The Handmaid's Tale: Night (3x01)

God. This show is... it's... incomparable.

Cons:

I'm reviewing this one episode at a time, instead of watching all three, so maybe this gets addressed soon, but going off just this one episode: Aunt Lydia's fate. Are we going to find that out shortly? Serena said something about Emily being a murderer... does that mean Lydia's dead? Or was that referring to the woman in the colonies?

Pros:

Everything about this episode just killed me in the best way. The first thing I want to say is that tonally, I can already sense how things are shifting this season. I think this show is about as perfect as a show can be, but I did note that in last season's finale, I was a bit perturbed that June was going to go back and continue to be a Handmaid, and the cycle would just repeat itself over and over. This show has centered the pain and misery of June, and various other female characters, from day one. But here, we're seeing a shift. The simmering anger is really coming out, and we're seeing the narrative begin to center more firmly on resistance. I think people out in the real world, watching this show, are angry and have every right to be, given what's been happening politically in this country and around the world. A show that highlights that anger, that focuses it into productive channels, might be just what we need.

As I said, I was a bit afraid of going right back to the status quo, but this episode managed to shake things up in a big way. June tries to go to Hannah/Agnes, but is caught before she can escape with her. Serena burns down the Waterford's house. June is re-assigned... to Commander Lawrence. So, this should be interesting. We also see that Emily and baby Nichole escape and meet up with Luke and Moira. All around, things are getting shaken up in big ways, and that makes me so excited to see what direction this season will take us.

To get into some of the specifics...

June is the strongest person in the world, holy hell. In this episode, she twice speaks with a woman who has effectively stolen her motherhood from her. Mrs. Mackenzie, the woman who now calls Agnes (formerly Hannah) her daughter... and then again Serena. June manages to find, against all odds, some measure of companionship with these women. She finds the connection between them, the beating heart that they share - both of June's children have a second mother who genuinely loves them, despite the wretchedness of the situation. June is not passively accepting fate here - she's being brave for the well-being of her daughters.

I know I talk about this a lot, but Serena is just such an incredibly fascinating character to me. I love the way her relationship with June is played out here, with Fred Waterford basically becoming a spectator in the drama of his own household. When he tries to assert dominance, when he makes promises about things "going back to normal," it's almost laughable. You want Serena and June to just stare at him in bafflement and say "do you seriously think you matter at all anymore?" Serena and June sharing that hug as they contemplate the future of their daughter... damn. I mean, that is powerful, compelling television right there. June will never forgive - nor should she forgive - Serena for everything that's happened. But again, there's that kernel they share between them, and it's so important to nurture that.

In contrast to Fred, we have Nick - a man who actually cares about June, and maybe even cares about Serena, in a weird way. There are so many people who have claims of parenthood over the infant that Emily takes into Canada, and Nick is definitely one of them. He's furious that June gave up her chance to escape, but then there's this moment right at the end of the episode, where he tells June to "take care." It's said casually, the way two people might have talked to each other before all of this crazy mess began, and June actually replies with a smile. That was a great moment.

Commander Lawrence is also incredibly fascinating to me. Part of this is because I have a built-in loyalty to any character played by Bradley Whitford, but it's obviously more than that. He's not a nice man, and it doesn't necessarily seem like he has individual sympathy for all of the people he's hurt with his political career. And yet he knows that the system he created is unethical, and he's using his power to try to do something about it. At this point, he knows his life is at risk if he tries to buck the system. But he helped Emily escape, and he's obviously doing what he can for June as well. I'm obsessed by the idea of the two of them working together behind the scenes to tear Gilead down.

The other big thing going on in this episode is that Emily and Nichole make it to Canada. I love all the signs that Canadian officials have a system, and that they're used to accepting American refugees. There's the man who first finds Emily and Nichole, and prompts her to seek asylum, while also avoiding startling her by touching her suddenly. There's the female physician at the hospital, who is sure to tell Emily first thing that they're all glad she's here, and let her keep the baby close to her. And then... I legit started crying when everyone clapped for Emily in the hospital. That was such a powerful moment. I can't even imagine being in a situation as dreadful as Gilead and then feeling the embrace of a culture of acceptance and care. No wonder Emily is overwhelmed.

When I saw Luke and Moira, I gasped. When Luke saw a picture of Hannah, I got weepy. And when Emily approached Luke with little Nichole in her arms... oh boy. I can't wait to see the next episode and watch all of this play out. I am so excited for the rest of this season.

This is brilliant television.

9/10