You remember that feeling when Brook Soso first walked into Litchfield? Most of us groaned. Seriously. She was loud, she wouldn't stop talking about her "activism," and she basically acted like she was at a summer camp for social justice warriors rather than a federal prison. She was the personification of "too much."
But looking back at orange is the new black soso, she actually has one of the most heartbreaking and realistic arcs in the entire show. She wasn't just some annoying hippie. She was a deeply lonely girl who used words as a shield, and by the time the series ended, she was a ghost of her former self.
The "Annoying" Activist: Why Soso Was Cast as the New Piper
When Kimiko Glenn joined the cast in season two, Brook Soso was clearly designed to be a mirror for Piper Chapman. Think about it. Both were young, relatively privileged, and totally out of their element. But while Piper eventually leaned into the darkness to survive, Soso tried to fight the system with hunger strikes and "passive resistance."
It didn't work.
Honestly, the scene where she’s forced into the shower because she refuses to wash—claiming it's a protest against prison conditions—is hard to watch. She’s crying, she’s being carried like a child, and the reality of her situation finally starts to sink in. She wasn't a hero. She was just a girl in a beige jumpsuit who smelled bad and had no friends.
Most inmates couldn't stand her. They called her "babbling Brook." Even the "nice" characters found her exhausting. This isolation is what drove her toward a spiraling depression that many viewers didn't see coming because they were too busy being annoyed by her chatter.
The Turning Point: Depression and That Benadryl Scene
By season three, the "bright-eyed" version of Soso was gone. She was desperate. She tried to join Norma’s cult just to feel a sense of belonging, but even there, she was pushed to the fringes. When she eventually attempted suicide by overdosing on Benadryl in the library, it was a massive wake-up call for the audience.
It was also the moment she finally found her people.
Poussey Washington was the one who found her. Along with Taystee and Suzanne, they saved her life and, more importantly, they accepted her. They didn't just tolerate her; they brought her into the fold. This leads into what many fans consider the only "pure" romance in the show’s history.
Poussey and Soso: A Love Story Cut Short
The relationship between Poussey and orange is the new black soso changed everything. For the first time, Soso wasn't performing. She didn't have to be the "activist" or the "outcast." She just got to be Brook.
Their chemistry was incredible. It wasn't perfect, though. Soso had a lot of internal growth to do, especially regarding her own prejudices. Remember when she tried to impress Judy King by lying about Poussey’s background, making her sound like a "hood" stereotype? That was a low point. But Poussey called her out, and Soso actually listened. She grew.
Then, the cafeteria scene happened.
Watching Soso's face when Poussey was killed by CO Bayley is a core memory for anyone who finished season four. The way she spiraled afterward—getting drunk on Poussey’s hidden hooch and trying to build a memorial library—showed a level of grief that felt incredibly raw. She didn't just lose a girlfriend; she lost the only person who ever truly heard her.
What Happened to Soso in the End?
A lot of people forget that Soso wasn't in the final seasons as much. After the riot in season five, she was transferred to a maximum-security prison in Ohio. We didn't see her for a long time.
In the series finale, we get one last glimpse. She’s in the yard at the Ohio facility. She looks... different. Harder. But she’s still Soso. She’s seen interacting with Kasey Sankey, the former white supremacist inmate. It’s a weirdly poetic moment. Soso is reciting a haiku she wrote about Poussey, and Sankey is actually listening.
It’s a small hint that even in a new, harsher environment, Soso found a way to keep Poussey’s memory alive and, perhaps, find a new kind of connection.
Why Soso’s Legacy Matters
Brook Soso was the show's way of exploring how prison breaks the "unbreakable" spirit. She went from a girl who lived in a tree to save the environment to a woman who just wanted to survive the day without drowning in her own sadness.
If you're revisiting the show, look past the "annoying" dialogue in her early episodes. Look at the way she watches people. Look at how much she desperately wants to be liked.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you want to dive deeper into the character of Brook Soso, here is what you should do:
- Watch Season 4, Episode 3: This is the "I like people, not genders" episode. It’s one of the best looks at Soso’s fluid identity and her desire to be defined by more than just labels.
- Pay attention to the Library scenes: The library was Soso's sanctuary and her prison. It's where she tried to die, where she fell in love, and where she built a monument to Poussey.
- Follow Kimiko Glenn: The actress has been very vocal about the "lower vibration" she had to maintain to play Soso during the later seasons. Her interviews give a lot of insight into the mental toll the character’s depression took on her.
Brook Soso wasn't the hero of Orange is the New Black, but she was arguably its most human character. She was flawed, she was loud, and she was lonely—just like most of us would be if we were thrown into a cage and told to fit in.