Unfit

Unfit
Season 3
Episode 8
Air date	July 10, 2019
Episodes
Previous	Under His Eye
Next	Heroic

Unfit is the 8th episode of the third season of The Handmaid's Tale.

Synopsis

June and the rest of the Handmaids shun Ofmatthew, and both are pushed to their limits at the hands of Aunt Lydia. Aunt Lydia reflects on her life and relationships before the rise of Gilead.

Plot

 (Relationships/Ofmatthew and Ofjoseph)

In a voiceover, we learn that Frances was a sales manager for a theatrical supply company who tutored kids after school and was planning a vacation before the takeover. The Handmaids attend Ofandy's birth at the Allston household. The actions of Ofmatthew have made her persona non grata, and she is ostracized by the other Handmaids.

When Ofandy’s labor stalls, though, Aunt Lydia takes them to the Red Center, where she puts June in the center of a shame-circle, blaming her for her "responsibility" in Frances' execution. After being shamed, June testifies that Ofmatthew does not want her baby. Aunt Lydia puts Ofmatthew in the center of the shame-circle for her doubts in her pregnancy. She cracks, crying while the other Handmaids point at her for being calling her a "cry baby". As they leave the Red Center, Aunt Lydia blesses June for sharing what she knew about Ofmatthew.

At the Lawrence household, June asks Commander Lawrence if he learned anything about Hannah or the the MacKenzies and where they could be. He gruffly tells June he does not know anything about where they are, and tells her to not ask him again.

That night, Ofandy’s labor begins again. While Ofandy is giving birth, Mrs. Allston acts out the process of labor behind her, accompanied by the other wives. When Ofandy's child is stillborn, Mrs. Allston flies into a fit of rage and grief for "her daughter," being comforted by the other Wives, while the Handmaids circle Ofandy with sympathy to embrace her. June later realizes that she was relieved to see that the little girl died.

At home, Commander Lawrence asks June if the baby was a girl or a boy, as Eleanor Lawrence would like to know. June answers only by saying "dead". He then asks June to spend time with his wife, playing cards or something, since she is "good with her" and "good for her". She gruffly blames the world that he built to be destroying his wife, adding by keeping her "hostage" instead of taking her out of Gilead, he is factually killing her.

In their office, the aunts are seen discussing handmaids assignments. Aunt Lydia discusses June's case.

Ofmatthew greets June for a routine trip to Loaves and Fishes. When they arrive, Aunt Lydia informs June that she is to be reassigned to another household. In the background, we see Ofmatthew begin to tense, holding a can of lobster meat. She then begins to bludgeon Janine with the can when Janine tries to comfort her, drawing the attention of Aunt Lydia and the nearby Guardians. She apparently knocks Janine unconscious. When a Guardian approaches, Ofmatthew strikes him with a glass jar which shatters, slashing his neck, and he falls to the ground. She takes the pistol from his body, pointing it around the market before stopping with June in the sights. She smiles and gives a small nod, signaling Ofmatthew to fire at her, but Ofmatthew hesitates and then points the gun at Lydia. As Ofmatthew pulls the trigger, a loud crack is heard and she is thrown to the ground, shot by nearby Guardians who then drag her body out the market while June, Lydia, and two praying Econowives stare in shocked silence.

Flashback, Before Gilead

Aunt Lydia is an elementary school teacher, known as Miss Clements to her fourth-grade class. She is a rather religious woman, and often quotes the Bible. She is concerned about the well-being of her students, especially Ryan, whose mother Noelle often just gives snacks and fast food for lunch and arrives very late to pick him up. One day, Lydia invites Noelle and Ryan over to her house, where they enjoy Lydia's "famous" chili for dinner instead of going to McDonald's. Lydia tries to sympathize with Noelle, though seemingly concerned about her use of profanity around Ryan. She discovers that Noelle works as a waitress and is often harassed by her male customers. She says that she was late picking her son up because she'd deliberately spilled a drink on a customer and was being reprimanded by her boss after her shift. Lydia is sympathetic and offers gentle advice.

Lydia establishes a close relationship with Ryan and Noelle, inviting them around for Christmas. She gives Ryan a book as a present, and receives a make-up case from the family. Noelle, who believes that Lydia needs to find romance again, helps her to apply make-up. Lydia mentions that she used to practice family law. She was married, but things didn't work out with her husband, and they separated. Noelle speaks to Lydia about her dating life, revealing she's pursuing a married man with two children. Lydia remains tight-lipped about the news and lets Noelle continue.

Lydia and Jim doing karaoke

At New Year's Eve, Lydia goes out to a bar, where she meets Jim Thorne, a colleague from school. They share some drinks and snacks, saying grace before they enjoy their food, and then perform karaoke together. The two make out, and when Lydia tries to have sex with Jim, he refuses, claiming it's too soon since his wife's death three years past. An ashamed and embarrassed Lydia smashes her mirror, crying to herself.

Lydia decides to report Noelle to the authorities, citing Ryan's unhealthy diet and his unwashed clothes. She also voices her disapproval over Noelle's dating life, and the fact that she is not religious. It is decided that Ryan is to be given to foster care. Lydia is confronted by an enraged Noelle who has to be escorted off school property by security. Jim watches on, disgusted at Lydia's actions.

Trivia

• Aunt Lydia was married and got divorced. Unmarried and divorced women are usually targeted by the Gilead regime. (Unwomen)
• Lydia mentions a market for adoption in the flashback. (Fertility Crisis) At that time, the Sons of Jacob were involved in "getting children out of their sinful homes"
• Ofmatthew's real name is Natalie, as called by Aunt Lydia when she was pointing a gun at her.
• Edie Inksetter and Sugenja Sri are upgraded from 'Additional cast' to 'Guest Starring' in this episode.

Cast

Starring

• Elisabeth Moss as June Osborne
• Madeline Brewer as Janine Lindo
• Ann Dowd as Lydia Clements
• Bradley Whitford as Joseph Lawrence

Guest Starring

• John Ortiz as Jim Thorne
• Ashleigh LaThrop as Ofmatthew
• Emily Althaus as Noelle
• Nina Kiri as Alma
• Bahia Watson as Brianna
• Ian Ho as Ryan
• Edie Inksetter as Aunt Elizabeth
• Sugenja Sri as Sienna

Additional Cast

• Kelsey Falconer as Ofandy
• Marissa Kate Wilson as Ofzachary's Partner
• Sarah Slywchuk as Red Center Handmaid
• Lara Mrkoci as School Security Guard
• Catherine De Seve as Mrs. Allston
• Angela Vint as Leah
• Paula Boudreau as Grace Scott
• Claudia Jurt as Red Center Aunt
• Stefanie Nakamura as Coat Check Woman
• Karen Jewels as Karaoke Singer
• Daveed Louza as CPS Agent

Handmaids

• Samantha Marchand
• Raevv'n Leedham
• Michelle Mohammed
• Maythalia Jerome-Antione
• Tasha Attey as Amber
• Samantha Parkinson as Birthing Handmaid #2
• Michelle Chiu as Birthing Handmaid #3
• Sophia Smith

Gallery

Music

• "More Than Words" — Extreme, karaoke.
• "Islands In The Stream" - Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers, karaoke.
• "Auld Lang Syne"
• "Que Sera Sera" — Doris Day, end credits.