The Handmaid’s Tale Season 5 Ep 4 is the fourth instalment of the fifth season of a dystopian alternate reality drama TV series based on Margaret Atwood’s novel of the same name. In this alternate history, the USA has been taken over by hardcore fundamental religious fanatics and renamed as Gilead. In Gilead, women have become the property of men once more as the nation is ruled by theocratic patriarchy.
S P O I L E R S
Plot
Entitled “Dear Offred”, The Handmaid’s Tale Season 5 Ep 4 is a transitional episode where both Jun and Serena Joy adjust to the new status quo between them as the latter settles down to life in Toronto as a Gilead ambassador. Gilead have set up an “Information Centre” in Toronto with Serena Joy in charge and she hopes to extend her influence in the scheme of things with her pregnancy being a prized condition in an infertile world.
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Jun is clearly on edge as she is accosted by a fervent Gilead supporter in a park, digs out her handgun with the intention of killing Serena Joy and gets involved in an altercation with a Gilead support outside the “Information Centre” and manages to get face-to-face with Serena Joy but stops herself from killing Serena Joy. Jun’s husband Luke finally gets the character development he was denied before as he gets the “Information Centre” for building code violations (!) and also threatens the life of Serena Joy! A couple that hates a misogynistic cow together will have great sex later!
Elsewhere, Aunt Lydia begins to realise that the handmaid system is hurting her charges and fights for change within the system itself but to no avail, of course. That should be an interesting plot point to develop in the episodes ahead.
Characters
At the beginning of The Handmaid’s Tale Season 5 Ep 4, Jun appears to have lost her mind completely as her rage drives her to confront Serena Joy and Gilead supporters without any restraint whatsoever. As mentioned above, Luke gets right into the action this time, which is refreshing to see – even as Serena Joy mocks him for his helplessness and weakness in rescuing his daughter Hannah – a powerful scene.
The Final Analysis
The Handmaid’s Tale Season 5 Ep 4 is yet another emotionally powerful entry as the battleground shifts to Toronto. Highly recommended.
Now streaming on Hulu.
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