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‘The Handmaids Tale’ S4, Episode 9, ‘Progress’: For Whom?
progress
noun
movement to an improved or more developed state, or to a forward position:
verb
to improve or develop in skills, knowledge, etc.:
to continue gradually:
Episode 9 is the penultimate episode and it certainly is moving all the pieces on the Gilead chessboard into position, whether they are actually in Gilead or in Canada, ostensibly now, the ‘Land of the Free’. The ground is being made ready for Season 4's denouement.
June has told her husband Luke about her last terrible and traumatic meeting with their daughter imprisoned in a glass cage — where one can see, but not touch the person, inside nor outside. A tortuous experience for any mother if their child were inside. June has been able to vent her anger particularly against Serena but Luke has not. How he has been able to keep it all together is beyond me and I think to not show more of his emotional turmoil a huge weakness in this Season’s thematic considerations.
However, he asks June to meet with Nick who has some authority now as a Commander in Gilead to possibly assist in the freeing of Hannah. Luke knows about Nick and is prepared to accept this liason for the sake of his daughter, ‘‘You’re a better…
