THE HANDMAID’S TALE (S3E5): “Unknown Caller”: The Fire’s Catching

The Handmaid’s Tale’s “Unknown Caller” really threw us for an emotional loop this week from one, somewhat, happy end of the spectrum to a healthy dose of WTF anger in its closing moments. Not that we aren’t used to traumatic sequences and physical violence, but this really works our rawest feelings, and those of our cast who are absolutely excellent in portraying this.

The situation at hand isn’t an easy one to unravel, and one may expect things to be challenging, but the dynamic between the Waterfords and June (as well as Luke now) just became completely warped.

An Agreement

As we had left off last week, the Waterfords now know where Nichole is. Serena (Yvonne Strahovski) is a character who repeatedly goes back and forth from misunderstood to empathetic to downright cruel. Well, expect the same whirlwind here.

As we know, the commander (Joseph Fiennes) is dying to get Serena back and when June agrees to contact Luke (O-T Fagbenle) to arrange a meeting between Serena and him there’s hope they can say their goodbyes and gain some closure. I know that June’s decisions are very methodical, as there’s very little she does these days without an intent that will benefit her, but I think that naivety gets the better of her here. How many times will she think they have changed before there’s no going back?

In this case Serena heads to Canada, smuggled on a plane and outfitted in normal attire. It’s almost believable that she may stay this time, as she’s reminded by Mark Tuello (Sam Jaeger)that she can stay if she wants. In an uncomfortable scene, for all involved, she meets Luke and Nichole, still claiming the child is hers despite the fact that she never was and that the whole system is completely horrid.

It’s still nearly impossible not to feel sympathetic for her, you want her to run away, and to still find happiness, maybe even a connection with Nichole, and this is due to Strahovski’s searing performance. Luke is also rightfully angry and protective, but he does it for June. He even lets her hold Nichole, which may very well be the stick that broke the camel’s back.

When Serena leaves, we see a cell phone in her purse with a note,  suggesting she has an ally in Mark who can get her out in the future, if need be. However, when she returns, she embraces her husband, and the peace she was seeking doesn’t seem to be achieved. Instead, and especially after he says there’s more that can be done, something else is born. A pit inducing sort of feeling commences.

Difficult Truths & And Extreme Reactions

Soon after we see Luke opening a package, he got from Serena with a tape in it. He starts listening, a familiar song plays and then June comes on. This sequence is utterly heartbreaking. Of course, she tells him she loves him and thanks him for caring for Nichole, but she also tells him he deserves happiness- and doesn’t seem to be confident she’ll be returning or that he should wait for her.

She does promise to continue her crusade to save Hannah, but she also tells him that Nichole was born out of love. She’s referring to Nick, and you can see as that bit of information (and I understand she had her reasons) cuts Luke deep. When she’s shopping with her partner, Ashleigh LaThrop’s Ofmatthew (I can never truly get used to these names that they give, men retaining ownership over the women) who she finds out is pregnant again, we see the toll this has taken on her.

As I said last week, nobody is exactly as they seem and even those who are dutiful to Gilead and its sycophant inspiring ways, have a backstory. This strong seemingly cold woman looks broken by the news, but before June can really respond she’s taken away in a van.

She’s dressed in finery by Aunt Lydia (Ann Dowd) and brought out onto a stage. There awaits Serena and the Commander, and neither are looking her in the eye. When the camera comes on, they plead for their child to be given back to them, demanding she was wrongfully taken and is being held in Canada. I’m not sure what they think will come of this considering the Canadians are not allies, but either way this is bound to make a huge mess.

June is absolutely livid, and as U2’s “Sunday Bloody Sunday” kicks in and the camera zooms up to her face, there’s a tension boiling, gearing us up a battle.

Conclusion: Unknown Caller

Director Colin Watkinson serves up a dynamite episode, one that builds with stomach churning intensity and ends with a bang. I think things are really heating up now.

What did you think? How will things go from here? Let us know in the comments below.

New episodes of The Handmaid’s tale premiere Wednesday on Hulu.