The Handmaid’s Tale Recap: The ‘Good’ Guys

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Why do I find myself wanting June to sabotage Mayday’s plans by rescuing Janine from Jezebels at this moment, despite Mayday being America’s last hope for survival? Nick, one of the show’s few morally upright characters, causes me a strange sense of relief as he heads into the ICU for another murder. And Serena Joy Waterford, one of the most chilling, heartless women ever depicted on TV, leaves me rooting for her to accept Commander Wharton’s proposal and find safety. It seems that every character in The Handmaid’s Tale is grappling with a complex struggle for survival – good people do questionable things, while evil ones occasionally make noble choices. This week’s episode, titled “Janine,” showcases the series at its most nuanced and impactful: intense, emotional, hopeful, unsettling, and contradictory.

In this episode, the focus is on the complex friendship between June and Janine, who haven’t met since their separation in season four. Over time, June has been a mother figure, an ally, and a source of disappointment to Janine. Despite their recent estrangement, Janine swiftly points out similarities that highlight the strength of their bond. Just as June feels responsible for the handmaids under her care at Jezebels, as she refused to let her mother remove her ear cuff, Janine now takes on a similar role for her “girls” there. They both refer to Holly and Charlotte by the names they picked for their daughters before they were rechristened by kidnappers.

In expressing my admiration, I find myself overlooking some questionable decisions made by Mayday during this heartwrenching reunion. For instance, why is Ellen paired with Luke to venture into Gilead? It seems more suitable for a subordinate to take on such a perilous task rather than the leader of the resistance. Their plan appears straightforward yet fraught with difficulty: two prominent fugitives, disguised as masked Marthas, have a narrow two-hour window to infiltrate the cleaning staff at the Jezebels, collect information, and make their escape from the hotel’s delivery bay. Surprisingly, everything seems to be going exceptionally well until they receive news that a group of commanders is unexpectedly dropping by. Already, Janine is settled in the penthouse, preparing for the ordeals she’ll encounter ahead.

June moves upstairs to a spot she feels at ease in, the only remaining comfortable place within the deteriorating world. Janine quickly alerts June and Moira to meet her in room 618 before the harsh Commander Bell, who I’ll no longer refer to as “Jonah,” arrives. Instead of tormenting Janine alone, he commands one of the Marthas to clean up the Champagne he spilled on his trousers. June, known for her distinctive eyes in Gilead, keeps catching people’s gazes. She looks at Bell and then back at Commander Lawrence, who assists her from the floor. It’s uncertain if Joseph recognizes June or if a subtle sense of recognition passes between them – a hint of familiarity, perhaps the echo of his own guilt.

Naomi informed her spouse that Jezebels was a place where friends could be found and respect earned among other commanders through displays of virility; however, Joseph’s affections towards Janine are making him a target. Bell doesn’t want to lose her, but she is the only woman Joseph can avoid sleeping with without risk. This understanding of his situation troubles Janine because she believes that he will rescue her from Bell, providing her the cover needed to access room 618. June underestimated this girl’s cunningness.

Instead of Joseph repeating the same error, Janine reveals a secret peephole the girls use to observe commanders, saying, “Don’t let them succeed.” She departs quickly to meet June afterwards. While waiting, Joseph overhears Bell and the commanders discussing his demise. In an attempt to waste time, they lure American refugees to New Bethlehem who long for their stolen family members more than common sense. Later, these liberal enclaves will be closed, their populations reabsorbed into Gilead, and the architect of New Bethlehem will be exiled to the Wall. Surprisingly, Joseph, known for his astuteness, seems genuinely taken aback when he learns that these men aren’t fully supportive of his scheme to weaken a nation that has made them all wealthy, powerful, greedy, and invulnerable.

As I unravel the grim reality of my dwindling time, I rush to confide in Moira and June, sharing every piece of knowledge I possess. Mysteriously, high-ranking officials sneak into Jezebels via a concealed garage leading straight to the penthouse. Knowing the intricate workings of this place like the back of my hand, I’m aware that the security detail rotates hourly. What truly strikes me is the fact that these women have been covertly arming themselves with makeshift weapons, preparing for an uprising. Overjoyed to find my friend June and know she’s (fairly) safe after our long separation, I propose we escape together once Luke returns to our designated meeting spot. But Janine, the maternal figure to her own motley crew of women now, refuses to leave without them.

Upon Janine’s return, a familiar argument ensues between Moira and June over June’s reckless behavior and her unwillingness to acknowledge Moira’s pain. This argument feels fresh because the relationship has reached its lowest ebb, a point I refer to as absolute subtext. “How tired of you am I that I could spit nails?” snaps Moira, and we can certainly relate. A devoted fan of The Handmaid’s Tale understands just how much emotional energy June Osborne consumes. Though I have criticized the show for pitting its women against each other, this scene at least acknowledges their conflict. “Don’t you think I know that I’ll never truly understand what you’ve been through?” June queries Moira. Moira was raped and beaten nightly for a brief period, whereas June endured the same treatment on a monthly basis over a longer duration, and also lost her children. “I am aware of that,” June responds. However, if they get caught up in a contest of who suffered more, “then those bastards have triumphed.” I agree with June’s sentiment, yet it’s important to note that the victors are already winning in this situation.

