‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ premiere recap: Praise be, the dystopian drama’s back

Episode 1: “Train”

It’s been nearly two-and-a-half years since The Handmaid’s Tale‘s season 5 finale sent June (Elisabeth Moss), Serena (Yvonne Strahovski), and their babies on a westbound refugee train out of Toronto. But for the ex-handmaid and former commander’s wife, hardly any time has passed at all.

When the season 6 premiere opens, the pair have apparently gotten over the initial shock of seeing each other, and have settled into awkwardly catching up. June, still sporting a broken arm and bruised face following the attack on her life last season, fills her frenemy in on Gilead’s failed attempt to take her out by running her down with a truck. Serena jokes that they’re both unpopular with the totalitarian state, but June’s defensive and quick to remind her that they are not the same.

The former handmaid snaps again when she wakes to find baby Nichole missing, and discovers Serena took her to the dining car with baby Noah. “Just keep your f—ing hands off my kid,” she growls, after Serena says she was just trying to help. But June definitely does need help, as she nearly passes out when attempting to part ways with Serena. 

Serena returns with a doctor, who quickly diagnoses June with an infection. She reluctantly hands Nichole over to Serena, so the doc can take a closer look. While June’s treated, we’re taken to New Bethlehem, Gilead’s new, reformed community where refugees are welcomed back with open arms. Nick (Max Minghella) has just been released following his assault on Commander Lawrence (Bradely Whitford) for targeting June. 

Still upset over his inability to put June in the rearview, Nick’s pregnant, assigned wife Rose isn’t especially happy to see him home. Her father, however, greets him with a big smile and a “Blessed day!” Rose’s dad is new character High Commander Wharton, played by Josh Charles. 

Wharton is up from D.C. to check on his daughter, tour New Bethlehem, and give Nick lots of advice, whether he wants it or not. He seems to like the young commander, talking positively of Nick’s future, but he’s also patronizing. And, like most commanders, it seems he might be hiding a dark secret or two.

Back on the train, June’s feeling better, and has even reached Moira (Samira Wiley) by satellite phone. But the news in Toronto isn’t good. Luke (O-T Fagbenle) has been arrested, and the destination of June’s train is unknown due to stations being overcrowded with refugees. Serena tries to comfort June, telling her Luke will be reunited with her and Nichole soon. But June reminds her that Hannah is still being held prisoner – and being prepped to become a wife – back in Gilead. 

We catch up with Moira directly at Mark Tuello’s (Sam Jaeger) office, where she’s badgering the U.S. agent to get Luke out of custody. But Tuello can’t do much, as the tiny American embassy he runs out of Canada is losing support and may close soon. Gildead’s control is spreading across the U.S. map, and Canada’s beginning to normalize relations with it. With America’s military nearly depleted, Mark tells Moira that rebel group Mayday is pretty much the country’s last hope. Moira insists on joining the cause.

We return to the rail, where Serena listens uncomfortably as refugees share their Gilead horror stories. June is recounting her tale of the day she and Hannah were captured when the doctor returns. He pulls June aside to tell her Serena is a war criminal, and that an officer is coming to arrest her. He then shares this sensitive info with the entire car – by intentionally addressing her as “Mrs. Waterford” – prompting the other women to quickly turn on Serena. 

As tensions threaten to turn to violence in the crowded train car, the officer arrives. But it seems he’s no fan of Serena’s either. His family was also lost to Gilead, so rather than arresting her, he leaves her for the increasingly angry mob. Serena does herself no favors when she becomes a bit self-righteous, preaching to her would-be attackers that they lost their country because they turned their backs on God. 

Meanwhile, June’s caught in the awkward middle, both trying to reel in Serena and keep the mob at bay. As Serena cowers on the floor, clutching Noah to her chest, the other women begin to tear at her clothes. With things about to get bloody, June pulls the locomotive’s emergency break, bringing it to a screeching halt.

The distraction allows them to escape, but not for long. As they’re relentlessly  pursued by the attackers, June tells Serena she must leap from the stopped vehicle. She refuses to jump. Just as the mob’s about to reach them, June pushes her and Noah from the train as it begins to pull away.

