10/23 Red from OITNB

“The second you’re perceived as weak, you already are.”

-Red

For those that haven’t seen the hit Netflix series Orange is the New Black, all you have to know is that the character Red is a badass. Red, a Russian immigrant, landed herself in Litchfield’s Penitentiary by getting involved with the Russian mafia all while running her husband’s restaurant. But Red’s time in prison doesn’t take away her strong nature or her power-hungry style. Red starts her time in Litchfield at the top of the food chain-literally. Once she’s in Litchfield, she quickly rises to the position as head chef and has immediate respect from everyone. And if they don't respect her, they fear her. 

Red makes it known that she is not one to mess with. Piper, the main character of the show, insulted Red’s cooking on her first day in Litchfield, and quickly regretted it. One will never forget the time that Red served Piper a bloody tampon for lunch and then continued the warm welcome by starving her for a week. Like I said, you don’t cross Red.

Not only is Red fierce, but she is also very loving to those that are loyal to her. There are a few inmates that Red looks over and cares for as if they were her own. She refers to these women as her family and sometimes as her children. This shows Red’s hidden “softer” side along with many mother-like qualities.

As the show progresses though, Red spirals downhill. Spoilers- She is demoted from her position as head chef, she’s almost beaten to death by a fellow inmate, and loses many of her friends. Red quickly went from holding all of the power at Litchfield to holding none.

(Red in the hospital after her downfall)

Red soon finds herself feeling alone and far from her normal strong-willed personality. This is not true to Red’s character though, and she devises a plan to make her way back to the top in Litchfield. Red takes a liking to Healy, one of the officers in the prison, and boosts up his ego by making him feel noticed and loved. This relationship is what helped drive Red back to her natural self. Red was appointed head chef once again and mends most of her relationships with her prison family. By the end of Season 3, the last season aired on Netflix, Red was making her way back to becoming the badass that she is.

The woman who plays Red in the show, Kate Mulgrew, embodies Red’s fierce attitude and describes it in an interview she has with Vulture. She said, “Once you know you're locked up and you can't get out, I think something happens. The people who manage to hold onto their soul, their spine, their mettle, are very unique, because prison is intended to strip you of your singularity. This is what Red will not allow to be taken from her. She would rather die than be other than who she truly is.” 

Red is one of the strongest characters in Orange is the New Black. What makes her strong is her hard-core personality and her loyalty to other characters in the show. Whether she plays the role as head chef, caring mother, or manipulative genius, Red always makes it a point to stand tall and be noticed. If you haven’t seen the show, Red’s powerful female lead character should be a driving force enough to open up Netflix and start watching now.

Fair warning though…you might not be able to close your laptop until you finish all three seasons.