The Handmaid’s Tale: 5 key moments from episode 4

The Handmaid’s Tale — “Nolite Te Bastardes Carborundorum” Episode 104 — Punished by Serena Joy, Offred begins to unravel and reflects on her time with Moira at the Red Center. A complication during the Ceremony threatens Offred’s survival with the Commander and Serena Joy. (Photo by: George Kraychyk/Hulu)

5 – The Handmaids’ Tale

Remember that message of defiance from earlier? It leads into an oddly uplifting shot to end the episode on as Offred regains her freedom and rejoins the other handmaidens on the way to get groceries. Throughout Episode 4, Offred slowly shows us various key moments of the handmaidens sticking together: Moira leaving the message and the former Offred leaving one for her; June allowing Moira to escape; the other handmaidens in training bringing food for June when she is recovering. It ends on a shot of the women all walking together, if not truly together.

Next: The Handmaid's Tale: 9 key moments from the first three episodes

And that’s what’s odd about the episode’s ending note — because in spite of the sparing moments of loyalty placed throughout the episode, much of what we’ve seen so far has been an extreme willingness for women in any situation to betray one another at a moment’s notice, even other handmaidens. I’m not entirely sure I buy this new lesson that Offred has learned; then again, I’m not sure that the show actually wants me to.

The Handmaid’s Tale will release Episode 5 on Hulu next week on Wednesday at midnight ET.