"The Gay One"

In essentially the first real scene of the series, we the viewer are physically brought into the prison and right up to the man who will become the main character and audience stand-in of the series. His head is down in shame, but suddenly he looks up and sees his surroundings, a realization by exposure, rapid because there’s no time to waste.

Beecher, a clean shaven, nerdy looking white man in a suit, is nothing like the popular american concept of a criminal. But as the camera rolls to show men who gradually more suit that racist stereotype, culminating in a shanking, Hill narrates that prison is all about caging a man up with “his own kind.” Maybe Beecher isn’t all that different after all.

Alvarez, having been stabbed in the abdomen, crawls forward and grabs onto Beecher’s leg for aid. But instead of helping him, Beecher is too preoccupied with watching the prison gates close, lunging forward and screaming while the viewer watches from above, like a merciless god…

Miscellaneous

Total 90’s-flashback-style intro. I’m always surprised by how long it is, as well as delightfully surprised by the guttural yell it starts off with. And that tattoo interspersed?

That’s the showrunner’s, Tom Fontana :)

On a similar note, I’m enamored with early Oz’s willingness to tilt the camera and get right in the actor’s faces. It really emphasizes that Oz is a weird world where the laws of “civilization” don’t apply, one that demands the exposure of every weakness.

I didn’t notice it was Alvarez who got shanked!

The guards’ willingness to abuse the prisoners is set up early, as is their contentious relationship with McManus. Beatings are nothing to be horrified by, and when they are, it’s accepted with something resembling a “boys will be boys” attitude.

Haha I love how McManus is called Timmy in this episode and has those dumb little glasses

More on McManus- it’s interesting how idealistic he is, how much he wants to rehabilitate and release, but also how you can see his ego and want for control behind the cracks. Controlling visits, and regulating who is in Em City to make a perfect microcosm of the larger world, are just part of what develop into a bigger trend for McManus.

Beecher looks so innocent in these first scenes, he must have made such an easy mark for Schillinger.

Knowing what happens later did put me on the lookout on signs from Markstrom. Interesting that basically his first action is to establish insider status with Keane through the hand sign.

I know it’s 1997, but Billie’s portrayal of a gay man in the episode did make me cringe :/

Really goes to show you how the deprivation of cigarettes is the seed of the first concerted violent effort in Oz. It’s almost like depriving people of their humanity has consequences lol.

Hill is my favorite character in this goddamn show full of good characters. Literally love him.

Adebisi’s introduction is so good. He’s a hedonist off the bat, unconcerned with who he has to hurt to get what he wants, a pervert who delights in scaring people. And poor Beecher never even stood a chance, he’s so eager to trust anyone in this place, even a man he just met. Another thing I like about this show- it’s unafraid to show desperation, and unafraid to show what rape is and does to a person. I don’t think i’ve ever seen anything like it before.

Every time I see this specific shot, all i can think is “protected from mayhem. Like me.”

Glynn and McManus are so afraid of the persuasive power of Saïd, and I totally get it. His willingness to self-sacrifice, his way of speaking, his smile. He could totally convert me.

Vern is such an immature ass.

Omg Ryan in his orange undies and Ryan creating murder plots. This guy is so funny and crazy. And Ryan and Dino both being into Gloria? I mean, who wouldn’t be, but very interesting from two very different people.

That cockroach, man. Am hyped to see it get released.

Oz by the Numbers:

Deaths-6

Introductions-3