‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ Recap: ‘Motherland’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 508 of ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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When the Hulu series, The Handmaid’s Tale debuted, it was nothing short of a fascinating personification of our fears of the world we were currently living within. After all, a frighteningly unqualified and conservative new president was elected to office, there was extensive talk about removing women’s rights from the world, a horror that unfortunately is beginning to come to fruition. Which made this show the right one at the right time to explore our rightful fears and concerns and it truly examined the potential horror of living in an America where the Constitution was an afterthought and where the ugliness that is extremist religion, ruled the day. But as the show went along, its tone definitely shifted and understandably so.
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After all, there were greater plot points to work with here, and a grand hope that perhaps we the audience would get to watch Gilead collapse and burn. But as we near the end of the series, those plot points are once again giving way to fascinating questions about our modern world and the human condition. For last night’s episode of the show, pondered heavily on something we haven’t given a lot of thought to at the moment. After all, there will come a day down the line where these lines and divides end. It could come about when say Trump is jailed for his crimes, or it could come when the guard finally changes in Washington and when that happens… what do we do as a people? How do we move forward? 

Which are questions that ‘Motherland’ explored by having Commander Lawrence finally explain his motivations for the birth of Gilead in the first place and his future vision for the nation, all by properly introducing us to New Bethlehem. A place where displaced Americans/Refugees from Gilead could convalesce in peace. Free from any charges levied by the state for rightfully fleeing a horrible country and where they could live alongside folks from Gilead in the grand hope… that perhaps common ground could be found at last, and healing could begin. Essentially postulating the theory that everyone in this world (and perhaps ours own) should just… forgive and forget years of suffering and atrocities and try to move forward as one and keep reforming and changing what once was, until it is all a distant memory. 

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A move that required a lynchpin to bring it to life, June. For she was a leader amongst Americans whether she wanted to admit it or not and going to New Bethlehem would fill that place to the brim. A reality that Lawrence knew, and he tempted her mightily with discussions on bringing Hannah there, and almost landed her. But a video handed to them allowed the United States remnant to locate Hannah and promise her a return home, putting a hold on a trip for now. But what matters more, is the commentary that came out of this twist. In that, just being besties again as a country, will not magically heal it and unify it. For there are deep differences between us, the kind that are generational and sour and without fundamental changes to who we are and how we operate, change will never come.
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Which isn’t a hopeless bit of commentary, it’s just blunt. For we as Americans always look toward the quick fix instead of a fundamental one. So, it was refreshing to get a kick in the pants here and of course… be treated to so much more. Such as watching Serena come to understand she’s not forgiven by June nor is she welcome in Gilead. She’s just a lost soul that will have to figure out her own way and will endure a taste of a Handmaid’s life for the moment whether she likes it or not. Not to mention it was also nice to learn that Commander Joseph Lawrence is filled with regret over what he created. Because damnit, we needed that and needed someone in that nation to learn a lesson, and at least there is finally a commander that is honest regarding the mistake that it is and that could perhaps… help to end it. 

Not to mention, what Tuello had to say here was supremely enticing. In that, the United States of America has been pooling resources and planning for a military operation against Gilead for ages. And that would be huge for freedom and peace. For a strike from a near dead nation against a military superpower would be stunning and expose the fragility of Gilead. Allowing for America and the world to set the tone about what comes next and well, getting Hannah back and seeing Gilead take a sock to the jaw, would be satisfying ways to end this season indeed and perhaps that is where the last leg of this season is headed. Which would be wonderful, since we’ve waited five long years and gone through hell with June, to see everything bad happen to a place that encourages the worst in people and the potential for all that… will definitely have us counting down the minutes until next week’s episode.

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