? No? We all know that Ryan still loves her and feels a bit rejected since Dr. Gloria didn't appreciate the lengths he went to in order to win her heart. I know if some guy murdered my husband, I'd be all his!
Ah, here's Augustus to tell us about the fact that America has two million of the world's prisoners. Thanks. Oh, and shut up. we see Officer Claire on her rounds. She checks in each cell and finds McCullum dead in his. She's crushed. Really. It turns out he'd been chewing his own muscle for weeks until he bled to death. We see a lovely shot of big gash marks on his arm and hand. Cut to the committee discussing the suicide and the fact that it's the third one in recent months; Father Mukada suggests that they grant prisoners in solitary one hour recreational time every day so they'll have more incentive to correct their behavior. Officer Claire says it's her ass on the line, and if they want maximum-security prisoners walking around, they can escort hers for her. That must be a big line, Claire, if your hateful ass fits on it.
scene: a new inmate is introduced, courtesy of our narrator. What is it with HBO and voice-overs? I mean, between this show and Sex and the City, I've jabbed myself in the eye at least six times an episode to dull the blinding headache it gives me. Anyway, the new inmate is Luis Bevelaqua.
Cut to the "recreation time" of inmates in solitary. This involves them all tied together in a circle, walking in, you guessed it, in a circle. If I were in solitary I'd prefer to stay in my cell than do that. Alvarez is walking with new inmate Luis, and when asked why he's in solitary, Alvarez tells him it's because he killed Carlo Ricardo. Turns out Carlo was Luis's cousin. Oopsie! Officer Claire tells them to shut up. The plot thickens. Later, when Hernandez finds out Alvarez killed Carlo, he wants to finish the job on Alvarez.
Cut to solitary recreational time again, presumably the day. When Bevelaqua's name is called to join the circle walk, we see him hide a pocketknife in his pants. During circle time, William overhears Alvarez tell Bevel-aquaman that he framed Carlo for a rape. William then sees him go for the knife, and he grabs it from him and stabs them both, so Bevel-aquaman dies before we really get to know him and Alvarez winds up in intensive care. After this particularly jarring circle time, Glynn tells Claire that she's getting transferred to another unit. She's indignant. I take a pull from a jug of whiskey. I think if I mainline caffeine while sitting on a hot plate, I can manage to stay fresh and alert during this show.
Sister Pete and "Glen Garry" Glynn "Ghostbuster" question William in his cell as to what provoked him to stab Bevelaqua and Alvarez. William launches into a story about his tormented childhood, which involves a cookie jar (the hell?) incident and lying and telling his mother abut stealing a chocolate chip cookie -- why must he talk like Tarzan? Broken sentences do not equal good acting. I turn up the hot plate. William says he kills but he never lies.
Hoyt and Hernandez are pissed that Alvarez is still alive, and they plot to get rid of him, Cut to Schillinger and Ryan in the mailroom. Schillinger opens a letter from his sister with a note and pictures of both his sons. He talks about how he misses the other one now that the first one is gone and then tosses it in the trash. Well, I guess THAT moment passed. A little later, Schillinger delivers an empty envelope to Beecher, telling him he had to confiscate the contents. He won't tell him why. The letter was from Beecher's grandmother. Beecher's had it. Go Beecher.
Cut to Father Mukada and Beecher. Mukada tells Beecher he's got to forgive Schillinger. Beecher claims he has, and he's tried to make peace, but Schillinger's not having any of it. We then see Beecher seeking advice from Said. Said tells him he must do something extraordinary for Schillinger in order to bring peace between the two of them. An act of kindness. Beecher's dad comes to visit, and Beecher asks his father to find Schillinger's other son as a favor to him.
Cut to Keller standing watching TV; Beecher approaches. Keller asks how the visit went and tells him he smells sexy. Beecher tells him it's his father's aftershave. Ew. He breaks it to Keller that he asked his father to find ol' Vern's son. Keller's hella pissed. Beecher tells him he just wants to stop living every day in fear, that sometimes he just wants to wipe away the past and everything he's done to hurt people, and maybe this is the way to do that. He basically wants to atone for killing Andrew, Schillinger's son. Keller tells him, "Oz didn't make you a bitch; you were born one." Yeah, I totally relate to that. I know I've honed my God given gift since birth. Anyway, a fight ensues between the two lovers. Ooooh! Catfight. Beecher pops Keller in the face. Keller is choking Beecher. They get broken up; Beecher's taken to solitary. Naked. Yeah.
Back to Augustus rambling about crime and punishment. Blah blah b-l-a-h. , we see on the news that Shirley Bellinger is returning to Oz after miscarrying under suspicious circumstances. The governor revoked her pardon and now she's back on death row. Serial Mom wants her old cell back and despite offering sexual favors to the guy who is in her old cell, she's getting nowhere (the guy doesn't like girls that way). She then introduces herself to the other inmate, who also seems to hate her. Then she tries Moses. They have meaningless dialogue about how Moses got into Oz; he murdered his lover and her husband because he's got "principles." Uh-huh. Cut to scene in which Governor Devlin's campaign manager is asking Glynn if he'd be interested in running as Devlin's lieutenant governor. Apparently, Frank Feely has cancer, so he won't be re-running with Devlin.
McManus gets the update on where Whittlesey is from Pepa from Salt 'n' Pepa; Whittlesey was due back from vacation that day, but she didn't show up for her shift. He tells Pepa to have Diane call him. We are treated to a flashback of him asking Diane to try "it" with him again.
