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Together

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Together is the sixth episode of the fifth season of The Handmaid's Tale. It aired on October 12, 2022.

Synopsis[]

June and Luke's mission puts them in serious jeopardy. Serena senses a threat from her benefactors. Lawrence and Nick make a shocking power move.

Plot[]

Luke and June are in chains and driven to a large industrial warehouse. June asks a lot of questions of her captors, but they only respond with their own inquiries.

Serena is visited by Dr. Landers. She is surprised; she thought her appointment was to be held in his office. He says that's not necessary since the Wheelers have a birthing suite in their home. She is surprised about the suite and that the Wheelers had arranged for the visit. He performs an ultrasound and examination. He advises Serena to continue to rest, mentioning her high blood pressure. He nervously asks her out for dinner, mentioning he got the OK from the Wheelers to do so.

At the hospital, Aunt Lydia is informed Esther's procedure was cancelled because Esther is pregnant. The conception occurred only three weeks prior. She quickly figures out Esther must have been impregnated the day of Fred’s funeral. Esther confirms Lydia’s suspicions; she was raped by Warren Putnam. Lydia, shocked, apologizes to Esther. Esther says Lydia knows rape is routine in Gilead and angrily demands that Lydia leave the room. Esther thrashes and screams, and it is revealed she is handcuffed to the bed.

Lydia goes straight to Commander Lawrence to seek vengeance for this unholy act. While he does not dispute that it happened, Lawrence doesn’t see any legal wrongdoings; Putnam impregnated her just one day before she was posted. Lydia disputes; she says this was a violation because Handmaids may only be impregnated during the Ceremony. Lawrence dismisses Lydia and says she has given him a lot to think about.

In the warehouse, June and Luke have been placed in adjacent cages. Luke starts to stress, worried that Gilead will kill or torture them both. June tries to calm him, assuring him that she has been through this several times before and survived. Luke wishes he could have saved her those first few times.

Serena and Alanis Wheeler prune flowers in the greenhouse. Serena discusses her odd exchange with Dr. Landers earlier. She says she doesn’t want to date her gynecologist and may never remarry. Alanis is appalled; she says Serena cannot be a single mother in this society. Serena protests. She says she will go on a walk, but Alanis orders her to go to her room to rest. Serena cries in her bedroom.

Despite still being stuck in their cages, Luke and June flirt and joke, The guards enter. They tell June they are taking them to Gilead, and June demands they contact Commander Lawrence or Commander Blaine. She tells Luke to do what they say. The guards beat Luke and lock him back in his cage.

Commanders Lawrence, Blaine, and Putnam celebrate Esther's pregnancy. Lawrence tells Putnam that his actions could have political implications. Putnam replies that Lawrence's plans for New Bethlehem are dead. Lawrence indirectly questions Putnam’s rape, who simply sees it as a "pleasure" he’s welcome to. Putnam makes digs at Lawrence for never having impregnated a Handmaid, and questions why he developed this society if he did not plan to take advantage of them.

Serena meets with Mr. Wheeler that night. He informs her June and Luke were apprehended in No Man’s Land, so Serena no longer has to worry about them. Wheeler says Ezra will go to No Man's Land to kill June. Serena asks to see her death in person. Mr. Wheeler hesitates to allow Serena, but she eventually persuades him.

At the warehouse, June apologizes to Luke for getting them into this situation. Luke tells her no apology is needed; he made the decision to go himself. Utterly broken, Luke accepts his fate and concedes that they will surely be executed. June tells her husband not to lose hope and they hold hands through the bars.

Serena exits the Wheelers' home to drive with Ezra to No Man's Land. Alanis assures her that Ezra will take her home immediately if there is danger.

Luke and June are moved from their cages. They are separated since Luke is "legal", and June is locked into a bus with captured runaways from Gilead.

At breakfast in a restaurant, the Putnams receive unsavory looks. Putnam says it must be because the rumors of Esther's pregnancy have spread. Guardians enter and drag Warren out to the street. They throw him to his knees before Commanders Lawrence and Blaine. They inform him that the High Criminal Court has found him guilty of apostasy for raping "unassigned property". Nick immediately shoots him dead.

Nick returns home and Rose is upset that Nick killed Putnam, She wonders what kind of person it makes him. He says it makes him the kind of person who will do whatever it takes to make Gilead a safer place for their son. She wonders if his son was the person he did that for.

Aunt Lydia, Janine, and other Handmaids watch Putnam’s corpse be hung on the wall, She speaks of justice and consequence. She reassures her girls that they will be protected by God if they are to believe. Janine says she wishes she could have watched Putnam's death, and she is met with silence.

The bus transporting the runaways stops. June is removed by Ezra's request. She exits and finds herself face to face with Serena. Serena has June’s bonds cut and forces her onto her knees to pray. Serena demands that Ezra give her the gun so she can kill June herself. She points the gun at June's head and tells her again to pray. June prays for her children to live a life of peace. Serena holds back tears and signs off June's prayer with an "amen". Serena then shoots Ezra in the chest. She forces June by gunpoint to drive them away in Ezra's car.

Quotes[]

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

Trivia[]

Notes[]

Cast[]

Additional Cast

  • Jeremy Shamos as Dr. Alan Landers
  • Carey Cox as Rose Blaine
  • Rossif Sutherland as Ezra Shaw
  • Jonathan Watton as Matthew Calhoun
  • Sean Sullivan as Gilead Doctor
  • Shawn Devlin as Butler
  • Daryl Patchett as Balaclava Agent
  • Adam Maros as Country Cub Guardian

Gallery[]


Music[]

References[]

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