What I’m Watching: The Handmaid’s Tale

The Handmaid’s Tale: Season 2, Episode 5 “Seeds” (B+)

One of the most interesting facets of this show is how those who aren’t in power manage to continue existing in this new world order by accepting the roles that they’ve been assigned by those who feel that they’re able to make such determinations and decrees. Aunt Lydia is one such person who seems to have a true faith in what Gilead stands for, and she also enjoys certain privileges due to her enforcer status. She doesn’t seem to like Serena much, partly because she understands the nuances of trying to humanize the handmaids, once they’ve been stripped of their identities, of course. After Serena managed to get her husband, who didn’t seem to be paying any attention to her, to have Nick married off, she dealt a harsh blow to Offred by dismissing her because the ensuing activities were for “husband and wives only,” neglecting the truth that June is indeed legally married. The introduction of a rabbi who performs lesbian weddings and funerals within the prison camp hit close to home for me since it’s easy to forget that the real world that we know turned into this one, with any other religions quashed completely and rival clergy forced to suffer the same fate as anyone else who doesn’t toe the party line. As the mourner’s kaddish was recited over the recently-wed deceased, what seemed like all hope lost for Offred’s pregnancy turned out to be far brighter, and, most promisingly, we saw June’s spirit return, determined to save her baby and herself from the state in which she seemed previously to have resigned herself.

What I’m Watching: Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D: Season 1, Episode 12 “Seeds” (B)

There was something fun about this episode at the start, with Fitz Simmons returning to their alma matter as celebrities and being so pompously excited about being popular while getting to throw their scientific nerd status in Ward’s face. Dylan Minnette, who I remember as Rex in one of the realities on NBC’s short-lived “Awake,” was the friendless student who Ward recommended Fitz get to know better, and it was good to see him experience some remorse when he realized that his ice-heavy creation was going to inflict some major damage on the world. The storm itself wasn’t all that fulfilling, especially since May effortlessly piloted her way into and out of it without any turbulence whatsoever. This episode did introduce a new villain for the show, who showed his lack of compassion and vile nature before revealing that he knew Coulson and had a taunting message from him from the Clairvoyant. Coulson and May’s secret trip to Mexico was quite productive, though this episode once again dropped a major dramatic bombshell that doesn’t quite jive with its usual lighthearted tone. Finding out that an entire village was massacred, in Coulson’s words, while protecting Skye is an alarming and unsettling discovery. The fact that she apparently had powers, something Coulson seems to have neglected to tell her, is far from intriguing, and I’d love to see them materialize at some point soon. Skye is a decent naïve ingénue, but it would be nice to see her take on a new role and more hands-on role in S.H.I.E.L.D. missions.