THE HANDMAID’S TALE (S3E4) “God Bless The Baby”: On The Eve Of Change

Somehow next week we’ll already be at episode 5 of this year’s The Handmaid’s Tale. While I am interested to see where this story will go, I’m currently enjoying the ride. This week with “God Bless the Child”, there’s a familiar feel to a lot of the narrative choices, but there’s also a strong push of change that’s hard to ignore. Overall, episode 4 proves itself to be another earnest entry that chooses the subtle, inward inferno over a blustery display.

Praise Be

As you might expect given the title, there is some religious context within this episode, which mainly takes place during a baptism for the babies born in Gilead in the last year and flashbacks of June’s (Elisabeth Moss) own for Hannah. We also get to see Emily (Alexis Bledel) reunite with her son and wife (Clea Duvall).

Naomi Putnam (Ever Carradine) invites the Handmaid’s to a reception following the event, which is generally considered inappropriate, but she makes an exception. The invite extends to Janine (Madeline Brewer) who was plucked out of the colonies and brought back despite her (several) transgressions. Janine is a fascinating character, one that seems to retreat into herself, harboring a mind packed with naivety and sweetness. While it may seem like a good way to think/act, leading to acts of kindness like getting the formidable Aunt Lydia (Ann Dowd) some tea, it’s an exposed place to be. Especially given her fancy for flits of aggression and impulsive actions.

After holding Angela for a moment, they’re separated once more, and she’s offering herself up to be the Putnam’s Handmaid again, pleading. With Janine there’s always the potential for an outburst or a perilous decision. Here, she’s quickly reprimanded by Aunt Lydia, who seems to be bursting inside with the desire to invoke pain on the Handmaid’s, but June then decides to put herself in the way, and she stops her. While we’ve seen something very similar happen before, there’s something uniquely unsettling in a room full of people, delivered in this manner.

Carradine’s penance for forgiveness and gratitude makes her another character that’s wonderfully layered and always a welcomed sight. Aunt Lydia is clearly filled to the rim with resentment, especially for Janine, but also for all of the women she supposedly looks out for. Her consistent interactions with the Handmaid’s proves she’s got a surplus of anger issues and they’re the easiest targets for her rage. As always, Ann Dowd masterfully portrays the character, as she struggles to rein her emotions in, conflicted by duty, guilt, and acrimony.

The Waterfords are at the party too, which means that June finds a way to speak to each of them and plants seeds for change. Their marriage is still stilted, but Serena (Yvonne Strahovski) is making efforts to rejoin her regimented world. Serena genuinely feels empathetic of June’s plight, even giving her some important information about Hannah, and June isn’t giving up on persuading Serena to help the cause.

With some delicate declarations, we’re given hope on that front. June is playing a game, and she’s great at it – honing her manipulations, knowing how to pull the strings (theirs in particular) for her benefit. I also think she’s looking at a long game, inching towards something big.

Can You Go Back?

Emily is able to see her son, though not without difficulty.  These scenes are very still, with the emotion coming from what isn’t said versus what is, and the energy between Emily and her family as she studies the life they have without her. Her expressions give us a lot, and it is an overwhelming circumstance, one that Emily handles with careful reverence.

One of the most powerful moments comes at the end when Serena and Fred (Joseph Fiennes) are watching a video at a protest showing Luke and Nichole, and June arrives to confirm their identities. For multiple reasons this is emotional for everyone involved, but for June it’s a confirmation that her child (and husband) are safe. As she watches Luke, you can also see another gear of motivation snap into place. But what will this mean going forward? We’ll have to wait and see, because this also shows the commander where their child is at, and I don’t know how they’ll absorb that information.

June’s most recent walking/shopping partner Ofmatthew (Ashleigh LaThrop) is another interesting addition to the show. It seems she’s one who can’t be trusted and would likely throw you under the table to secure her survival. This perspective of blind following, having several babies, and continuing to obey because she doesn’t want to rock the boat, shows another possible way to adapt due to Gilead and its horrendous stripping of freedom.

There’s always bound to be some who do what they are told because fear has deeply taken root, usually finding ways to justify actions or overlook atrocious behavior (sound familiar in our current climate at all?). Still, as we learn more, it’ll be fascinating to see the turns this character takes. One thing you can be certain of in Gilead: nobody is really quite who they seem. I have a feeling there’s a lot more to her.

There are moments this week when things drag, and the primary setting feels a bit congested at times, but by its end, there’s some important progressions within the story.

Conclusion: “God Bless The Child”

Episode four gives us a resounding take on family and the importance of them, but it also shows – in painstaking comparisons – how things have changed. Family comes in all different kinds of ways, but love is the true driving force. In its final moments we’re given an inquisitive end that brings plenty of questions. How will seeing Nichole and Luke affect the three of them?

Episode four leaves you right where it wants you: seeking more. It’s a well-crafted hour of television, with expert hands behind and in front of the camera, and an increasingly enthralling character in June.

The Handmaid’s Tale premieres new episodes on Hulu every Wednesday.

What did you think? How did this episode compare? Any predictions? Let us know in the comments below!