Promotion

Promotion
Season 6
Episode 4
Air date	April 15, 2025
Directed by	Natalia Leite
Written by	Jacey Heldrich
Episodes
Previous	Devotion
Next	Janine

Promotion is the 4th episode of the sixth season of The Handmaid's Tale. It aired on April 7, 2025.

Synopsis

June disrupts the rebels' plans. Commander Lawrence gains power and influence.

Plot

At the Mayday house, Luke tells June the group will use the new trade route via New Bethlehem to smuggle bombing devices into Gilead, before they learn from Mark that Canada has dropped the murder charges against Luke, so they're both free to return to Alaska.

In New Bethlehem, Commander Lawrence nervously makes himself up for his official swearing in as a High Commander. While Naomi tries to calm him down, Angela gives him a drawing. Later at the ceremony, he is surrounded by Nick and other Commanders while Wharton prays over him with a big sword. Following the ritual, Commander Bell suggests to to continue the celebration at Jezebel's. While Wharton and Nick politely pass, Lawrence stays with the group.

Rita has arrived in New Bethlehem on a refugee bus for a reunion gather arranged by Serena. After talking to her host, Rita spots her sister Gina. The siblings enjoy a long, emotional embrace.

Back at Mayday headquarters, June, Luke and Moira attend a briefing about the mission and learn that Mayday is planning to go after the commanders at Jezebel’s. Luke tells June he's staying behind to help carry out his plans and personally deliver the bombs. To June's dismay, Moira also volunteers to return to the brothel to do a scouting mission. The upcoming operation becomes even more crucial when Moira and June learn their old friend Janine has been sent to Jezebel's.

At the Commanders' celebration in the brothel, Lawrence is offered a private hour with Janine, so he escorts her from the party. In the bedroom, Lawrence tells Janine he just wants to talk. She is furious at him for where she has ended up, but he assures her he did what he could to help her as she would have likely been sent to the Colonies or hung from the wall. He shares a drawing with her that Angela gave him, and tells Janine he'll do everything he can to protect Angela.

At Nick's New Bethlehem home, Serena is waiting with a pie for the pregnant Rose. As Rose is resting, her father shares a slice of the dessert with Serena. While they chat, we learn that he's a widow and is courting Serena. Later that night, when he walks Serena home, he invites her to dance beneath the street lamps, until they are interrupted by an unexpected appearance of Aunt Lydia.

In an encounter with Rita, Nick assures her of the safety of New Bethlehem, and agrees to help reunite her entire family within a year or two. With that promise, she decides to extend her stay in New Bethlehem indefinitely.

In the Mayday headquarter, June still wants Luke to go to Alaska. She also persuades Ellen to take Moira's place to infiltrate the brothel. The conflict escalates as Moira and Luke refuse to back down, they finally agree to go on the mission together.

At the Lawrences' home, Joseph is reading "A Little Princess" to Angela by the fire. At Jezebel's, Janine stares longingly at Angela's drawing.

Trivia

• The book Commander Lawrence reads is 'A Little Princess', by Frances Hodgson Burnett.
• At Jezebels a Commander says to Lawerence that Janine was one of his handmaids. Technically she was never his handmaid. There was going to be a trial period at his house after he married Naomi, but before anything was settled Janine went off on Naomi and was never posted to the Lawerence house.

Cast

Starring

• Elisabeth Moss as June Osborne
• Yvonne Strahovski as Serena Joy Waterford
• Madeline Brewer as Janine Lindo
• Amanda Brugel as Rita Blue
• Ever Carradine as Naomi Putnam
• Ann Dowd as Aunt Lydia Clements
• O-T Fagbenle as Luke Bankole
• Sam Jaeger as Mark Tuello
• Max Minghella as Nick Blaine
• Samira Wiley as Moira Strand
• Bradley Whitford as Joseph Lawrence

Guest Starring

• Josh Charles as Commander Gabriel Wharton
• Timothy Simons as Commander Bell
• Athena Karkanis as Ellen
• Linette Doherty as Gina Blue
• Jonathan Watton as Commander Matthew Calhoun
• Tim Campbell as Commander Reynolds
• Matthew Worku as Charlie
• Kwaku Adu-Poku as Ralph (Mayday Planner)
• Charlotte Cattell as Susan (Mayday Planner)
• Avaah Blackwell as Penthouse Jezebel #1
• Tyra Chichester as Penthouse Jezebel #2
• Laila Kharouba as Penthouse Jezebel #3
• Emmerly Tinglin as Penthouse Jezebel #4