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Ballet

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Ballet is the second episode of the fifth season of The Handmaid's Tale. It aired on September 14, 2022.

Synopsis[]

June struggles to move on with her life in Toronto. Serena plans an elaborate memorial. Aunt Lydia and Janine prepare Esther for her first posting as a Handmaid.

Plot[]

June is having a restless night and thinks about Serena, she gets up and buries Danielle's gun near the house.

Serena and Mark arrive in Gilead with Commander Waterford’s remains. Serena meets with Nick and Commander Lawrence, and they offer their condolences. Serena reminds Nick that Fred saw so much potential in him, and that he’s on a better path now. They take Serena to the church where they plan to hold Fred’s funeral, but it’s much smaller than she would’ve liked. Commander Lawrence says he thought it best that it was kept simple and quick, and that they figured Serena would want to get back to Canada as soon as possible to move on with her life. Serena confronts them, saying how brutal Fred’s death was, and that only one woman could hold that much rage, but that she knows June needed help. Serena threatens Commander Lawrence to give Fred a proper funeral, because she wonders what would happen if the fellow Commanders learned that Lawrence assisted in the plan to have Fred killed.

In the Red Center, Janine is shown tending to Esther as the Handmaids prepare for Fred’s wake at the Putnam’s house. Janine tells Esther to behave and all will be well. Esther says she wishes Janine could go with her. Janine tells Aunt Lydia that she thinks Esther will do good as a prospective Handmaid.

Commanders and their Wives gather for Fred’s wake at the Putnam house. The Putnams greet Serena, and the Wives admire Serena’s baby belly, until Serena pulls Lawrence aside to ask about Fred’s funeral arrangements, but Lawrence says that Fred is seen by most as a traitor now, so he doesn’t think there’s anything they can do.

Rita, Moira, Luke, and June gather for a game night. June sees the Scrabble game, and is immediately reminded of her nights of playing Scrabble with Fred. June meets Rita in the kitchen to discuss Serena’s plan in going between Canada and Gilead. Moira walks in as June is contemplating Serena being on the Wall, or them taking away her baby and making her a Handmaid. June brings up when Serena slapped Rita when she was pregnant, but Rita and Moira try to get June to stop talking about it. Rita assures June that even though she wasn’t a Handmaid, she struggled, and still does.

Aunt Lydia and the Handmaids arrive at the Putnam’s residence, where Esther complains about standing around. Janine reminds her to follow the rules and stay alive. Naomi Putnam is led in and introduced to Esther. Naomi comments on how Esther is very young and a former Wife. Aunt Lydia assures Naomi that this means Esther knows she is worthy of respect. Angela runs into the room and Janine greets her for a few moments before Naomi takes Angela away and hands her to Cecilia.

Esther is led into Commander Putnam’s study where everyone else is kicked out leaving only Warren and Esther. Warren toys with her and feeds her chocolates. Esther is teary-eyed and clearly very uncomfortable with the situation.

In Canada, June tells Luke about the finger, how she sent it to Serena so that she’d know June was the one who killed Commander Waterford. Luke gets angry because it won’t help find Hannah. He tells her that both him and Nichole need June there with them, not stuck in Gilead or the past.

Serena goes to see the Commanders, wanting to talk to them about Fred. She gives a speech about Fred’s dedication to Gilead, and wants her son to be able to be proud of Fred. She suggests that they broadcast Fred’s funeral internationally, showing Gilead to the the world. Warren condescends her, but Lawrence backs her up. Warren reminds Lawrence that he has nothing, so they don’t need to listen to him. Commander Calhoun lets Lawrence speak, and Nick chimes in, thinking that broadcasting the funeral will make Gilead look merciful. Lawrence thinks this could be the start of acceptance from other nations. The Commanders excuse Serena so they can discuss it.

On the ride back to the Red Center Esther laments about having to be posted. Janine tells her that getting pregnant will make things easier because it is her only protection. Disgusted, Esther removes her hand from Janine’s but seemingly agrees.

Lawrence informs Serena that he convinced the Commanders to agree to the international broadcast of the funeral. Lawrence and Serena get to work on starting the guest list.

Later that night, Nick meets up with Mark in the woods, and Nick asks how June and Nichole are doing. Mark admires Nick’s ability to be at his rank and to fly under the radar. Mark asks Nick if he wants to see Nichole in person, and says that America can forgive Nick if he makes amends and continues to play his part in Gilead for a while. Mark wants to help them both, and Nick promises to consider it before leaving.

Back at the Red Center Janine says goodbye to Esther, who is supposedly soon to be posted. She tells Esther that pregnancy is a beautiful experience, to give her some hope. Esther reveals that she had smuggled some candy from  Commander Putnam's study and shares them. As the two women eat the candies Esther’s mood turns dark as she coldly tells Janine that she hated her from the moment they met and that she is ‘one of them’, accusing Janine of using her to see Angela. Janine tells Esther she was just trying to help her stay alive like June helped her but Esther tells her she is not June, but a ‘disgrace’. As Esther says this she begins to choke violently, revealing that Esther poisoned the chocolates. Soon Janine and Esther begin to cough up blood, and are discovered by a horrified Aunt Lydia.

At Fred's funeral, Serena cries over Fred’s coffin, and Lawrence comes to fetch Serena. Men come in to take Fred’s coffin, and Serena follows them.

June and Luke watch a ballet recital while simultaneously Serena follows the parade of Fred’s funeral down the streets of Gilead.

Serena pauses at the end of the parade to face the Commanders, then watches as some of the children come out. Among the children is Hannah.

June and Luke grab coffee after the recital, and they share a tender moment as they kiss in the middle of downtown. But the moment is quickly gone when June looks up and sees the broadcasts of Fred’s funeral all around her. Luke turns and sees the video of the children walking out, and they both watch helplessly as Hannah steps forward to deliver flowers to Serena. June turns around and Hannah’s face is on every screen around her as she stands next to Serena and holds her hand. Serena gives the camera a small smile as June watches her, her face full of hatred.

Quotes[]

“A significant quote, characteristic for this episode”  — Describe here.

Trivia[]

  • The Martha at the Putnams is called by her name Cecilia the first time in the show, she has always been credited as 'Putnam Martha'.
  • Serena's guest list starts with Commander Davidson and Commander Scott.

Cast[]

Additional Cast

Gallery[]

Music[]

  • "All I Have to do is Dream" - The Everly Brothers
  • Sleeping Beauty Ballet - Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky


Soundtrack notes[]

References[]

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