After being shunned by the other passengers, June sits on the floor with Nichole as the train hits the end of the line. It has stopped in Alaska, where June’s soon taken to a refugee camp. An American flag, with just two stars remaining, flies above the settlement. A female medical volunteer approaches to help with the new group of arrivals. The woman is checking names on a clipboard when she suddenly drops it, and begins yelling –  “June, June Osborne!” then, “sweetheart!” It’s June’s mom, Holly (Cherry Jones), previously only seen in flashbacks.

In utter disbelief, June responds by getting out of line and following the voice calling her name. She turns toward Holly and sees her face. Still in shock, she slowly walks right into her mother’s arms. The episode closes on them enjoying a long, tearful, joyful embrace. 

Episode 2: “Exile”

Following episode 1’s throw-Serena-from-the-train cliffhanger, the second chapter finds the ex-Mrs. Waterford safe and sound with baby Noah. She walks out of the Canadian wilderness to immediately discover a church. This leads to her meeting a kind woman who drives her to a refugee settlement. A faith-based community that only houses women and children, the camp welcomes Serena. 

June’s safe as well, reunited with her mom in Alaska. The two do some catching up, and we learn Holly, who June assumed was dead, was rescued from the colonies by the military. She offers to remove the red ear-tag that identifies June as a handmaid. But June declines, insisting on keeping the brand until all handmaids are liberated.

Back in Toronto, Mark is able to get Luke released from custody. But with his hearing months away, Luke’s frustrated there’s nothing he can do to help his family. Mark and Moira fill him in on Mayday’s next move – the rebel group is working to identify and execute the most extreme Gilead commanders, including those that ordered the planes sent to rescue Hannah, shot down. Luke wants in, he wants to help Mayday. 

Nick meets with Lawrence at the commander’s New Bethlehem home. The latter insists he had nothing to do with the attempt on June’s life in Toronto, but Nick’s just there to tell him that his father-in-law, High Commander Wharton, is on his way over. 

When Wharton arrives, he commends Lawrence on the early success of New Bethlehem, but he’s also skeptical of this kinder, gentler Gilead. He also strongly suggests that he consider bringing Serena back to welcome returning refugees and serve as the friendly face of the reformed country. Lawrence likes the idea, and sends Nick to find Serena.

In Toronto, Moira and Luke are talking to Rita (Amanda Brugel), who fears being kicked out of her home because of Canada’s growing intolerance toward refugees. She’s considering going back to Gilead to find her sister, who’s still trapped there. As Moira’s warning her not to go back, June calls. She’s happy Luke’s been released, and fills her husband in on her recent adventures with meeting Serena on the train, and finding her mom in Alaska. Luke notably does not share his intentions to join Mayday.

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Next, we check in on one of Mark and Nick’s clandestine meetings. The agent tells the commander June and Nichole are safe in Alaska. In exchange for the update, he asks Nick to secure him patrol route details for No Man’s Land. Mayday has a mission in the lawless, unoccupied territory between Canada and Gilead, and it needs this intel. Tuello then gives his spy a burner phone so he can reach him when needed. 

And with that, the series skips ahead two months. June’s enjoying a safe and peaceful life in Alaska with her mom and baby Nichole, while Serena and Noah are similarly thriving at the Canadian settlement that took them in. While Serena works in the community’s garden, we get a brief flashback to her before times. A younger Serena is visiting her dad, who references the “dark times” the world is facing. He also looks forward to meeting her new boyfriend, “Fred.”

In New Bethlehem, Nick is having a fireside drink with Wharton, who continues to recognize his son-in-law’s promise and potential while still patronizing him. He essentially tells Nick he needs to be his own man, less influenced by the likes of Commander Lawrence. When Wharton leaves, Nick removes the chip from the phone Mark gave him and tosses it in the fire.

June and Serena’s new lives are soon shaken up by significant developments. In Alaska, June is beginning to worry about Luke, as she can’t reach him by phone. She ultimately connects with Mark, who tells her Luke and Moira have joined Mayday, and are trapped in No Man’s Land. Nick not only trashed his phone, but he apparently never came through with those patrol route details Mark requested.

