God Bless the Child is the fourth episode of the third season of The Handmaid's Tale.
Synopsis[]
June negotiates a truce in the Waterfords’ fractured relationship.
Plot[]
Bells toll as everyone gathers in a Prayvaganza to celebrate all the babies recently born in the district. As the Handmaids approach the church, an injured Aunt Lydia rides by on a scooter, reminding her girls to be on their best behavior.
Inside, the handmaids who have given birth get prime seating. The district’s new "parents" bring up their babies to the altar, among them Ofmatthew's son. June tells Ofmatthew that he's cute.
In a flashback we see Hannah’s christening ceremony, attended by Luke, godmother Moira and grandmother Holly, who warns June against using religion to make decisions.
At the front of the congregation, the Commander who’s leading the proceedings brings up Nichole, whom he says was taken "by an unrepentant sinner." He asks those assembled to pray for her safety.
Afterward, the Putnams invite Aunt Lydia and the handmaids to their house for a reception. Naomi Putnam thanks June for what she did on the bridge and addresses a "bless you" to Janine. She then sends Aunt Lydia and the Handmaids to a separate back room.
When Serena arrives, she and June have a quick exchange of words in the hallway. June reminds her that a number of women who shared her plan to teach Gilead’s girls to read hadn’t abandoned her, and explains her she didn't escape when she had the chance because there was still hope she would get to see her daughter again.
Fred gets a moment alone with June to tell her he’s concerned about Serena. He’s sure Serena isn’t satisfied “planting flowers and knitting sweaters.” June suggests he give Mrs. Waterford “a real voice behind the scenes”.
June follows Serena to the Putnams’ indoor pool room, where Serena is smoking on a chaise lounge, announcing to her that she made a suggestion for Serena to have more freedom in her marriage. Serena hands her the cigarette case and lighter, and the two women sit there, smoking in silence.
Naomi brings baby Angela down to the parlor. Janine breaks protocol when she approaches the Putnams and asks to hold her daughter but Naomi allows it. Janine voluntarily hands the baby back only to start insistently suggesting that she could move back into the house and give Angela a brother or sister, concluding she "just wants to be with her daughter". An incensed Aunt Lydia strikes Janine down and continues to beat her. June calls for someone to stop her, but as none of the Commanders or their Wives react, she throws herself between Janine and Aunt Lydia, yelling at Aunt Lydia who eventually comes to her senses and stops. Janine is carried off by guardians. Lydia looks around, muttering an apology to the guests before leaving the parlor. She walks into another room in the house and sits down on a chair where she starts to cry, showing some remorse for what she had just done to Janine.
While June is waiting to leave the Putnams’ house, Serena creeps close to tell her how she can see Hannah playing outside after lunch at her school. A few minutes later, an officer of the Eyes comes in and wants to see Commander Waterford immediately: He’s got a video of a Canadian protest showing solidarity with Chicago. Luke is at the protest, and he’s wearing Nichole in a carrier. The Waterfords have June confirm Luke’s identity, which she does reluctantly. She walks out of the room and sits on the floor. She smiles as a tear slides down her face
In Canada, Emily and her wife Sylvia see each other for the first time in years outside a subway station. They hug, and Emily asks if her son remembers her.
When Sylvia shows Emily Oliver's room, it’s covered in photos of her and them as a family. Oliver comes home and runs upstairs. Emily is happy to see him, and they reunite passionately. At bedtime, Oliver asks Emily to read him a bedtime story. While she does, both she and Sylvia start crying, so overcome that Oliver eventually decides to take over reading the book himself. After he falls asleep, Emily joins Sylvia for a beer and some conversation on the porch.
Luke and Moira make arrangements to have Nichole baptized. Luke points out that "this little one should be absolved of [Gilead's] sins".
Trivia[]
Sylvia's street number is 451. "Fahrenheit 451" (the temperature at which book paper catches fire) is a dystopian novel by Ray Bradbury of a future American society where books and free thought are outlawed. (Cultural References/Literary Works)
Cast[]
Starring
- Elisabeth Moss as June Osborne/Ofjoseph
- Joseph Fiennes as Fred Waterford
- Yvonne Strahovski as Serena Waterford
- Alexis Bledel as Emily Malek
- Madeline Brewer as Janine Lindo
- Ann Dowd as "Aunt" Lydia Clements
- O-T Fagbenle as Luke Bankole
- Samira Wiley as Moira Strand
Guest Starring
- Cherry Jones as Holly Maddox
- Clea DuVall as Sylvia
- Ashleigh LaThropp as Ofmatthew
- Ever Carradine as Naomi Putnam
- Steven Kunken as Warren Putnam
- Nina Kiri as Alma
- Bahia Watson as Brianna
- Jonathan Watton as Matthew Calhoun
Additional Cast
- Tom Barnett as Commander Logan
- William Poulin as Cambridge Priest
- Angela Vint as Leah
- Paula Boudreau as Grace Scott
- Charlie Zeltzer as Oliver
- Sammy Osman as Eye #1
- Julia Chantrey as Videographer
- Kevin Whalen as Toronto Priest
Gilead Families
- Helene Robbie
- Matthew Mease
- Catherine Huculak
- Julian Osen
- Sachi Lovatt
- Nick Gough
- Deidre Cross
- Colin McClean
- Jenny Itwaru
- James Russell
- Anna Popowicz
- Chris O'Bray
- Gita Galadauskaite
- Greg Zajac
- Ariel Lukane
- Charlie Hamilton
- Alisha Phillips
- Yohance Thomas
- Kirsten Wendlandt
- Malakai Fox
Quotes[]
Gallery[]
Music[]
- "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" — Johann Sebastian Bach.†
- "Down To The River To Pray" — Alison Krauss, end credits.
† This version by New London Sympony Orchestra with Norman Luboff Choir; version used in episode not ascertained at the time of writing.
Notes[]
- This is the first episode to feature a flashback since "Holly" (S2E11).
References[]
| Season 1 | Offred | Birth Day | Late | Nolite Te Bastardes Carborundorum | Faithful | A Woman's Place The Other Side | Jezebels | The Bridge | Night |
| June | Unwomen | Baggage | Other Women | Seeds | First Blood | After | Women's Work Smart Power | The Last Ceremony | Holly | Postpartum | The Word | |
| Night | Mary and Martha | Useful | God Bless the Child | Unknown Caller Household | Under His Eye | Unfit | Heroic | Witness | Liars | Sacrifice | Mayday | |
| Pigs | Nightshade | The Crossing | Milk | Chicago | Vows | Home | Testimony Progress | The Wilderness | |
| Morning | Ballet | Border | Dear Offred | Fairytale | Together | No Man's Land | Motherland | Allegiance | Safe | |