Orange is the New Black: The 21 craziest moments thus far

Vee gives Litchfield the Charlie Manson treatment

In Season 2, we’re introduced to a new inmate: Yvonne “Vee” Parker. Not much is known about her, but in spite of that she captures her audience with charisma and a deep social intuition. It seems that she can look into any person’s eyes and get to the heart of their problems. She has a warm, maternal demeanor and honestly I was enamored with her from the outset. To date, I think Vee is one of the most comprehensive villains on the show because she draws us in, and manipulates her victims effortlessly, and in turn does the same to us, her audience.

Upon intake, Vee carefully and gracefully asserts herself as the “mother” of one of the prison cliques. She does this by befriending Suzanne “Crazy Eyes” Warren and Poussey Washington and subtly exploits their insecurities. Although she masquerades as everyone’s greatest ally, she runs the prison like a dictatorship. She proves herself to be very dangerous in how she takes advantage of someone like Crazy Eyes and gives them the power to do bad things. Just like Charles Manson, she never wields the sword, everyone wields it on her behalf.

Everything about Vee was Shakespearean, even her death. Some of the best writing on this show was in season 2, revolving around Vee. Lorraine Toussaint’s impeccable acting really brought out the danger and complexity that embodied Vee’s character.