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Dear Offred

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Dear Offred is the fourth episode of the fifth season of The Handmaid's Tale. It aired on September 28, 2022.

Synopsis[]

June fights her need for violent revenge as Serena settles into her new role in Toronto. Rattled by Janine, Aunt Lydia makes a surprising suggestion to Lawrence.

Plot[]

At the playground, a woman approaches June and Nichole. She says she knows who June is. June ignores her and gets Nichole ready to leave. The woman continues to talk to her. She tells June that she was lucky to be in Gilead because it gave her Nichole. She tries to touch Nichole. June lashes out, telling her to stay away. The woman tells June she doesn’t deserve Nichole and calls her names. June pushes the woman against the swings by her throat.

June and Luke talk to a therapist about the encounter. The therapist tells June that the woman’s response is common for infertile women. June says she went a little past getting angry and got physical with the woman. Luke and June both want to know how June can work on avoiding physical outbursts with Gilead supporters.

Mark tells Serena that since Canadian government won’t be watching her carefully, she should have some privacy. He suggests that Serena take asylum and get protection as an American citizen. However, Serena says she isn’t an American citizen; her allegiance is to God. Mark officially releases Serena from the custody of the American government. Serena meets Mr. Shaw, her new escort. As she gets in the car, Mark wishes Serena luck. He tells her to tread carefully as she’s now in a free country.

Serena arrives at the Gilead Information Center. It is still in the process of being finished, and where she’ll be living.

Mark comes to update June, Luke, and Moira. He says Hannah looked good and healthy in the brief moment he saw her. He tells them Serena was released from American custody. She is now on property Gilead owned pre-war and will live in the Gilead Information Center currently under construction. She will be the spokesperson for Gilead in Canada. Luke orders Mark to leave, but Mark lets them know Serena can’t do anything as she has no status or money. June calls Mark a disappointment for ignoring her warnings about Serena. Livid, Luke wants to do anything to find the Center’s location, but June points out that Serena always gets what she wants. Luke reassures June that they’ll stop it, but June calmly assures Luke that she isn’t worried.

That night, June sneaks out of bed, but Luke is awake and hears her get up. June digs up Danielle's gun that she buried in the snow and drives off.

June sees people with candles walking toward the Gilead Information Center. She makes sure the gun is loaded. However, despite her efforts, she’s unable to cock the gun because it is frozen. She watches the people stop. They look up at Serena standing in the window. June gets out of the car, stares at Serena for a few moments, and then drives off.

Mr. Shaw checks in on Serena. He tells her they can’t do anything unless June sets foot on the property. He promises to keep both Serena and the baby safe.

June returns home and tells Luke where she went. She admits she’s unable to think about anything beside shooting Serena in the head. She doesn’t know how to stop herself from actually doing it. Luke reassures June that they can use alternative methods to take Serena down, like the city council and building codes. When June still doesn’t seem to believe him, Luke points out the consequences of shooting Serena: they take Nichole from her, and lose their best chance of getting Hannah. Luke asks June to try it his way, and June concedes.

In the Gileadean hospital, Aunt Lydia tries to help Janine exercise and take a few steps. Aunt Lydia quotes the Bible, which upsets Janine. She says it will not help her; her legs don’t work. She asks if Esther has woken up yet. Aunt Lydia says she hasn’t, but it serves her right. Janine angrily tells Aunt Lydia she warned her that Esther is an abused child. When Aunt Lydia says she gave Esther an opportunity to live in service, Janine reminds her Esther’s only other option is the Colonies, so it’s not really an option at all. Aunt Lydia attempts to defend her actions. Janine tells Aunt Lydia she sees who she truly is and what she does to her “precious girls”. Aunt Lydia walks out in silence.

Serena calls Lawrence, and asks why he declined invitations on her behalf. Lawrence tells Serena she doesn’t need to overexert herself. Serena says she wants to remind other countries that Gilead alone has had an increase in live births. Lawrence agrees it might be a good idea to talk to South America about it. Lawrence knows about her encounter with June. He advises Serena to focus on work and avoid her, since June has a history of lashing out.

June comes home. Moira hands her a letter addressed to "Offred". June opens it, and it’s a notice of the Gilead Information Center opening. June is positive that Serena is going to bring Gilead to Canada, and says the only way to stop them is to kill them. June paces angrily, then smashes a plate on the cabinets. Nichole starts crying, and June goes to comfort her.

Moira finds June with Nichole, and June doesn’t understand why she’s been acting the way she is. Moira tells her that she’s rightfully angry, but that Luke is right: they have to play by the rules now. Moira says she’ll gladly dance on Serena’s grave, but it’s not worth June losing her family. June wonders if this is who she is now. Moira assures June has made progress; she’s no longer worried about June being around Nichole.

