Episode 2 of Season 5 of "The Handmaid's Tale" kicks off with June tossing and turning in bed, unable to find rest. Driven by an insistent urge, she ventures outside, retrieves her gun from the car, and discreetly buries it in the secluded backyard. Meanwhile, Serena boards a flight bound for Gilead, her heart heavy yet resolute, as she prepares to mourn the loss of Fred at his funeral. Mark awaits her arrival, vowing to stand by her side throughout the ordeal. Her sarcastic reply, "Like you were for Fred?" cuts deep, rendering Mark's assurances hollow and insincere.
Despite the sharp exchange, more pressing matters demand attention – namely, Fred Waterford's funeral. Lawrence and Nick greet her at the runway, with Lawrence opting to escort her to the hotel. However, Serena's mind is elsewhere; she's eager to inspect the church chosen for Fred's final resting place. The modest affair lacks the grandeur she expects, hinting that Gilead seeks to swiftly bury this chapter and move on.
Gilead's – and consequently Lawrence's – motive is clear: to expedite Serena's departure from Gilead and usher her into a "new life." Unhappy with the plan, Serena insists on a dignity-worthy burial and funeral for her husband. She senses a conspiracy, believing someone assisted June in Fred's demise, with her suspicions casting a shadow over Lawrence.
But Lawrence, seasoned in the ways of Gilead, brushes off Serena's accusations. He smugly reminds her of the society's hierarchical structure, emphasizing women's subordinate status and her slim chance of swaying the council. Elsewhere, Aunt Lydia continues her meticulous grooming of the incoming batch of Handmaids, with Janine by her side. Lydia assigns Janine the task of preparing Esther, a young recruit, for her assignment with the Putnam family. Though reluctant, Janine advises compliance, emphasizing the rules' necessity for survival.
Serena, determined to make her voice heard, seeks an audience with Gilead's leaders. She proposes an audacious plan: to showcase Fred's funeral as an international event, broadcast to the world. It's unclear whether this is a strategic maneuver to unsettle June or a deeper plot at play. Intriguingly, Lawrence embraces the idea, while Nick concurs, believing it paints Gilead in a merciful light – precisely the public image they crave amidst turmoil.
Previously mentioned as a potential martyr, Fred's death seems poised to ignite precisely such a reaction, shaping the narrative of Gilead in ways yet unforeseen.
Thanks to Lawrence's persuasive efforts, the scales of power are sufficiently tilted away from Warren Putnam. Serena, determined to elevate the occasion, resolves to invite Commanders from beyond the town's borders. As for Nick, he confidentially confronts Mark, presenting him with a unique opportunity: to reunite with his daughter while serving as an undercover agent for the state. Mark is astonished by Nick's remarkable ability to remain undetected thus far and sees this as a chance to continue his covert operations, albeit with added benefits.
June receives the news of Serena's return to Gilead with a surge of resentment welling up inside her. She finds it infuriating that Serena can navigate the border between the two states with such effortless ease, and her sarcasm cuts like a knife as she suggests that Serena deserves punishment, either as a handmaid or facing execution. Blinded by a storm of rage, June unleashes her tormented experiences upon Rita, who firmly rejects her outpouring. Rita, her voice trembling, admits that she too has faced her own struggles within the oppressive confines of Gilead, expressing a reluctance to dwell on Serena's actions. As Rita turns to leave, Moira steps forward to confront June's seething fury.
That afternoon, June reveals to Luke that Serena is aware of her role in Fred's demise and confesses to sending her Fred's severed finger. Luke is stunned by June's recklessness, which puts their family in jeopardy and hinders their efforts to reclaim Hannah. June's judgment has been clouded not just by grief, but by a rage that borders on irrationality. Luke pleads, "Nichole needs you here. Your family needs you here."
Esther, unable to endure the oppressive life in Gilead any longer, decides to take her own life. This decision is partially influenced by a distressing encounter with Warren Putnam, who force-feeds her and possibly subjects her to further torment, given their solitude and Lydia's worried demeanor. Before her end, Esther confesses to Janine that she hates her and views her suicide as a martyrdom for June.
While June attends a ballet with Luke, Serena begins her procession through the streets of Gilead, flanked by mourners attending Fred Waterford's funeral. The editing here is masterful, alternating swiftly between scenes in Gilead and Canada, with the pace intensifying as the music swells. As the performance concludes, June and Luke share a kiss in the streets, but their joy is shattered when they witness Fred's death broadcast as breaking news across the town. The grim news is displayed on every monitor, and to June's utter horror, a young girl, aged twelve, presents her with a bouquet of flowers. June and Luke are devastated as they recognize the girl: it is Hannah.
