How Janine’s Fury Pushes Aunt Lydia to Betray Gilead in The Handmaid’s Tale Season 6

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Warning: Contains SPOILERS for The Handmaid’s Tale season 6, episode 6 and The Testaments!

In the sixth season of “The Handmaid’s Tale,” Janine and Aunt Lydia have generally maintained a private existence, yet their narrative plays a crucial role in laying the foundation for “The Testaments.” Over the different seasons of “The Handmaid’s Tale,” the relationship between Janine and Aunt Lydia has been intriguing due to Aunt Lydia’s exceptional affection towards Janine. However, Janine’s rebellious nature has presented challenges for their partnership, effectively shaping Aunt Lydia’s storyline in “The Testaments” following the events of season 6 of “The Handmaid’s Tale.

Following the achievement of “The Handmaid’s Tale” television series on Hulu, author Margaret Atwood chose to expand the franchise through a novel. Over three decades after the initial 1985 publication, Atwood unveiled a sequel in 2019 titled “The Testaments,” which continues the narrative of “The Handmaid’s Tale” beyond June’s time. Already, Hulu has declared plans to transform “The Testaments” into a TV show, serving as a continuation of their adaptation of “The Handmaid’s Tale.” Several characters from Hulu’s series are expected to reappear in “The Testaments,” including Ann Dowd’s Aunt Lydia.

Aunt Lydia’s Story In The Testaments Explained

She Becomes An Agent For Mayday

15 years after the events in Margaret Atwood’s “The Handmaid’s Tale,” we find ourselves delving into a new narrative that no longer centers around June. Instead, the tale unfolds from the points of view of three distinct characters: Agnes, who is revealed to be June’s daughter Hannah; Daisy, who shares a connection with June as her daughter Nichole; and Aunt Lydia, the character we know from “The Handmaid’s Tale.” In this narrative, it is Aunt Lydia who pens a collection of writings about her life and Gilead. Critical of the nation she inhabits, she chooses to publish these works as “The Testaments.

In various regions, both within and beyond the borders of Gilead, The Testaments gains immense popularity. However, Lydia’s actions contrary to Gilead are much more severe than suggested in her writings. Unbeknownst to many, Lydia serves as a covert agent for Mayday, discreetly providing intelligence and assistance to the resistance movement from within the confines of Gilead. These traitorous deeds starkly contrast with what Lydia might have done in The Handmaid’s Tale, revealing the extent of her radicalization against Gilead.

In comparison to the plot of Margaret Atwood’s “The Testaments,” Hulu’s adaptation may follow similar events but with some differences. This is largely because the series timeline differs from that of the books. Unlike its source material, Hulu’s “The Handmaid’s Tale” extends significantly beyond the book, with season 1 encompassing the vast majority of the novel’s storyline. Consequently, the narrative arc of Hulu’s “The Handmaid’s Tale” spans a longer period than Margaret Atwood’s original work, implying that the time leap in “The Testaments” may be shorter or commence at a later stage.

The Handmaid’s Tale Is Making Janine The Biggest Factor In Lydia’s Change

Thanks To Lydia’s Care For Janine

In order for the story of “The Testaments” to unfold in “The Handmaid’s Tale”, it’s crucial that Aunt Lydia becomes disillusioned with Gilead. To achieve this, the Hulu series is utilizing the character of Janine. Despite overseeing many Handmaids, Aunt Lydia has a particular fondness for Janine. However, Janine is one of “The Handmaid’s Tale’s” most rebellious characters, frequently finding herself in trouble due to her actions against Gilead. This situation compels Aunt Lydia to empathize with Janine’s viewpoint, even though she does not condone her actions. Over time, Aunt Lydia has grown more sympathetic towards Janine’s perspective.

Aunt Lyida has grown increasingly disheartened about Janine as The Handmaid’s Tale progressed through its sixth season. Initially, it was presumed that Janine would be exiled to the Colonies following the events of season 5. However, as the story unfolded in season 6, it was disclosed that instead of being sent to the Colonies, Janine had actually been taken to Jezebel’s – a brothel within Gilead. Commander Lawrence utilized his power to arrange this placement, effectively rescuing her from the dire fate many believed she would face.

When Aunt Lydia uncovered that Janine was with Jezebel, it left her utterly astonished. Lydia, who is deeply committed to Gilead’s interpretation of Christianity, finds the practice of making Janine sleep with Commanders as a punishment repugnant, contradicting her moral framework. This revelation serves to expose the hypocrisies and horrors hidden within Gilead, gradually moving Lydia towards the position she occupies at the beginning of “The Testaments.

Janine Is Mostly Wrong About Gilead

Gilead Won’t Crumble Anytime Soon

In the sixth episode of season 6 in “The Handmaid’s Tale,” Janine and Aunt Lydia discuss the fate of Gilead. Janine expresses her belief that Gilead is on the verge of collapse, suggesting a strong conviction in her words. Regrettably, this isn’t the case as Gilead continues to exist when “The Testaments” begins, signifying it won’t be vanquished within “The Handmaid’s Tale.” Since “The Testaments” takes place 15 years later, it implies that Gilead will endure for at least another decade, meaning it won’t crumble anytime in the near future.

Although Gilead persists for a while in the narrative of “The Testaments”, it eventually succumbs to a coup instigated by Canada, leading to its downfall and the return of the United States. However, the novel fails to provide any indication as to whether Janine will witness this end herself. While she appears to anticipate Gilead’s collapse in the near future, the timeline suggests that Aunt Lydia will live to see it happen based on the events described in “The Testaments”.

Aunt Lydia’s New Behtlehem Hopes May Also Kick Off Her The Testaments Arc

Further Radicalizing Aunt Lydia

If Janine alone isn’t sufficient to completely alienate Aunt Lydia from Gilead, her association with New Bethlehem will do so. Commander Lawrence’s New Bethlehem initiative has been a significant focus in season 6 of The Handmaid’s Tale, as it represents a more liberalized form of Gilead. Lawrence intends to introduce reforms within this new phase of Gilead, with Aunt Lydia expressing favor towards certain alterations to the Handmaid system in particular.

It appears that there are many in Gilead who disapprove of New Bethlehem. Some of the Commanders, including Commander Lawrence, are facing punishment for their efforts to reform Gilead. Commanders like Commander Wharton may be eager to see New Bethleem’s demise and maintain the status quo of Gilead. Since Gilead is still present in The Testaments, this implies that New Bethlehem must fail before the sequel series begins. The failure of these reforms could drive Aunt Lydia further against Gilead, potentially leading her to work with Mayday in The Handmaid’s Tale.

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2025-05-03 19:38