User Reviews

I am enjoying the direction the series is taking. It looks wonderful, but it can burn like Babylon.

Episode 2: A little better than the pilot, continuing in and out of the farm house. More matters happening with quite good acting and with a game changer semi-thrilling ending graced with a beautiful caressing score.

In the second episode of The Handmaid's Tale's fourth season, tension continues to mount as June and her fellow fugitive handmaids navigate the treacherous landscape of Gilead's oppressive regime. Set against the backdrop of uncertainty and peril, this episode delves deeper into the intricate web of alliances and betrayals that define their struggle for freedom.

The handmaids, still holed up at Commander Keyes' residence, find themselves in a precarious situation when other guardians arrive, searching for the one killed by the girls. As expected, tensions escalate, forcing June and her companions to hastily devise an escape plan. However, their plans are complicated by Miss Keyes, who has formed a deep attachment to June and pleads to accompany her on her journey to freedom. Miss Keyes' desperate desire to cling to June, projecting onto her the role of a mother figure, adds a poignant layer of complexity to their relationship, blurring the lines between protector and protected.

To facilitate their escape, June ventures into the dark underbelly of Gilead's society, infiltrating a Jezabel's house of exploitation where women are subjected to sexual servitude. There, she encounters a young woman who provides crucial information for their escape. June's proposal to eliminate the oppressive commanders meets with hesitation, highlighting the moral quandaries that pervade their fight for liberation.

Upon her return to Commander Keyes' residence, June discovers Miss Keyes concocting poison, a chilling reminder of the trauma inflicted upon her by Gilead's brutal regime. June seizes the opportunity, persuading Miss Keyes to produce more poison to neutralize their oppressors. However, the repercussions of their actions unfold swiftly, leading to a harrowing encounter as June stumbles upon the Keyes' residence ablaze, with a guardian at her side meeting a violent end.

The unexpected appearance of Nick Blaine, now a commander, adds another layer of intrigue to the narrative, raising questions about his true motives and allegiances. June's decision to trust Nick, despite the looming threat of Gilead's forces closing in, sets the stage for a high-stakes confrontation that promises to shape the course of the season.

As The Handmaid's Tale continues to explore themes of resilience, sacrifice, and rebellion, this episode serves as a compelling reminder of the complexities inherent in the fight for freedom. With its gripping storytelling and nuanced character development, the series continues to captivate audiences, leaving them eagerly anticipating the next twist in June's perilous journey.

Another shaky episode of the show that leaves me wondering about its longterm viability. It just feels like same story repeating after itself.

Awful again, worse than the debut episode. More characters who have no real sub-plots appearing just for the sake of appearing. Offred doing nothing and going round in circles with the lousy climax again. A show that screams padding at this point.

In Toronto, Luke and the others have a charity fundraiser of some sort. Rita gets up to give a speech. She is shaky. Moira meets with Asher's aunt who has taken him in after he escaped Gilead. Asher, whose real name is James, doesn't like his new home and misses Gilead. Rita comes in to help him ease into his new place.

Serena is checked out by a doctor and has to disrobe to get photos of her naked body as evidence. She mentions that Fred frequented a brothel. Serena disagrees with her lawyer in front of Mark Tuello. Later Mark tells Serena the blood tests came back and she is pregnant.

Back in Gilead, Esther teaches June how to make poison using the plants overhead in the kitchen. She meets with a woman in the local Jezebel. The woman has a sparkly silver halter dress on. We see men enjoying women all around - one more day of fun before Chicago. The woman gives the poison to the men and the one woman in charge of the place.

The nice Guardian is driving June back to the farm when June feels something is wrong. She tells the Guardian to leave when he can but the Guardian refuses to leave her there alone. Nick comes out and asks for the location of the other Handmaids. He tells her he is trying to keep her alive. She surrenders as bright lights shine.