‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ Recap: ‘Morning’ & ‘Ballet’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

‘Morning’

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the season five premiere of ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’. To revisit the season four finale, click here.
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We are taught from a very early age… that revenge is something we should never take part in and rightfully so. Because revenge is something that can in fact, poison our soul and take over our minds and lives in our quest to achieve to it. Not to mention, it never provides us with peace or clarity, because revenge does nothing for us in the end. It’s just plain toxic and it can come with penalties. After all, if we really cross the line in the name of revenge, we can pay a stiff price and people can be hurt. Which is why the vast majority of us stay away from it, even when revenge is actually quite appropriate. Which might seem to be quite the contradictory statement, but there is a time and place for it believe it or not.
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For when the person that has been the subject of a vendetta is indeed a true monster through and through, the kind that has harmed more people than we will ever know… is revenge really that bad of a thing? Not to mention, is it bad if an everyday citizen exacts a personal vendetta against someone in power that abused them and harmed them? Those are questions that at first, we raise eyebrows to because of what we are taught. But the season six premiere of The Handmaid’s Tale, makes it clear that in a time of war so to speak, or because of those aforementioned violations… revenge might not be a bad thing in the slightest, as evidenced by the aftermath of June’s actions in ‘The Wilderness’.

For when we catch up with her in ‘Morning’, shortly after Commander Fred Waterford’s body has been discovered by the authorities… June is riding a high. Because she did the impossible, she brought down a Commander of Gilead and showed everyone how weak they are and how pathetic they can be and oddly enough… there were no penalties for her actions. Because the whole attack happened in the middle of No Man’s Land. That strange place between Gilead and Canada, where no law applies. And seeing as to how Fred’s actions were indeed exposed to the world at his trial, everyone basically deemed his end as no great loss, and rightfully so. For that piece of trash committed incredible atrocities and… oh well.

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‘Ballet’

But of course, not having a conscience regarding such matters, would make June no better than Fred. Because he never cared about what he did, the women he raped or the people he had killed in the name of a twisted Deity he and his brood claim to be the Almighty. But June did. For once the high wore off and she realized what she had done, regardless of the benefits about it… she struggled, mightily. In fact, she was the one that went to the authorities and confessed a crime that no one cared about. But the important thing here, is that her humanity still remained after such a dark act and now she can take a little time and quietly work to understand the nature of war and the separation of the fight vs. cruelty and there will be plenty more lessons regarding that in the days to come. 
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Because regardless of her actions and the fear it put into Serena’s already black and shriveled heart, Mrs. Waterford wanted revenge in ‘Ballet’ and went to great lengths to have it and to maintain agency and power with the ‘good men’ of Gilead. By using Commander Lawrence and Nick’s desire to flex more influence to garner a grand international celebration for Fred. One that supposedly was going to be a chance to look inside this nation and show everyone that Gilead is human and normal. But instead, it really was all about revenge since Hannah showed up on television screens everywhere. Reminding June of what’s at stake and of the fight ahead and the intensity that will be needed to go after Gilead and defeat it.

For they will not stop. It doesn’t matter how many losses they suffer, and embarrassments mean nothing as well. For the desperate and the power hungry will always do what they can to make themselves known and that means… we are on the march to war at last in this show. Wherein June will have to lead a fight she has never led before to keep the world safe from a nation that wants to rule it all, and there were more casualties to be found in this fight as well. Since Emily has returned to Gilead and may not return and it would seem that Esther has brought Janine into her end because of how little she wants to bear the life of a Handmaid. And well, just like that we are back in the thick of it and it will be interesting to see where this season takes us, as we continue into undiscovered country in this horrifying world. Until next time.

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