The essential episodes of Oz
Watch these 15 in order and you've got Oz — each pick states its reason.
- 01
In the 'Emerald City' experimental unit of Oswald State Penitentiary, we meet some of the diverse inmates who exist in a pecking order of Gangbangers, Latinos, Muslims, Westies, Aryans and Wiseguys.
- 02
A riot breaks out and frustration, sexuality, hate, revenge and racism all rear their ugly heads, causing the violence to escalate.
- 03
With their enmity at a boiling point, Adebisi poisons Schibetta--but not fatally. Now that his brother has turned himself in for murder, Glynn no longer owes Schibetta any favors.
- 04
Cyril O'Reily, Ryan's brother, is imprisoned and falls under Schillinger's control. Ryan tries to get him away into Em City, but Cyril winds up in the hole. El Cid tells Alvarez there's only way he can 'stay in the game.'
- 05
In the Season Three premiere, Beecher is still in the hospital after Schillinger and Keller broke his bones, Alvarez is still in solitary for blinding Rivera, Adebisi is back in the kitchen and McManus starts dating a newly arrived CO.
- 06
No one knows who killed Metzger. Meanwhile, McManus hires his friend Sean Murphy as a C.O. and he launches a boxing program. Hill faces a dilemma when a new inmate reveals a terrible crime. Adebisi sticks Nappa with an AIDS-infested hypodermic.
- 07
In the boxing program, O'Reily spikes Robson's spritzer bottle before his bout with Cyril. Rebadow's mother tries to persuade him to meet his son and grandson. Meanwhile, Nappa finds out he's HIV-positive and is moved to Cell Block E.
- 08
Wangler 'finds out' his wife and her lover were murdered execution-style. Meanwhile, Poet and Pierce get burned by Hernandez, Ricardo and Guerra. Lockdown ensues, and Wangler finds himself vulnerable--and in a cell with Adebisi.
- 09
Season Four premiere. The world of Oz--an experimental prison within a prison known as the Emerald City--reopens its doors with the inmates still on a 24-hour lockdown and prison officials struggling to end the hostilities.
- 10
Em City gets a new Unit Manager, Martin Querns, whose methods are hardly orthodox. Beecher's torment over his missing children is worsened when Schillinger presents him with an unexpected package. McManus returns to Oz in a new capacity.
- 11
As Querns implements his new course of action, the dynamics of Em City start to change, causing friction with Officer Murphy. Beecher falls deeper into depression as he wonders about the fate of his children.
- 12
In its fifth season premiere, Oz re-opens in the wake of major renovations that had to be completed following a gas explosion.
- 13
Tobias learns who killed his father before being released from prison. Cyril begins shock therapy while receiving an execution date. Said is allowed to start his own company.
- 14
New inmate Idzik faces his enemies and requests a transfer. Meanwhile, the Loewen case grows increasingly complicated, the Muslims run into business trouble, and the inmate population comes together to support the O'Reilys.
- 15
Querns is appointed the new warden of Oz. Murphy attempts to get famous for a day. Tim tries to change the mindset of Said's murderer. Cyril is finally executed. Keller brings Tobias back to Oz for good.
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