The Handmaid’s Tale review: How does it feel?

The Handmaid’s Tale — “Night” – Episode 301 — June embarks on a bold mission with unexpected consequences. Emily and Nichole make a harrowing journey. The Waterfords reckon with Serena JoyÕs choice to send Nichole away. June (Elisabeth Moss), shown. (Photo by: Elly Dassas/Hulu)

Even the subtitles go along with June’s statement that she’s Ofjoseph now, and she keeps on the down-low, even when Aunt Lydia returns. She has a cane and a wheelchair, but she’s absolutely still Aunt Lydia — protective of her girls, as she sees them, while also reinforcing everything about Gilead. (That includes using a cattle prod on June.) Her communication with Alma at the grocery store is even subtle, although she does get caught later by Lydia.

This episode also gives the best insight yet into how the Marthas work behind the scenes. We know that they help others escape from season 2, but it’s happening more frequently. This time, there’s a Martha looking to escape, and June convinces Lawrence to let her stay in the house until it’s time to go. Then she works her way in to help on the escape, dressing like a Martha.

“Strange to finally be invisible,” June muses in voiceover during her disguise. They’re not invisible, per se; we see that Marthas go through inspections, and an expired pass means getting taken away.

However, the Martha network doesn’t just bring people to Canada. We learn that Alison, the person who’s leaving, will go to the west and a resistance cell. It’s a tiny thing that makes the world wider yet again. Unfortunately, everything goes sideways and Alison returns.

When Guardians come to the house, Eleanor gets real dialogue that isn’t about being scared or done with something (for what we think is the first time). The show seems to be posing her as one of the other great mysteries right now — what her intentions are and so on — but this, more than Lydia bluntly asking what’s wrong or Lawrence yelling about her, does more to pique interest.

However, dead Martha and all, they manage to get Alison out again. June has to bury the body by herself, though, in what seems like a distressingly literal scene considering all the talk of who and what June is and what she is doing over these first two episodes. “This is just the first one,” the show seems to be saying, even as piano music plays.

Meanwhile in Canada, Emily is having trouble adjusting. Her family is there, but she won’t go see them, and Luke just doesn’t understand why. However, even though we can understand why Luke has trouble with this and with Nichole, the way it all happens comes off as awkward and more than a little insensitive.

Moira tries to explain this for us, but it’s still tough to sympathize with him in this situation. We know Emily better; we know what she’s been through firsthand. As for Nichole, that is easier, because there’s little dialogue about it. “June went back to save [Hannah,] ’cause I couldn’t,” he says, finally holding Nichole. All he’s left with is a baby who looks like the wife he still misses.

But Emily has a phone and an optometrist appointment, so, with glasses on, she calls her wife again, and that’s how episode 2 ends.