Vauseman Parallels Season 2 (SPOILERS)

We knew we would get few Piper and Alex scenes this season due to Laura Prepon’s other filming commitments (thank god she is back full time in season 3 because I missed her so much in season 2). I think on a whole people hoped for a couple more scenes than we got but most were pleased with quality of scenes. I certainly was. I did notice a lot of parallels between the scenes from season 2 and the Vauseman scenes in season 1. In some instances it may be a case of looking to hard but many were obvious and clearly filmed and written that way on purpose. So I thought I’d write about it (even though I really should be doing things other than obsessing over OITNB right now!).

The most obvious of these parallels was:

I Love You Flash Back 2x10 - I Heart You 1x11

They are lying in a bed together discussing a drama before sliding onto the topics of feelings (in 1x11 Piper asks Alex why she seems so inevitable to her and in 2x10 she asks Alex if she loved her former girlfriend). In both instances Alex responds by expressing her feelings towards Piper. In 2x10 she says ‘I love you’ says it first and then giggles nervously (she’s actually quite insecure) and encourages Piper to say it back…which she indeed does. In 1x11 Alex isn’t quite brave enough to say I love you so she sticks with ‘I heart you’. A sentiment that Piper mocks in good humour before repeating the same words. The kisses in both scenes are almost identical except this time Alex is to the left of the screen and not the right. In both instances she places her hand on Pipers cheek and the kiss is chaste but meaningful. In both scenes they look at each other with the same kind of wide eyes loved up expressions especially Piper’s whose facial expression after both kisses is identical.

I’m going to stick with the scenes from 2x10 for now. So…

Going Down Flash Back 2x10 - Get Over Here Flash Back 1x01

The venue for both scenes is the same (the bed in Alex’s apartment) and both scenes involve conversation peppered with caresses and kisses. In both scenes we have brazen physical sexual references (2x10 Alex emerges from the covers after going down on Piper and in 1x01 she shoves her hand in Piper’s underwear) and verbal references from Alex (2x10 'gone down on a woman before’ and in 1x01 'I want you to come and I want you to cum’). Although the season 2 scene is more adult rated the feel of the scenes are very similar with Alex being the confident, sexual and experienced one (Laura Prepon’s spider analogy of her character) with Piper the very willing and lustful victim. If you watch the scenes closely you can see a lot overlap with Alex’s light hearted and humorous prodding of Piper as well as the very specific way she smiles at Piper in both scenes. Also, how about this for an excellent bit on continuity…the pillow covers are the same in both scenes.

I Want to Taste What You Taste Like Flash Back 2x10 – Chapel Kiss 1x09

It may seem like there is little to compare here but if you ignore the sheer quantity of dialogue in the season 2 scene and the near lack of it in the season 1 scene and just focus on what is actually happening then things become apparent. In both scenes it is Piper not Alex (the normal aggressor) making clear moves. In 1x09 Piper does this despite the fact she is in a relationship and in 2x10 she does so despite the fact she knows Alex has a girlfriend. Larry is Piper’s fiancée and in the 2x10 flashback Piper tells Alex that if 'that’s her future wife out there’ then Alex can tell her to back off. A strange choice of wording.

Both scenes are Eureka moments in their relationship. In the season 2 flashbacks it’s basically the moment Alex chooses Piper over her 'complicated’ and failing relationship. In season 1 it is Piper choosing to renew a physical relationship with Alex which leads to an intense emotional relationship again. In both scenes the kiss blatantly leads to sex in an inappropriate/public location.

Onto 2x01 and it’s less obvious but existing parallels:

Through The Bars 2x01 – Laundry Room Dryer 1x08

Both scenes involve a physical barrier between the two women allowing them the confidence to be close, talk and reconnect after negative events and feelings. In 1x08 Alex is stuck in the industrial tumble dryer and they have the thin plastic door between them as the talk/rant about the anger that has built up inside the since splitting in Paris/reuniting in prison. In 2x01 they discuss Alex’s (lack of) anger towards Piper through the metal bars despite Alex telling Piper in 1x13 that she may never come to her with her needs and problems again. Yet there they are discussing Piper’s fear that she had killed Tucky. In both scenes Alex is the one isolated from the surrounding world whilst Piper is in an open laundry room (1x11) or dining hall (2x01). Finally, in both scenes Alex has crazy 'wig out’ moments. In 1x08 she starts beating the crap out of the dryer and in 2x01 she starts talking about losing it in solitary (and the roach).

Prison Wife 2x01 - Are You Cheating On Me and Larry with Crazy Eyes 1x11

Both scenes involve them talking about the concept of doing the right thing (against doing the easy thing) and take place with something putting a bit of distance between them. In 2x01 they are handcuffed on different sides of the van to each other and in 1x11 they have a table between them. In both instances it makes the conversation more impersonal than if they were alone and without scrutiny. In both scenes Alex jokes about their relationship, using humour to suggest her feelings. In 1x11 she asks Piper if she is cheating on her and Larry with Crazy eyes because there isn’t enough room for four of them in the relationship. The message is actually 'it’s already overcrowded enough for me with Larry included’. In 2x01 she retorts to Piper’s accusation that she is trying to emotionally blackmail her into doing something ('or what? We’re over?) with the quip 'No I want to be your prison wife’. Alex is hinting at the reality of the situation…if it was up to Alex they would never be over…that is always Piper’s decision. Of course the irony is in 1x11 Piper decides to do the right thing whilst Alex does nothing whereas in 2x01 Piper does the wrong thing and Alex does the right thing (because of the plea bargain? Because Piper told her too? Both?).

