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Orange Is the New Black: Everything You Need to Know About Season 4

Where we left off and what's ahead

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Sadie Gennis

It's finally time! After a too-long hiatus, Orange Is the New Blackis back on Friday, June 17. But with so many of the show's secrets kept tightly under wraps, most fans know very little about what to expect of the show's anticipated return.

That's where we come in.

Here's everything you need to know about Orange's fourth season, including some much-needed refreshers on where Season 3 left off:

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JoJo Whilden/Netflix

Taystee, Poussey, Black Cindy and Crazy Eyes
Where we left off:
Black Cindy (Adrienne C. Moore) officially converted to Judaism, taking on the name Tova. Suzanne's (Uza Aduba) erotic novel The Time Hump Chronicles helped bring her closer to Kukudio (Emily Althaus). After Poussey (Samira Wiley) saved Soso (Kimiko Glenn) from her suicide attempt, the pair realized they had feelings for each other.

What's next: Taystee (Danielle Brooks) gets a job as Caputo's (Nick Sandow) secretary, a position which gives her far more privileges than the new warden ever intended. Poussey is thrilled to discover that Judy King (Blair Brown), her favorite celebrity chef, is one of the newest inmates at Litchfield, but Judy proves to be far more cunning than initially meets the eye. And while Poussey and Soso's relationship continues to flourish, Crazy Eyes and Kukudio's relationship quickly takes a turn for the worse. Taystee's family also welcomes a new member, Abdullah, a Muslim woman who initially clashes with her Jewish bunkmate Cindy Tova.

Orange Is the New Black is better than ever in Season 4

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JoJo Whilden/Netflix

Sophia
Where we left off:
After Gloria (Selenis Leyva) blamed Sophia's (Laverne Cox) son for being a bad influence on hers, their friendship turned sour, leading Aleida (Elizabeth Rodriguez) to spread cruel and transphobic rumors about Sophia. As tensions reached their apex, Sophia was violently assaulted by a group of inmates and placed in SHU for "her own protection."

What's next: Orange Is the New Black has never shied away from the injustices transgender inmates face, but nothing can prepare you for Sophia's devastating storyline this season. Her strength will be tested like never before and as her situation worsens, it will expose who her true friends are.

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JoJo Whilden/Netflix

Red, Nicky, Morello and Norma
Where we left off:
Nicky (Natasha Lyonne) and Luschek (Matt Peters) teamed up to sell Vee's (Lorraine Toussaint) heroin stash. But when Caputo found some of it, Luschek threw Nicky under the bus and she was taken to Max. With Nicky gone, Morello (Yael Stone) began searching for her a new romantic partner. She found one in Vinnie, whom she married in a prison ceremony. As Healy's (Michael Harney) relationship with his wife fell apart, he began to develop feelings for Red (Kate Mulgrew), which she didn't indulge. Norma (Annie Golden) briefly defected to lead her own religious movement, but returned to Red once she realized she wasn't a good influence over her followers.

What's next: Morello is forced to face reality - and all her bad habits - as she tries to keep up a healthy marriage from behind bars. Red's devotion to her children, Alex (Laura Prepon) included, is tested when she's forced to deal with the fallout of their bad decisions. Luschek proves he has a heart after all, and does what little he can to make up for getting Nicky sent away.

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JoJo/Whilden

Alex and Piper
Where we left off:
Alex became convinced that Kubra had sent someone to Litchfield to kill her. Annoyed by Alex's paranoia, Piper (Taylor Schilling) began cheating on her with Stella (Ruby Rose). In the end, it was revealed that Alex was right when she was cornered by a C.O. intent on murdering her. After Stella stole all the money Piper made from her used panty empire, Piper planted contraband in her bunk and got Stella sent to Max.

What's next: Although a surprising alliance saves her from the assassination attempt, Alex struggles with the consequences of what she has to do to survive. As for Piper, her grandiose sense of self-worth takes a major hit when her quest for power quickly spirals out of control. She soon finds herself facing off with Maria (Jessica Pimentel), and winds up in the most dangerous situation she's faced since stepping through Litchfield's doors.

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JoJo Whilden/Netflix

Pennsatucky and Big Boo
Where we left off:
Pennsatucky (Taryn Manning) was raped by Coates (James McMenamin), the C.O. who accompanied her on van duty. Big Boo (Lea DeLaria) wanted her to get revenge by sodomizing Coates, but Pennsatucky decided not to go through with it. In order to get out of van duty with him, Pennsatucky faked a seizure and crashed the vehicle.

What's next: Orange continues to explore how rape survivors heal by following Pennsatucky's process closely this season. And while Boo was there for her every step of the way last year, the friends will struggle to reconcile their opposing views on how Pennsatucky should deal with her trauma - and Coates - going forward.

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JoJo Whilden/Netflix

Gloria, Daya, Aleida, Maritza, Flaca, Maria and Blanca
Where we left off:
Bennett (Matt McGorry) abandoned Daya (Dascha Polanco) before their child was born and the baby went to live with Cesar. However, the DEA arrested Cesar and took the child away. After Pennsatucky's "seizure," Maritza (Diane Guerrero) was assigned van duty with Coates. Gloria was devastated by what happened to Sophia, but did nothing to stop it.

What's next: The influx of new Latina inmates shifts the balance of power, and Maria is only too happy to help take charge. Maritza's van job means she's now facing danger from two sides: one, from a former friend, and the other, from a sadistic C.O. Meanwhile, Daya and Aleida's lives each hit turning points that could make or break all their future ambitions. Viewers will also get their first glimpses at Maritza and Blanca's (Laura Gomez) pasts, the latter of whom is revealed to be far tougher than you'd ever guess.

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JoJo Whilden/Netflix

Caputo and the Guards
Where we left off:
Caputo and Danny (Mike Birbiglia) teamed up to confront Danny's father about keeping Sophia in SHU, but he wouldn't listen. Danny quit and Caputo wound up promoted to warden. Furious over Caputo's betrayal, the C.O.s staged a walkout just as the inmates escaped to the lake and as a bus filled with new inmates arrived.

What's next: With the staff seriously depleted, MCC hires new C.O.'s who have zero concerns regarding the inmates' wellfare. So while the women continue to squabble between each other, hating one of the new C.O.'s, Piscatella, is about the only thing they can all agree on. Meanwhile, Caputo continues to struggle balancing his ambition with what his bosses (and new girlfriend) want him to do. And just when you think you understand Caputo's moral compass, he does something to make you question everything.

Orange Is the New Black returns Friday, June 17 on Netflix.