Orange Is The New Black: Season 7: Ending Explained Breakdown

Orange Is The New Black has just wrapped up its final season on Netflix.

The send-off is a bittersweet one and throughout this, I’ll be breaking down everything that you need to know about the finale as well as giving my thoughts on it.

There will be heavy spoilers here so if you haven’t had a chance to watch the seventh season yet then I highly suggest that you turn off now. With that out the way, I just wanna give a huge thank you for clicking this video now let’s get into my Ending Explained Breakdown Of Orange Is The New Black.

OITNB Season 7 Recap

Orange is the new black arguably had one of the most complex final seasons of a show ever and throughout there was a lot of ups and downs, especially in the show’s finale that wrapped up pretty much all of the loose ends and gave closure to our favorite characters.

The opening packed a huge punch with us seeing Tiffany being taken out of the prison once and for all in a bodybag. Tiffany has been a fan favorite to the start and this iconic image let you know instantly that this finale was going to have several gut punches throughout.

Taystee Finds Purpose

One of the major ones comes with Taystee who is unable to clear her name after being framed for murder. Though she is initially suicidal, she finds a reason to live after becoming a lecturer in the prison and she inspires and drives many to go on and get their diplomas which gives her a purpose to live.

This hopeful aesthetic is throughout the season and the finale is as much about losing hope as it is finding it once more through discovering a new purpose. Nicky goes on a journey and ends up helping detainees contact their loved ones on the outside to show that they have hope that there will be more to life one day than simply being locked up.

Piper And Alex Find A New Hope

This is also mirrored with Piper and Alex who’s relationship struggles due to the fact that Alex is transferred. Piper, who, managed to get out on early release finds her newfound freedom difficult to deal with due to the fact she has been institutionalized and Season Seven was about her coming to terms with the fact that order often kept her in line and without it she feels unable to truly live the life she wishes to.

Alex tells Piper to move on with her life and though it seems like she may, the season shows that they have rekindled their relationship when Piper visits her once more to show that she has found hope that after all this is over the two can be together.

This is probably the highlight of the entire show and it cements that these characters, no matter how bleak it gets always have an opportunity right around the corner that will give them a reason to live and go on. Even Warden Ward who is fired in the very last episode still is presented with something new that could perhaps change the way that she values life and thus Season 7 is as much about reform as it is a rebirth.

Blanca Finds Love

Blanca also represents this as she is able to overturn her initial conviction and becomes a free woman after suffering for years at the hands of incarceration.

She flies to Mexico to reunite with the love of her life and it’s the perfect happy ending that pretty much feels like she’s gone off into the sunset to begin something special. Relationships have always made up the foundation of the show and Monica who is reunited with her mother Cindy shows that we can grow together as one no matter the barriers that are put between us as long as the love is there.

Even Karla who perhaps has one of the most devastating turns in the finale still, deep down, has the hope that out there is something for her and she will be able to go on due to the opportunity that could one day present itself.

This to me summarises the true meaning of the show and pretty much highlights the real subtext to it. Life is all about pushing forward and though it will throw challenges our way, there will always be the hope that one day we will overcome them either by ourselves or together with someone else.

OITNB Season 7 Review

It’s a really touching send off and overall the piece shows that though we may be separated eventually we will all come together in one form or another to find happiness no matter how dark things ahead look.

It’s one of the main reasons that I think Season Seven truly is classic and Orange Is The New Black goes out on a memorable note that is the perfect example of why it’s one of Netflix’s most popular programs.

At one point this was a flagship show for the platform and it’s safe to say that it will be remembered as a great piece of television due to its consistency and overall message.

Orange will forever be the new Black and even though life is full of tragedy there will always be a hope of happiness one day.

Your Thoughts

And that’s my summary of the final season of Orange Is The New Black. Obviously I’d love to hear your thoughts on the finale and if you agree with me or have a completely different take. Comment below and let me know!