Pool Flashback 2x01 - Shower Flashback/Playing House Flash Back 1x06

Not many parallel’s exactly but it did make me think of the beginning of episode 1x01 when Piper is talking about her love of water and we see a flash of her and Alex all over each other in the shower. In 2x01 they are in a swimming pool together and it is a far less sexual scene but they are intimately draped all over each other. It also has a feel of the high life and extravagance we see Alex and Piper experiencing in the flashback of Alex’s party in 1x06 where she is drinking champagne from the bottle. Her immediate boss is also lingering around in both scenes. In the party scene we see one of Piper’s links to her previous life, her friend Polly, and in the pool flashback she speaks to her father on the phone.

What the Fuck Alex 2x01 - Fuck You Alex 1x12

Very minor comparison here but in both scenes we see Piper’s reaction to an Alex fuck up. In 1x12 its to the news that Alex had indeed sold her out to the feds. She reacts by pushing Alex aggressively and shouting at her, not allowing Alex the chance to explain until much later in the scene. In 2x01 Alex has clearly done the opposite of what Piper has expected her to do and Piper begins to yell at her aggressively (there are bars in the way) without Alex getting the chance to explain (until much later in the series) because her lawyer is dragging her away.

Another little nugget…the first time we here Piper say Fuck you to Alex in season 1 is when she is wearing the orange jump suit. The first time she says fuck you to Alex in season 2 she is in an orange jump suite.

I’m Skipping Town 2x13 - I Pick Him 1x13/50 Shades of Crazy Eyes 1x10

A lot of people will have picked on the parallels between the main Vauseman scenes from both season finales. They involve them sitting at a table and discussing their future…or lack of one. In season 1 it is Piper causing the heart break with her admission that after just getting Alex’s hopes up by talking about their future she has now chosen Larry instead. In season 2 It is Alex telling Piper that she is in danger and she has to skip bail and leave for good, leaving Piper forever. In 1x13 this leaves Alex very much alone and in 2x13 it leaves Piper alone now that Larry and Polly are playing house. In both scenes the person 'leaving’ says 'I love you’ but the person being left doesn’t say it back even though by their words it is implied.

In both scenes the other person’s reaction is on the unreasonable side. In 1x13 Alex rants about Piper never coming to her again with her problems and needs etc Later in the episode Alex turns Piper away because she is angry…this directly leads to Piper being very much alone when Tucky attacks her and therefore the end of season 1 drama. In 2x13 Piper selfishly tells Alex she can’t leave her despite the fact Alex is in a lot of danger. Later in the episode Piper makes sure Alex can’t leave by getting Polly to report her for breaking parole. This leads to the drama of Alex being caught with a gun by her Parole Officer at the end of season 2. Both scenes set up possible conflict between them for the next season.

There are also some parallels between the 2x13 scene and the scene in 1x10 when they are playing cards. Again they are sat across from one another at a table and despite the fact there should be lingering resentment between them they still manage to quip and make each other laugh. In 2x13 Piper admits that she is not angry but confused by Alex. In 1x10 that sentiment is matched by her admittance that it feels so normal for them to be smiling and laughing together, something she is obviously confused by. Both scenes highlight the point Alex makes in 1x10. That no matter what has happened you snap back to being important to each other because you are important. They are inevitable to each other come rain or shine.

A couple of random points…

The two heaviest Vauseman episodes of each season were episode’s named after Mendez (Pornestache). 1x11 Tall Men With Feelings (with the I heart you, the chapel hug etc) and 2x10 Little Mustachioed Shit (with a lot of the early relationship flashbacks including the I love you scene).

In both season we have an obligatory Piper and Polly girly chat about Alex flashback (with Polly not really approving). In season one that happens in the 1x06 flashback at Alex’s fancy party where Piper justifies her relationship with the announcement of her seven orgasms filled previous evening. In the 2x10 flashback Piper tells Polly that in dating Alex she feels she has finally discovered what sex is meant to be like (and by the look on her face its wonderful).

In season 1 Piper ignores Alex’s early olive branch attempts at communicating with her (saying hello at the end of episode 1, trying to sneak her food when red is starving Piper out, trying to get her to sit next to her at induction, ruining her yoga Zen etc) before Piper finally gives in. In season 2 Alex bombards Piper with letters even though she knows she probably won’t read them. When you see the pile of letters you can see the envelope’s are all different colours like she is hoping she might trick Piper on a day she isn’t really concentrating into reading one by mixing the style of envelopes up. Eventually Piper gives in and reads the latest letter.

In 2x01 Piper pretty much spells out her feelings for Alex in court in front of Larry’s father (her lawyer) who tells her after her statement that he is done with her. Larry tells Piper he is done with her after making her confess her feelings towards Alex over the phone in 1x11.

General observations…

Most actors/actresses look uncomfortable and awkward in sex scenes or scenes of a sexual nature. Laura Prepon on the other hand actually looks like she is having great fun which certainly adds to the authenticity of the scene. I’ve never seen anyone look quite so gleeful to be doing something prevocational on camera or so willing to cheerfully grope her acting partner at every available opportunity. Laura Prepon I salute you.

Taylor Schilling just looks thrilled to have Laura Prepon lying on top of her…which is fair enough really considering she’s being paid to be groped by one of the hottest women currently on television.

So that is all folks. If anyone can think of any others add them on :-)

vausemania

And here is the link to this other excellent article on my favourite OTP: http://darkshines1984.tumblr.com/post/88226909763/vauseman-parallels-season-2-spoilers