Let’s dive in!
Why was she demoted to Handmaid and not executed?
Did Gilead conduct a fertility test to determine her value?
If she were infertile, would they have hung her for treason?
Comment below with your theories on Gilead’s punitive system.
Fierce as ever, Esther is on a hunger strike.
Over dinner, frustrated Aunts discuss what to do with her.
Another suggests removing her tongue.
Lydia promptly sends her away, and the Aunts' conversation returns to Janine.
One Aunt thinks she should be sent to a breeding colony, as was intended before the train escape.
The Aunts worry Lydia is giving Janine special treatment.
Later, Janine sees Lydia reviewing Commander files for her potential assignment.
Lydia agrees to let Janine talk to Esther before the girl is further punished.
When Janine visits Esther, she thinks she’s rescuing her, or at least sneaking her food.
Alas, it seems Janine’s apparent surrender is a survival strategy.
Later, Janine and Esther obediently address the Aunts.
But, how long will both the handmaids' relative safety last?
And, as a commenter posited last week, could this foreshadow Janine becoming an Aunt?
Fred’s pleased people outside Gilead appreciate their mission.
But Serena seems troubled.
Clearly Serena was impacted at least somewhat byJune’s testimonymention of Serena’s suffering and limited redemption effort.
He suggests Serena write another book because the world should hear her voice again.
Serena seems intrigued, which shows Fred has clearly upped his manipulation game.
Meanwhile, Warren tells Fred everyone admires his persistent loyalty to Gilead.
Fred asks if there’s been any negotiation to free hime.g., a prisoner exchange.
Warren says if they negotiate for Fred, the resistance might kidnap more Commanders.
Afterward, Fred vents to Serena about feeling disrespected and abandoned.
This begs an obvious question: what options do the Waterfords have for their future?
Luke is supportive, but he dislikes that June called Hannah’s Gilead family her “home.”
He reaffirms his commitment to rescuing Hannah and shows June the extensive work he’s done toward that goal.
June is moved by his effort.
She then decides to make a run at use Commander Lawrence to get to Hannah.
They call him, with the American diplomat Mark present.
As if to make that point, he then mentions Janine.
June’s relieved Janine survived the bombing but devasted she was recaptured.
Lawrence says the American government has no real pull with the Canadians.
He instead requests 10 of the freed children.
When June rejects this, he calls her soft and bargains for five.
With that, Lawrence says he can’t help.
He tells June to appreciate her freedom and move on.
But when he hangs up, he clearly feels guilty.
Later, Luke suggests another resource: Nick.
June admits Nick would do anything for her and their daughter Nichole.
June agrees, and the meeting is set.
Nick’s glad to see June free.
June is awestruck by Nick’s efforts, and the two share a passionate kiss.
June looks more emotional in that embrace than she’s been with Luke since their reunion.
Luke is clearly fighting an even greater battle than expected to get June back romantically.
Before Nick and June part, they bond together with Nichole and wish each other happiness.
Once June’s gone, Nick puts on a wedding ringsurprise!
He’s married and didn’t tell June!
One step forward for June and Nick shippers, two steps back.
It turns out after Fred and Serena talked following Naomi and Warren’s visit, Fred negotiated.
She threatens to kill Mark as Luke keeps her from physically attacking him.
And Fred’s intelcoulddo that.
Was it a fair deal?
And will June interfere?
Is Fred’s intel enough to defeat Gilead?
Perhaps we’ll find out in the season finale.
