Planning to binge-watch OITNB? Here's a recap of where season 5 begins

In case you missed the news, something epic just happened. No, not the election. Season five of Netflix's Orange Is The New Black dropped on Friday 9 June.

The first trailer promised us things were, "about to get real”, and we're totally ready for it. But before you start watching, we thought we'd give you a run down of where things are at in Litchfield. You know, just in preparation.

Where do we even begin?

Let’s start with the good news: Jenji Kohan, the show’s creator, has confirmed that the show has been renewed for another three seasons.

* SHRIEK *

It’s been almost exactly a year since we spent the weekend binging on the fourth, and most divisive, season yet of OITNB.

From continuing to address Sophia’s struggles with being a trans inmate, the tragic mental health storyline which saw Lolly being shipped off to ‘psych’, and the incredibly timely plot showing a rise in racial segregation between the Litchfield inmates, Kohan succeeded in ending season four leaving us wanting more.

It had references to Nazism and white supremacy, and nods to the Black Lives Matter movement. And fans let out a collective 'how could they?' as we witnessed the haunting death of one of our faves - Poussey - something we’ve still not been able to get over.

So where are we at going into season five, and what can we tell from the two trailers that were released ahead of the series?

Well, for those who need a quick reminder, when we last saw the inmates of Litchfield they were surrounding a determined-looking Daya gripping a gun, egging her on to shoot prison guard Humphrey as revenge for what happened to Poussey.

And it seems this is exactly where we will find them at the beginning of season five.

The first trailer continued on from this moment seamlessly, as if we haven’t had to wait a whole agonising year.

We see Alex and Piper intent on “staying out of trouble” as they rapidly scuttle away from Daya, who is still encircled by her screaming inmates.

Humphrey is still alive, but at the end of the short clip, he might not be as the sound of a gun being fired is heard.

Will a guard have paid the price for the rising tensions and overcrowding? Was it Daya who fired the gun? Or, will she - who, let's admit it, has had a pretty tough time in prison (impregnated by a guard who then left her in the lurch, having to then give up her baby and of course the ongoing dramas with her mum, Aleida - who, up until recently was in Litchfield with her), have the gun removed from her by brute force? Will the gunshot have come from an entirely unexpected person?

We had all the questions. But the tease continued until the second trailer dropped in April.

"If we want to turn this place right, we have to speak as one united group," Maria says.

There's a brief sighting of Daya (implying she hasn't been sent to "max" for shooting anybody), there's inspirational speeches a-plenty, there's Nicky and Morello giggling together, there's even Crazy Eyes summoning a mighty spirit.

But one thing we're guessing is that we might finally see the fractured inmates of Litchfield come together as an empowered, unified, group of women.

Already confirmed - thanks to a slip-up at the SAG Awards by Danielle Brooks, who plays Taystee - is that this season will span only three days, with each episode playing out in real-time.

Now all the questions this raises in our heads can finally be answered.

Like, what about celebrity-chef-turned-inmate, Judy King? Will she stick around to see how this all plays out? Will matriarch Red be able to keep control of her group? Most importantly, just what could happen to unite the segregated inmates?

If you want to tease yourself a little more before you start watching, take a peak at the images of the new series Netflix released along with the first trailer.

Netflix

Netflix

Netflix

Netflix

Netflix

Netflix

Netflix

See you on the other side of the binge-fest.