‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ Recap: ‘Dear Offred’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 504 of ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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For the most part, the Hulu series, The Handmaid’s Tale, has focused heavily on the horror of ‘What if?’ For it has indeed envisioned a world where autocrats and theocrats conquered America and what the concerning ideals of the Religious Right and the Far Right in general would blossom into if they were given free reign. Which, surprise, surprise, would lead to an utter hellscape of a nation. One named Gilead in this instance. But what the show hasn’t done often, is really take the time to deeply address modern problems in the United States of the America outside of the constant onslaught upon women’s rights that is currently taking place, and understandably so. After all, that should be the focus and the concern of a story with this kind of subject matter.
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But believe it or not, now that June is free of Gilead, other matters can be explored at last. For this week’s episode, ‘Dear Offred’, took the time to explore a matter that isn’t discussed all that often in modern America. In that, our justice system is flawed and sometimes… it lets bad people walk free. To the point where people that were harmed by that person, have to face them again and have to wake up knowing that someone evil is on the streets and likely eager to bring harm again, and well… how does that person live, when this happens? How do they function knowing that bad is out there and could potentially harm them again? And the show was able to explore such a concept, by putting Serena Waterford back on the streets of Toronto.

For she was a free woman, and a representative of Gilead, and she even had a new consulate of sorts to set up shop and inform others of the ‘wonders’ (horrors) of the Republic of Gilead and well… that damn near broke June. Because she struggled to reconcile the reality that her tormentor and enabler of the man that assaulted her was walking free. To the point where she was ready to put a bullet in Serena’s face without giving it a second thought and she came close on several occasions. To the point where Serena was forced to flee when things got out of hand with June present. A move that put her close to Gilead sympathizers in Canada and left June fighting to reconcile what was right and what was wrong, and well… that was a powerful to answer those respective questions. 

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Since they helped us to learn… that in an instance that severe, the person dealing with this new reality… doesn’t live really. They can only see flashes of the nightmare they thought was going to be handled, and they struggle, and they endure pain left and right and well, it was just frustrating to watch June go through this. Because she deserves better and she deserves agency and peace, but backwards laws prevented her from having that… and that is a story we’ve heard before on the news, and that familiar touch reminds us… that reform is needed on such matters. So that kind of pain doesn’t come forth for people and so that the wicked are indeed punished for their respective sins of sorts. And while Serena didn’t find a cell here, which was frustrating, there was some satisfaction to be found. After all, she was terrified of being harmed and did have to stare down the barrel of a gun… and that’s just fine.
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However, while having June and Serena go another round in the name of social commentary could have carried this episode through and through, this episode had more intriguing moments to offer us back in Gilead. For Janine was on the mend at last, and while her body was badly broken from the poison, she was in a new headspace. One where she spat truth at the always ‘infallible’ (at least regarding Gilead policy) Aunt Lydia… and actually reached her. Because she called Lydia out for her abusive nature and her desire to stick to the teachings of an ideal that no one agreed with but only the dumbest of Commanders and well… that got to Lydia. To the point where she did the unthinkable and asked for reform for the program in her update meeting with Commander Lawrence. A move that was shot down of course in an equally as blunt conversation and well, that brought forth humility for Lydia, a rarity, and what appeared to be moments of reflection.

Which again, leaves all of us wondering… where this plot thread is headed. Simply because this isn’t the Aunt Lydia we met at the beginning of the journey. This is an Aunt Lydia that is finally listening and seeing the reality of what she is a part of, and of course… it is important to ask what all of this means. Because this is a series that wastes no moments and has a purpose behind every storytelling decision. So, there has to be more to this, and one can only hope that it means something positive… because heaven knows we need that in a series where darkness has permeated for so long. But while we wait to see this expand further… we can take a moment to applaud another quality tale. One that featured some smart and subtle commentary and offered more satisfying moments regarding Serena. Because she’s earned this, and every bad thing that’s come her way and hopefully things just get worse for her… because redemption isn’t something that a monster of her caliber should ever receive. Until next time. 

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