Written by John Edward BetancourtTHIS IS THE EMERGENCY SPOILER ALERT SYSTEM...YOU ARE ADVISED TO READ AT YOUR OWN RISK...As I settled in to watch the second episode of The Handmaid's Tale on Hulu, part of me wondered if by chance this episode was going to find a way to venture to places far darker than the series premiere managed to go before shaking off such thoughts. After all, the first episode merely set the tone, this was already a dark and disturbing world so there was no possible way the story could go to uglier places...right? Nope. I was wrong. Because 'Birth Day' not only managed to maintain the uncomfortable atmosphere established in the pilot, it completely and utterly found a way to make Gilead a more disgusting place and in the process, potentially give us an answer as to how a theocracy such as this could have risen to power and wouldn't you know it...fear seems to be the cause. If anything the flashbacks we experience through Offred/June's eyes are downright wonderful since they give us just enough insight to understand how the world changed and judging from the fact that June's daughter Hannah was nearly kidnapped shortly after she was born by someone who claimed baby Hannah as her own speaks volumes to the fact that the braintrust behind Gilead worked hard to prey upon fears that America was being punished by God and the only way to see mankind survive was to embrace Him and a new way of life. That became incredibly relevant to this particular tale as the Handmaids assembled at Janine's posting since the time had come at last for her to give birth to her Commander's baby and at first it seemed the story was going into more beautiful territory since there was a grand celebration surrounding the whole event and for the first time ever it seemed as though a Handmaid mattered since Janine was given all kinds of incredible support and care. But the simple joy that the story was building to was instantly wiped away the moment the baby was ready for delivery. For the wives made their way into the room as well, and the show they put on, where Janine's master wife pretended to be giving birth as well was a disgusting joke and it was in this moment that the story went to those uglier places because the instant the baby was born, Janine was all but forgotten by the wives and trainers, she was left to be comforted by her fellow Handmaids and the cold reality of their purpose and how little they mattered outside of that was uncomfortable...and tragic. However, not all was lost in this episode, just when it seemed it couldn't become any bleaker, a grand surprise dropped into June's lap since the Commander asked to see her in private and while at first she (and the audience) believes that the boss man may be ready to tell her awful news, it turns out he merely wanted companionship and took the time to play a game of Scrabble with June and well...that's about the most normal and comfortable thing we have seen on the show so far and the sense of familiarity sent June over the moon. She was smiling, she was giddy, she was confident and comfortable from this act because life suddenly felt like life again. She was more than a breeding vessel, she was a human being once again. But of course, in a world like this, such feelings have to be temporary because before she can celebrate the fact her Commander isn't a total monster with Ofglen, we come to find that Ofglen has been replaced and that cannot bode well for June's only friend... More than likely, Ofglen's ties to what appears to be some type of Resistance against Gilead have been uncovered, setting up quite the plot for the next episode and I have no doubt that's where the story is headed next, a visceral and frightening tale where we learn what happens to those that betray their country. But in the meantime, it was nice to at least enjoy a tiny sense of comfort in this episode, especially considering how we were witness to the bastardization of childbirth that Gilead has put forth. Either way, this series continues to fascinate me. It continues to be bold and brave and I hope it continues to make us uncomfortable and appalled so that it still serves as both an experience and a warning. But I think I do need to take a slight break and watch something fun or silly before diving into the next episode, because I have a bad feeling what comes next when it comes to Ofglen is going to be incredibly difficult to watch. Until next time.
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