Hulu’s The Handmaid Tale season 5 dropped episode 1 on the streaming service today, September 14th. The popular series has sparked quite the following, with memes of present day politics, relating back to the show and often referencing similarities. In the past, Hulu has released an episode a week of the series on Wednesdays, and we will be covering each episode as they drop on the service with a recap and review. Check out The Handmaid’s Tale season 5 episode 1 recap and review.
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The Handmaid’s Tale Season 5 Quotes
The Handmaids Tale Season 5 Episode 1 Recap & Review
Disclaimer: The following consists of many spoilers from The Handmaid’s Tale season 5 episode 1. If you only wish to read the review, please skip this recap and scroll to the next section.
Episode 1 of The Handmaid’s Tale Season 5 starts with a shot of June Osbourne, standing in front of the bath tub with blood dripping down her hands and face; the blood of Fred Waterford. Luke knocks on the door and asks what happened, but June doesn’t answer. Instead, she kisses Nichole goodbye and exits out the door. Standing by the car, June tells Moira, “I did it. I killed him,” as she smiles delightfully. June is then seen scarfing down food at a restaurant with the women who aided her in killing Fred. “Everything tastes better when Fred’s dead.” June contemplates whether to go after Serena or not. She notes that Danielle is not happy, especially when she doesn’t feel the same about taking revenge on all the commanders, which the other girls want.
Nick, back at Gilead, reflects and contemplates whether June will find peace now or not.
Serena is moved to a more secure facility and is given the news of Fred’s death. She reflects on the happy moments with her husband and wonders with Mark who could have done this. When she receives the letter (from June) with a severed finger, she knows exactly who killed her husband. June.
June decides to confess to killing Commander Waterford-alone. Luke is shocked and tries to stop her, but June has made up her mind. Shockingly, June realizes the confession means nothing; she wasn’t on Canadian soil, so she will not be charged with a crime. She will, however, have to pay a fine of $88 for transporting a severed finger over country lines.
Serena is encouraged to focus on her child and to start a new life in Toronto, but she believes June won’t stop and will come for her and her baby next. Fred Waterford’s death sparks those who believe in Gilead, and a large group of sympathizers stand outside with candles lit as Serena leaves the hospital.
Mark visits June and shares his support for the murder of Fred Waterford, telling her she did something that needed to be done. On the other hand, Moira sees her friend in a different light, telling June that she is now afraid of her.
The Handmaids Tale Season 5 Episode 1 Review
The Handmaid’s Tale season 5 episode 1 is pretty somber, after the climax of how last season ended. The episode sets the stage for what is to come, vendettas that may come, and the response from all those involved. With the relevance that June’s crime will go unpunished, many who are invested in June’s journey will feel some sort of vendication, while also being very leery of the revenge that may follow.
While The Handmaid’s Tale has always reflected on the pain and trauma instilled in June by Elizabeth Moss, who has always been masterful in the role, it will be Serena who will be the focus of pain moving forward. Ever the villian, Serena may be looked upon in a new light, as she has to now raise her child without its father. One of the most powerful scenes includes Serena enraged as she blames Mark Tuello for Fred’s murder, and then immediately being the face of composure as she faces the adoring public, who is outspoken against the murder of Commander Waterford.
The Handmaid’s Tale season 5 episode 1 leaves viewers with a sense of what the rest of the season will look like, and that is revenge. Will Serena get her revenge? Will June ever recover from all of the horrorific events she has been through? Was the murder of Commander Waterford enough for her, or will she join the other women who also want to seek revenge by killing their commanders?