Meanwhile, Serena receives a visit in Canada from Commander Lawrence, who’s not only located her, but wants her to come home to New Bethlehem. He assures her that things are different – women are not only allowed to read, write, and conduct business, but they can live there without being married. He wants Serena to be the face of this progress and reform. He also makes her decision a bit easier by warning her it’s only a matter of time before the Wheelers catch up with her.

At an awkward dinner gathering, where the Lawrences break bread with Serena’s new refugee friends, she announces she’s leaving to return to New Bethlehem. She believes God has a plan for her to heal the world. Another flashback with her father reveals she had similar visions of helping create a “New Garden of Eden,” which, of course, became Gilead. But she’s now determined to follow God’s path, while also making up for her past mistakes. 

June has big plans, too. Following the call with Mark, she decides she must return to Canada to help Luke and Moira. An embassy plane will fly her back, where she’ll meet with Mayday to help rescue her husband and best friend. This doesn’t sit well with Holly, who feels like she’s just gotten her daughter back. After some fierce arguing and soul-searching, the two make up. June agrees to let her mom help by taking care of Nichole – who she reveals is actually named “Holly” after her – while she’s off helping the rebels.

Before the credits roll, we get a sharp contrast between the two women’s return journeys. Serena boards Lawrence’s plush, private plane before arriving in the coastal, postcard-perfect New Bethlehem. At the same time, June rides in the back of a beat-up military truck before arriving at an equally beat-up Mayday safehouse. 

Before the screen goes black, June turns to the rebels – and the camera – and introduces herself: “My name is June. Let’s bring them home.”

Episode 3: “Devotion”

June wastes no time getting to work upon returning to Canada. While the episode opens on happier times – a flashback to Hannah’s baptism – the feel-good moment is cut short by Mark: “June, we need to go.” Tuello quickly brings her up to speed on the situation. Luke and Moira’s mission was simple – pick up a bag containing the identities of the extremist commanders Mayday wants to take out. But they’ve been trapped in No Man’s Land for four days, and Nick isn’t responding.  

Nick is, however, quite busy back in New Bethlehem. He’s preparing to host foreign dignitaries and, according to Lawrence’s orders, convince them that Gilead is now as safe as Disneyland. When the German diplomat arrives, he pulls Nick aside to deliver a secret message: “June Osborne is at mile marker 17.”

While Nick has no problem ignoring Mark’s calls, he’ll never say no to June. He meets her in the woods, at the mile marker, where she lays out Luke and Moira’s dilemma in No Man’s Land. But security has been beefed up due to the visiting diplomats, so Nick can’t call off the security patrol. He decides he’ll need to go in himself and rescue them. June insists on joining him. 

While Lawrence nervously awaits his visitors, he checks in with Serena. He’s excited for her to charm their new foreign friends, and sell them on the reformed Gilead. But while Serena feels she’s doing God’s work, she questions Lawrence’s faith. When he tries to pass a quote from Broadway’s “Book of Mormon” as prayer, Serena realizes she’s right. But regardless of what’s driving him – a guilty conscience, his dead wife – Lawrence assures her they can rebuild the country they broke.

Three episodes into the season, and we finally reunite with fan-favorite foe Aunt Lydia (Ann Dowd). The supposedly reformed baddie has been summoned to a Jezabel’s, one of Gilead’s underground brothels where punished handmaids are forced to work. To her shock, she finds her “special girl” Janine (Madeline Brewer) has been sent there after her last stay with the Putnam’s went south. 

Upon further investigation, she realizes three more of her former handmaids are also being abused as sex workers. She’s horrified and wants to help get them out. But Janine – who goes by Kitty at the brothel – tells her the best thing she can do is leave and forget about her. She’s had enough of Lydia’s “help” for a lifetime. But Lydia, who was led to believe her girls would be rewarded for bringing children into the world, is left speechless. 

Back in New Bethlehem, Lawrence and Serena are giving the dignitaries – including Canada’s female diplomat – a tour of the pastel-colored, Stepford Wives-like town. While he talks up the “safe and peaceful” community, Wharton approaches Serena. Under the guise of checking on her wellbeing, the commander uncomfortably – and creepily – complements her looks. 