Moira and June are reconciling, hopefully for good this time, when a supervisor enters the room. Reflecting on their actions later, they might have fled with Janine instead, as he seals away the map she had drawn for them in a hotel safe. Faced with a terrible choice between killing him or letting him assault them, they strangle him using a telephone cord. By the time they dispose of his body in the building’s incinerator, alarms start blaring, and Luke and Ellen, the head of the American rebellion, are being captured. June and Moira manage to reach the commanders’ private parking lot, but the access code is still in room 618 – a problem for two individuals who aren’t truly Marthas, especially when it comes to traveling on foot.

Joseph Lawrence, having gained insight into the true nature of Gilead’s wickedness, steps out from his garage. He’s no longer pretending to be interested in sham affairs; instead, he contemplates a daring move. If he were to return an AWOL Jezebel and Fred Waterford’s suspected executioner to their penthouse, he would win the approval of his fellow commanders. However, this act would still leave him four years away from reaching the Wall. Yet, Joseph chooses not to ignore June and Moira. Instead, he opens his car trunk. Maybe it’s Janine’s words that resonate in his mind, pushing him to make this decision: “You may not be a good man, but compared to them, you are.

Nick appears to be less evil than the guards who were ready to harm Moira and Luke at the water park. However, it’s revealed that one of the guards Nick shot is recovering. When the mother of a recovered guard confronts Nick about this, she pleads with him to find out who did this. I believe Nick won’t make it through the sixth season of “The Handmaid’s Tale” because he lied to a grieving mother, which is something that usually doesn’t end well on TV shows. After she leaves, Nick closes the hospital room door to continue his investigation.

Commander Wharton may not be a paragon, but relative to Fred Waterford, he is. He reassures Serena, whom he has long admired even while she was another man’s wife, that he wants her to express herself fully and fulfill the mission God has assigned her. This week, that mission involves establishing a fertility clinic in New Bethleem. Aunt Lydia, who moves about Gilead with surprising agility these days, stops by Serena’s home to share news about Janine and other handmaids: The handmaids who helped Boston’s childless wives conceive are now confined at Jezebels.

In simpler terms, Serena proposes an idea to Lydia that instead of being respected members of society in Gilead where fertility is highly valued, former handmaids like Janine could have a second chance as attendants at a new center. Given Gilead’s strong emphasis on birth and its ominous nature, it’s unclear what boundaries are crossed when the government sees its purpose as ensuring the survival of humanity. On the global stage, who can resist defying Gilead if it’s the only nation still experiencing population growth?

Lydia is in Serena’s living room when a bouquet of flowers arrives from Commander Wharton. She remarks, “He’s a wealthy bachelor looking for a wife,” suggesting sympathy, though Serena corrects her for misinterpreting Jane Austen’s irony. They are rare creatures: the last educated American women. They can twist lines from Pride & Prejudice to make their point. While they may discuss gentle changes to improve women’s lives, it’s doubtful they can imagine the experiences of the next generation of women. They aren’t inhabitants of Gilead but the ones who brought Gilead to life.

Lydia emphasizes, trying to persuade Serena about Wharton, “A fertile womb shouldn’t be wasted.” Though it seems like she hasn’t given it much thought, Serena is actually deceiving herself. After all, wasn’t her dream to have more children with a powerful man, just like Fred, but in a society where women are revered? Wharton then offers Serena a library he’s constructed for the children of the new community – both boys and girls. He articulates all the things she desires to hear. They can divide their time between Boston and New Bethlehem; he wants to adopt Noah and provide him with siblings. In the end, Serena agrees. Refusing such an offer would be foolish.

Despite everything, one might consider her foolish if she put faith in him. Wharton may not be the type to betray his wife at Jezebels, but I’d be intrigued to learn what insights he could contribute about the progression of liberal reform if he were on the other side of Janine’s peephole. Earlier in the episode, when Wharton doubts whether Nick can ensure the security of the returning Americans in New Bethlehem, is he motivated by a sense of duty or merely trying to avoid diplomatic complications? It seems more like a romantic gesture than a political pledge that “The Serena Joy and Gabriel Wharton Library” is named after. When the other commanders eventually move to shut down New Bethlehem, Joseph Lawrence won’t be the only one on their hit list. Nick Blaine, the Mayor, will be included too, along with Aunt Lydia, the co-founder of the Fertility Center, and Serena Joy, the Global Ambassador. The last time she defied the state, Serena lost a finger for it while her first husband looked on. Will Wharton be noble enough to shield her from the Wall?

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2025-04-22 19:55