What I’m Watching: The Handmaid’s Tale

The Handmaid’s Tale: Season 5, Episode 6 “Together” (B+)

It’s been interesting watching this show recently since Serena is being reframed in a somewhat sympathetic light after being a villain for much of the show, and I guess it makes sense that she might ultimately want something different for herself. It was obvious that June wasn’t going to get killed even when Mr. Wheeler revealed that June and Luke’s captors were reporting directly to him, and this episode’s ending presents an intriguing potential new direction. Serena was always a hard-line right-wing activist who has now seen how the world she wanted for herself didn’t actually afford her the rights she desired, and being ordered around and confined to the Wheeler house isn’t the life she wants. What her plans are remain a mystery, and I think even she isn’t sure, since, even if she can forgive June for what she thinks she’s done to her, June will never be able to do the same. Hopefully Luke will remain alive after being dumped at the border, though he’s going to have a tough time feeling once again like he couldn’t do anything to save his wife. It was difficult to watch Esther’s reaction to Lydia apologizing to her for her rape and resulting pregnancy, and Joseph was cold and unfeeling in his response to Lydia demanding punishment for Warren. But Joseph and Nick found a way to mete out justice, in a very physical and participatory way for Nick, who shot Warren in the head in full view of so many, a dark turn that hopefully foreshadows Joseph and Nick leading Gilead in a brighter new direction following their undeniable show of authority.