‘The Handmaids Tale’ S4 E1–3: The Hand of God?

So its back and after the developments in Seasons 1–3 its going to be a hard act to follow in Season 4. From the original story the TV adaptation has managed to be both faithful to the utterly brilliant book by Margaret Atwood and yet has developed her story into new territory. Into virgin territory you could argue. And of course Offred/Ofjoseph/June does just that, argue, rebel and act. Her agency is Season 4.

June has along with her comrades managed to geta plane-load of Gilead children to freedom in Canada. In the process she has been shot and is as we start the new season bleeding out from a gun-shot to the abdomen. She is being carried by the rebel handmaids in a highly symbolic way. The image of Christ being carried from the Cross springs to mind although June is covered in her red outfit and blood is everywhere. Itis a powerful scene of sacrifice for those one loves.

She is treated temporarily by Janine — the one that seems the weakest but here is far from weak — who cauterises her wound. We next see the rebels arriving at a farmhouse where June can recover and the group find sanctuary. June slowly recovers and makes her way around the location. In the background we see the Mistress of the Farm who is a Commanders wife. She is very young and is smoking in an agitated manner. Something is definitely not right here as June notices…