Crazy Eyes’ newly-revealed backstory on “OITNB” completely broke our hearts

One of the things we love best about Netflix’s Orange is the New Black, beyond the humor and sentiment, is the incredibly character-driven storytelling. As we meet and see a whole array of interesting women (and some men) in one setting, we constantly get to learn what they were like beforehand. It’s incredible how much insight we gain from seeing how and why they got to where they currently are.And there’s arguably no one on the show more fascinating than Suzanne “Crazy Eyes” Warren, played by the incredible Uzo Aduba.

Ever since she had a little crush on Piper when she first showed up, she’s been an absolutely fascinating character. And this season we finally, finally, FINALLY see just what she did to end up where she is. And, like many elements of her story, it’s completely heart-breaking.

Fair warning, if you haven’t seen the season yet, you may not want to read about it first (which you will if you keep reading now).

We’ve known for a long while that Crazy Eyes was a little off and had some serious social issues. But in the prison environment, she’s around a lot of tough women who won’t judge her since they’ve all done something to land them in the same place. So it makes sense that part of her crime came around as a result of her social issues.

When she makes a friend in a young boy named Dylan and has him over for a completely good-intentioned hang out session, she doesn’t respond like people normally do to him wanting to leave. Nor does she understand that the actions she takes (physically keeping him from leaving the apartment and struggling with him as he tries to escape down an open widow and fire escape), are both dangerous and criminal.

But understanding aside, her actions do cost Dylan his life (we assume, though we are thankfully spared the visual confirmation). The most heartbreaking part is, while she’s clearly upset that Dylan came to harm, Suzanne still doesn’t completely understand how all her actions lead up to the bad moment. Which, of course, only adds to the tragedy of “Crazy Eyes,” since she’s clearly not malicious in intent. She just couldn’t help herself, and it had fatal, terrible consequences.

Excuse us, we need a tissue.