Sister Pete tells McManus that she talked to Diane, who is still in London and is getting married to a guard she met in front of Buckingham Palace. At first McManus thinks she's joking, and when it becomes clear that she isn't, he doesn't take it well. Sister Pete regards him calmly and waits. He freaks out. But wait, there's more! Diane doesn't want to talk to McManus, and Sister backs her up on that. She reminds him that Diane's had a tough time of it in the past and deserves to be happy. He ponders this. She offers him support, and he pulls out a bottle of whiskey. Good idea. Let's drink together.
Cut to Wangler asking Adebesi if he still has the gun. Okay, time out. What's up with that hat on his head? Did Wile E. Coyote drop a boulder on his head, causing one of those huge lumps, and he hooks the hat on it? Is it a tumor? A little friend in hiding? I need to know. HOW DOES IT STAY ON HIS HEAD? Adebesi tells Wangler he's biding his time and waiting for the appropriate opportunity. If he uses the gun, he'll end up in solitary or death row. He has plans, and he reminds Wangler that they need a black man running Emerald City. Wangler looks confused and says he doesn't understand. Adebesi says, "Of course you don't." Cut to Glynn telling McManus that Adebesi requested to be transferred back to his section. He wants to oblige Adebesi, since his goal is to keep the racial waters calm.
Cut to said transfer taking place. Adebesi and Wangler slap five with various inmates they know. Once inside their pod, Adebesi shows Wangler the gun. Wangler wants a closer look, but Adebesi stuffs it down his pants and says, "Come and get it." Ew.
Now we see Augustus being introduced to Mobay, his new pod-mate. He's suspicious of him right away and questions him about where he's from. Mobay asks him if he's writing his life story. Cut to Chucky questioning his own new pod-mate and having about as much luck. Then we find out that Mobay will be working in the warden's office because he's got all kinds of crazy skills. He'll also be in rehab for his drug habit. When Mobay meets with Glynn, we find out that -- ooooh! Mobay is working undercover as a drug detective. Since the last one was executed, the warden wants to keep a close eye on Mobay so he doesn't meet the same fate. Mobay's plan is to try to make nice with the bad guys. Good plan, Mobay.
He immediately approaches Augustus, who, having half a damn brain, gets suspicious that Mobay Dick is all nice to him. Mobay asks him for drugs. Hill tells him he don't do no drugs anymore. Mobay asks where he can score some, and Hill tells him to just "stand still." Wangler, who seems to have overheard, beckons Mobay over and gives him some blow. And not the usual "prison" kind. Mobay pretends to sniff it up. They watch him do it. Satisfied, they walk away. He flushes it.
Cut to a new inmate on a cell phone with someone, explaining that he plans to appeal. Yeah, you and everyone else, buddy. He is approached by Stanislofsky, who tells him that cell phones aren't allowed in Oz and that he'll kindly dispose of it for him. The idiot thanks him. Stanislofsky leaves. Then he places a call. Says something in Russian. Please let this be over soon. The significance of this scene is totally escaping me. Now we see a flashback of someone smashing sculptures in a gallery. It's a French guy named Guillaume. Wangler approaches Frenchy and orders him to offer his shoes to him. This can't be good for racial tension. After some back and forth, Frenchy gives up the shoes.
Later, we see poor Frenchy crying to McManus. It's actually pretty pitiful. He's totally got tears running down his face and he just seems so beaten down. Damn you, Wangler! I seriously want to hug the guy. McManus tells him it's basically his word against Wangler's, and suggests that he write his family and have them send him another pair. Poor Frenchy says it's no use since Wangler will just steal those too, and he gives a big snuffle into his tissue. I'm telling you, I can't watch this. He's breaking my heart. I want to buy him all the shoes he wants. Poor little Frenchy. McManus confides that he doesn't like Wangler and his buddies either, so if Frenchy wants to help McManus hang them out to dry he should let him know, but until then he should wear slippers from the infirmary. Aw.
In the gym, Wangler the big damn bully makes Frenchy play one-on-one basketball with him, and proceeds to beat him up during the game. Frenchy falls down a lot. Afterwards, while Frenchy's lying there, Wangler does his best Mars Blackmon and says, "Must be the shoes." Bastard.
Ryan tells McManus that he should transfer Frenchy out of Emerald City. He later helps Frenchy by giving him a joint, and tells him to stand up to Wangler and his crew, and should the opportunity present itself, grab it, 'cause he won't get a second chance, blah blah. Cut to Ryan talking to "Little Hat" Adebisi. Cut to Cyril sitting forlornly in his pod. I smell building tension; the end of the show must be getting close. Frenchy finds a gun sitting on his bed, which he shoves under his pillow. Little Hat looks on in the other pod. Wonder who put the gun there.
The day. Frenchy gets a package -- probably shoes. Wangler walks over to begin picking on him, and Frenchy warns him to back off while backing up to the stairs. Wangler incredulously asks Frenchy if he's trying to stand up to him. Frenchy pulls the gun on Wangler and starts shooting; he hits Wangler, then shoots again and hits Poet. Then a guard is hit, and finally Keller, who falls to the ground swearing. The SWAT team closes in on Frenchy, who is now at the top of the stairs, so poor Frenchy turns the gun and puts it in his mouth in slo-mo, and we see the blood splatter against the walls of Little Hat's pod. Whew! Viva la France. And that's the end of the first show of this season. I'm gonna go take a scalding hot shower and recover while pondering my secret new love for Ryan.