What I’m Watching: The Handmaid’s Tale (Season Finale)

The Handmaid’s Tale: Season 1, Episode 10 “Night” (B+)

Since I watched this episode, I was very pleased to find out that Emmy voters responded to this show favorably, rewarding it with a whopping thirteen nominations. One of the honored nominees, Samira Wiley, played a big part in this episode, with Moira making it to Canada and being completely overwhelmed by the refugee-immigration process. Reuniting with Luke was a big deal not just emotionally but also practically since she knows so much about what’s really going on with the handmaids, and can theoretically lead both Luke and sympathetic elements of the Canadian government to June’s aid. She could really use it, given the horrifying revelation that, all this time, Serena has known where her daughter was and revealed it to her only so that she could show her how much power she actually had over June, who started swearing and holding nothing back, to which Serena just coldly responded by telling her to calm down. If all Serena wants is for the baby she’ll claim as hers to be safe, June could probably comply, but someone has apparently rescued her, though it’s not clear if it’s Luke or Nick or someone else entirely. Serena asking Fred to play Scrabble only to be reminded that it’s apparently against the law was an intriguing moment I hope is revisited in season two, since there’s still so much we don’t know about how this world came into being. Ofglen and Offred (it’s confusing to keep switching back and forth, I know) leading the crowd in refusing to stone Janine made for a very powerful scene emblematic of what resistance means in this new world, and I’m looking forward to more of the same in what’s sure to be an equally excellent season two.

Season grade: A-
Season MVP: Elisabeth Moss as Offred/June