Aunt Lydia’s Biggest Changes Since The Handmaid’s Tale, Explained by Ann Dowd

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Four years have passed since the battle that liberated Massachusetts, which feels like a long time since we last saw The Handmaid’s Tale. June Osborne (Elisabeth Moss) and the Commanders still remember how Boston was freed from Gilead, but Aunt Lydia is attempting to rebuild her life.

Ann Dowd recently discussed the dramatic changes her character, Aunt Lydia, has undergone since the end of ‘The Handmaid’s Tale.’ While the series finale seemed to show Lydia finally turning against the oppressive regime of Gilead, she’s now back working for them and has regained their favor. They’ve even built a statue of her and named a school after her, with Lydia as its head. Considering her past remorse over the pain she inflicted on women, Dowd was asked how Lydia feels about being seen as a hero. Dowd offered a straightforward explanation of Lydia’s shift in perspective.

She pushes those thoughts aside and focuses on her work. Her priority is the Academy and ensuring the girls are prepared for their future roles as wives and mothers. Everything revolves around the home, and the men are in control. The girls aren’t taught to read or write, and they’ve never known any other way of life.

It feels like all of Aunt Lydia’s progress has been erased, as if she’s back where she started. However, that might not be true. In the sixth episode of The Testaments, “Stadium,” she begins to doubt the decisions she made to protect herself – decisions that involved working with a deeply prejudiced and oppressive group, and ultimately, creating the Aunts. In a voice-over, Aunt Lydia wonders, “Did I transform and become something new, like a phoenix? Or was I simply something persistent and unwanted, like a cockroach?”

Lydia’s recent focus on the young women of Gilead might be a protective measure, similar to how she secretly documents the Commanders’ misdeeds. According to Ann Dowd, the character who was once intimidating and feared in The Handmaid’s Tale now appears “softer” and more compassionate. Lydia’s development throughout the story has been consistent and well-defined, showing a clear change in her personality. Ultimately, Dowd believes Lydia is trying to redefine herself in The Testaments and is driven by that desire.

The Testaments Episode 6 Features a Huge Aunt Lydia Reveal

The show “Stadium” lived up to expectations for fans eager to understand Lydia’s story. Similar to Margaret Atwood’s novel, the series tells the story through the perspectives of Agnes (Chase Infiniti), Daisy (Lucy Halliday), and Aunt Lydia. Starting with the sixth episode, the show finally reveals Lydia’s inner thoughts and feelings about her role in Gilead.

Throughout the show, Aunt Lydia and Commander Judd have frequently disagreed, especially regarding the planned marriages for young girls. However, they initially worked together, or at least, Aunt Lydia pretended to cooperate. The episode “Stadium” reveals how Lydia cleverly manipulated Judd during the early days of Gilead, as women were being gathered. Without Lydia’s actions, Gilead wouldn’t have the Aunts, who are crucial for controlling the oppressed women.

Okay, so Aunt Lydia is seriously divisive – a lot of people really dislike her! I always thought it would be satisfying if she… well, you know. But the show seems to be setting her up for something big. She’s started secretly writing down all the awful stuff she’s seen happen in Gilead, which is a huge deal since keeping secrets is basically the foundation of that society. I’m starting to wonder if she’s actually trying to make amends for what she’s done, or if this is just another one of her sneaky plans to protect herself. It’s hard to tell with her!

New episodes of The Testaments premiere every Wednesday on Hulu.

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2026-04-30 01:38