Mr. Shaw informs Serena that Luke is outside to see her. He suggests he handle it, but Serena isn’t worried. Luke comes in, and Serena has Mr. Shaw search him for any weapons or security concerns. When they’re alone, Luke tells Serena many people that want her dead. She says it looks like the opposite. Luke takes out papers, and tells Serena they’re building codes. He claims he’s found 15 violations that could get the building condemned; if he makes a few calls, he could get the place shut down in a few days.

Serena doesn’t seem impressed that was the sole reason for his visit. Luke tells her the other reason he came: to let her know that June will kill her, and he will let her. Luke says Serena can get kicked out, get killed, or help them get Hannah back. Serena tells him Agnes is happy and with good and loving parents; she doesn’t want to question God’s will. Serena wonders why Luke never went back to Gilead to save Hannah and why he let June suffer the consequences. She says Luke must feel comforted that Nick was June’s support. Luke angrily threatens Serena to stay away from his family or he will kill her himself the next time he sees her.

When Lawrence speaks to Aunt Lydia about another Handmaid-on-Handmaid attack, she assures him that Esther was the last Handmaid under June’s influence. Lawrence hopes that’s true. Since Gilead is opening their doors slightly, the world must see a smoothly-operating Handmaid system. Aunt Lydia thinks a system system reform is needed to prevent further issues. She suggests Handmaids remain under her care, and the Commanders visit once a month to perform the Ceremonies. Lawrence practically laughs at this idea, saying no Commander will back her plan. Lawrence says the system isn’t changing, and that Aunt Lydia only needs to get a grip on her Handmaids.

While Serena prepares for a photoshoot, she is advised to stay away from the windows for her safety. Outside, June tucks her gun into her jeans as she exits her car. During the photo shoot, Serena hears the crowd of protestors versus worshippers. She asks what’s going on.

June walks up to the people fighting. One man is telling a protestor that she needs a man to put her in her place. When the man shoves a girl, June and Moira step in. Moira defends the girl and tells him to take it easy. The man punches Moira in the face. June pulls her gun to him, then shoots into the air. Serena is frightened by the gunshot, and Mr. Shaw takes Serena to bring her somewhere safe.

Luke runs through the crowd and frantically tells June to put the gun away. June yells at the man to go, and he runs away. Luke pulls June away quickly. After they check to make sure Moira is okay, they run off. However, when they turn the corner, they run into Mr. Shaw helping Serena into the car. Mr. Shaw tells them to stay back, but June’s hand goes right to her gun. She looks as if she’s going to shoot, but hesitates when she looks at Serena’s pregnant belly. This takes long enough for Mr. Shaw to help Serena in the car. June and Luke take off running again. Serena is terrified as they drive off.

Aunt Lydia helps Janine walk out of the hospital, but she doesn’t want Aunt Lydia’s help. Aunt Lydia tells her that God chose to save her. She wonders why Janine doesn’t think there’s a reason behind it all, but Janine no longer cares.

Once in the back of the van, Aunt Lydia admits she should have listened to Janine about Esther. She asks for Janine’s help to look out for the other Handmaids and tell her when any struggle. Janine points out that if she does, Aunt Lydia will punish them. Aunt Lydia assures Janine that she wants to do things differently; she wants to know of struggles earlier on, and will take a more compassionate approach.

They return to the Red Center. Once Aunt Lydia leaves, all the Handmaids run to Janine to make sure she’s okay.

Luke and June return home, and Luke gets a call. The Chief Inspector in the Fire Department lost his sister in Gilead, and is shutting down the Gilead Information Center for building code violations. That means Serena is homeless. Luke asks June for the gun, and she gives it to him. June tells Luke that even though she didn’t shoot Serena this time, she can’t promise that she won’t the next time. Luke can’t promise that he won’t either. He tells June they’ll just have to trust each other. They start kissing, and take it inside.

Mr. Shaw takes Serena to the home of worshipper Alanis Wheeler. Mrs. Wheeler immediately kneels and prays while touching Serena’s stomach.

June throws the notice of the Gilead Information Center into the fire and watches it burn.

Quotes[]

"These are pious men. They need a little kink." - Commander Lawrence, shutting down Aunt Lydia's suggestion about the handmaids being based out of the Red Center

Trivia[]

  • According to Serena, Gilead is currently the only country with an increase in live births.  (Fertility Crisis)
  • Although credited, Amanda Brugel (Rita) does not appear in this episode.

Cast[]

Additional Cast

  • Adam Kenneth Wilson as Angry Man
  • Malaika Hennie-Hamadi as Maid

Gallery[]


Music[]

  • "The Chain" - Kerala Dust ft. Brooke Bentham (Fleetwood Mac cover)

References[]

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