What makes a relationship special or toxic? For the cast of Orange is the New Black, that's a question the writers have tried to answer for seven seasons. Daya and Aleida should have been closer than they were but their differences drove them apart. Look at what happened to Taystee and Cindy as years of their relationship were thrown away so easily.
At one point, Frieda and Red were super close but even their relationship took a drastic turn. Piper and Larry were a sure bet in the beginning until Alex got her paws back into Piper. Throughout seven seasons, OITNB gave valuable life lessons in terms of friendship and romance.
Doggett and Coates
Their relationship was a secret and it had to be as an inmate and officer relationship was forbidden. Both came off as strange characters. Doggett felt comfortable around Coates and was able to let her hair down and just be herself. But Coates was not the most stable person to be around.
He had his own demons and once they surfaced, he took advantage of Tiffany in the most despicable way. Coates forced himself on Doggett and while he tried to make amends by helping her escape, this relationship was one of the worst on the show with its sudden change of direction.
Daya and Aleida
Toxic is the only way to describe the relationship between Daya and Aleida. As a mother, Aleida was not going to win any Mother of the Year Awards anytime soon. As a daughter, Daya would not let her forget the mistakes that were made. Viewers got a good glimpse into their past in Season 7 and it all made sense why Daya treats Aleida the way she did.
Aleida just couldn't stay out of trouble. She wanted to protect her daughter in the beginning but Daya had plans of her own. The shooting changed Daya. Aleida came back to prison and the relationship just began to crumble even more to the point where they ended as enemies.
Piper and Larry
The original relationship for Orange is the New Black began with sympathy but ended with question marks. Was Piper really happy with Larry or was she just going through the motions? Larry is square compared to some of the other men on the show but in a sense, so is Piper when it comes to the other women.
Fans could tell that it was doomed from the start as there was no real chemistry between the two. Once Piper was released, she made a move on Larry but Larry had already moved on with Piper's best friend.
Poussey and SoSo
This is one that needed to happen. But what didn't need to happen was how they were separated. Poussey, one of the fan favorites of the show was in seek of something and someone to help ease her time. She found books but then stumbled across the very odd SoSo.
Brook was annoying in the beginning but the feelings between the two were genuine. While others didn't understand it at first, the rest of the prisoners and most importantly, Posssey's friends accepted SoSo along with their friend's happiness.
Caputo and Natalie
Pure entertainment here. Caputo and Natalie gave fans a glance into their strange affair turned relationship. What started out as something casual, turned into something fans rooted for. Both characters are set in their ways and can be a bit over the top but that's what works for them.
Their union was not on heavy display but it was great to see them go from casual sex buddies to a couple willing to try for kids then adopt. They more than made a good impression in the final season.
Marisol and Maritza
Not every relationship has to be sexual. What Maritza and Marisol shared was a sisterhood that the writers tried to spread throughout the show's run. It was clear from the start that these two were meant to be.
They worked well together and could often finish each other's sentences. They were comic relief with their play-by-play of the prison and their off-the-wall fashion sense. Viewers were heartbroken when the pair was split up for good.
Lorna and Nicky
This pairing didn't make much sense but by the end, it was better understood. Nicky, the prison spokesperson for drugs was just coasting her way through the time she had to do and Litchfield Prison. Lorna was a dreamer and wanted more than anything to have a family.
Nicky often took advantage of that and the two shared an occasional hook up here and there. But their relationship was strange in the fact that they could switch gears so easily. One day they were romantic and the next best of friends. It was the best of both worlds for Nicky.
Taystee and Cindy
Taystee and Cindy were part of a family in prison but the two of them still shared a special bond apart from the others. They were as tight as Marisol and Maritza but it was their upbringing and experiences that drew them more together than anything. Taystee was the leader and Cindy was like her right-hand. But nothing lasts forever.
To see them go their separate ways was heartbreaking enough as Taystee was on trial for her life but felt that Cindy should have done more to help her. In the end, their relationship was forever lost as Taystee dealt the final blow and did her best to destroy Cindy and her family.
Nicky and Red
Nicky and Red shared what can be described as a typical mother and daughter relationship in Orange is the New Black. Nicky was the wild one that Red felt she needed to take under her wings. Red was the mother that Nicky yearned for in and out of prison. To some, their union was odd but it was needed and appreciated. Red was tough on Nicky due to Nicky taking everything as a joke.
In the final season, it was Red who needed Nicky more. The tables had turned and despite Red wanting to give up on Nicky, Nicky still found a way to be there when Red needed her.
Alex and Piper
What wasn't supposed to be, became. Alex and Piper set the standard for relationships on Orange Is The New Black with their classic back and forth, struggle for power, arguments, fights, breakups, and makeups. It was classic comedy but it was classic relationship material as well.
Piper was the square while Alex portrayed the role of the tough one. Separately, they were two strange characters but together, they added spice to each other's lives. In the end, it appeared they were doomed but Piper decided to hold on to what they had as a married couple.