When we check back in with June and Nick, they’re deep into No Man’s Land. More specifically, they’re skulking around an abandoned water park that’s heavily patrolled by Gilead’s goons. Between narrow escapes, he reveals that he agreed to spy for the U.S. so he could help keep her safe. 

But he’s also frustrated that he’s risking everything to help save her husband, the man she chose over him. She says she still loves him, while he concedes he could never quit her even if he can’t have her. It’s quite the complicated love triangle in these dystopian times. 

The perspective changes to the water park’s gift shop, where Luke and Moira are safe – for now – but going a bit stir crazy. It’s been four days and they’re nearly out of rations. They’ve acquired the intel they came for, but have no way out. It seems they’re about to be caught when someone breaches the gift shop. After a tense moment of waiting for the other shoe to drop, however, it’s revealed to be Nick and June. 

After an expectedly awkward exchange between Nick and Luke –  and Nick and Moira, who’s meeting him for the first time – the four sneak outside and make for the park’s exit. But when they arrive at Nick’s car, a guardian patrol pulls up. Nick sends the Mayday crew ahead, and goes to smooth things out with the suspicious soldiers. He tells them the situation is under his control and they needn’t worry about it. But the guardians, while respectful of Nick’s commander status, insist on recording the incident. He shoots them both dead.

A return to sunny New Bethlehem reveals Lawrence’s tour is going splendidly, even if he and Wharton are wondering about Nick’s whereabouts. At the tour’s conclusion, however, the commander is forced to field a few difficult questions from some of the female ambassadors. They still don’t trust Gilead after all the murder and mutilation – how can they, in good conscience, return refugees to this place?

But Serena saves him. She steps in, vouches for Lawrence’s claims of progression and reformation, and soon has the foreign visitors eating out of her palm. They seem moved by her personal struggles and promises to atone for her own mistakes that led to the formation of the old Gilead. 

They’re even more impressed by the totalitarian government’s rising birth rates, which are far ahead of any other country’s. She punctuates this stat by trotting out Noah, who the diplomats immediately begin fawning over. Lawrence concludes the tour with a rousing, “All the good of Gilead. None of the bad. This is the promise of New Bethlehem.” The Canadian dignitary, who’s cradling Noah, agrees to consider sending her country’s refugees back. While the ambassadors continue to gush over Noah – and Rose’s pregnant belly – Wharton complements Serena on her sales skills.

He plays a slightly different tune later in the day, however. Lawrence is celebrating the successful day and already talking about expanding New Bethlehem, but Wharton pumps the brakes, claiming the country may not be ready for that. Serena and Naomi fully support Lawrence’s expansion suggestion, but Wharton only agrees to keep the conversation going. He also asks about Nick’s whereabouts, but Lawrence is quick to cover for the missing commander.

Lawrence arrives home ready to continue the celebration, but he has a visitor waiting for him. Aunt Lydia is upset and demanding answers about her handmaids being sent to work in a “den of depravity.” Lawrence blows her off, believing they should be thankful they’re not working the colonies. Lydia begs Naomi to take Janine back in, but that’s a big no from the commander’s wife. 

Lydia, who – based on her trembling lips – seems to be in poor health, continues to plead with Lawrence. She gets angry when he refers to her girls as “stained” ex-handmaids. She can’t understand why they’re not being rewarded for performing a “sacred service” for their country, but are rather being punished. Lawrence continues to brush her off, but does share that Serena has returned to New Bethlehem. This seems to ignite a spark in the defeated Lydia. 

Before the episode ends, we discover Nick was able to get June, Luke, and Moira out of No Man’s Land safely. He drops them off to Mark, who scolds the commander for going dark on him. He threatens to reveal his betrayal if he doesn’t cooperate in the future. But Nick says he’s doing his best, and that he wouldn’t be any good to Mark if he was dead.

The Mayday crew then exchange goodbyes with Nick, who even gets a bro hug from Luke. Of course, Nick and June have the longest goodbye. He tells her to make a good life for herself, but she’s not hearing it – she knows this isn’t the last time they’ll see each other. 

Instead, she insists on a “See ya later.” Nick complies, then watches her walk away. As she approaches Tuello’s car, she turns to look at him one more time, not knowing for sure when – or if – Gilead will bring them together again.