Birth Day

Birth Day is the 2nd episode of the first season of The Handmaid's Tale.

SynopsisEdit

As the relationship between Offred and Ofglen increases, Janine undergoes the birthing process for young Angela, prompting Offred to reminisce of Hannah's birth.

PlotEdit

Offred and Ofglen go shopping and they reveal more personal information about themselves to each other. Ofglen tells Offred she's part of a resistance against the government and asks her to join.

Late that day, Nick, Commander Fred's driver, tells Offred that the Commander wants to see her alone, which is forbidden. Nick also warns her "You need to be careful" "with her, Ofglen" and "Don't get too close to her (her being Ofglen). It's dangerous."

Offred and other Handmaids go to the Putnams to witness the birth of Ofwarren's (Janine's) child. In flashbacks, June remembers her own daughter's birth. During this time, healthy births were rare and in the flashback, we see a woman try to steal June's daughter shortly after she was born.

Offred goes to the Commander's office unsure of what's going to happen, but he just wants to play a game: Scrabble.^[1] She later goes back to her room and laughs with relief. The next day, Offred prepares to tell Ofglen what happened that night, but when she meets her outside, it's a different woman, who introduces herself as Ofglen.

CastEdit

StarringEdit

• Elisabeth Moss as June Osborne
• Joseph Fiennes as Fred Waterford
• Yvonne Strahovski as Serena Joy Waterford
• Alexis Bledel as Emily
• Madeline Brewer as Janine
• Ann Dowd as Aunt Lydia
• O-T Fagbenle as Luke Bankole
• Max Minghella as Nick Blaine

Guest Starring Edit

• Amanda Brugel as Rita
• Ever Carradine as Naomi Putnam
• Tattiawna Jones as Lillie Fuller

Additional Cast Edit

• Bahia Watson as Brianna
• Jenessa Grant as Dolores
• Nina Kiri as Alma
• Eilish Walker as Ofmyles
• Birgitte Solem as Putnam Martha
• Ashleigh Rains as Wife #1
• Genevieve Adam as Wife #2
• Jennie Raymond as Caroline
• Angela Vint as Leah
• Karen Robinson as Nurse Tania
• Tosha Doiron as Nurse #1
• Bea Santos as Protester
• Lisa Codrington as Officer

QuotesEdit

GalleryEdit

MusicEdit

References Edit

1. ↑ In the novel, it is explained that Scrabble, which was once "the game of old men and women," became "desirable" for Offred due to it being forbidden for women to play. Atwood 1998, pp. 178–79