Episode 3 of Season 5 of "The Handmaid's Tale" kicks off with June grappling with the stunning revelation of Hannah's appearance on the news. Moira swiftly arrives to lend an ear, and together, they delve into the significance of the purple hue Hannah wore.
A clandestine group of women resides at the border, and Moira proposes leveraging them to convey a message into Gilead. Despite these women being refugees, deeply scarred by their experiences, June and Moira forge ahead, driven by their unwavering commitment to Hannah's well-being.
June meets Lily, their contact, who eagerly agrees to relay a message to a Commander. Lily, once part of the deal that saw Fred Waterford exchanged for others, is more than willing to assist June. Guiding Moira and June into the woods, perilously close to No Man's Land, Lily introduces them to a community of women shrouded in mistrust.
June pauses, uncertain, before an upside-down American flag hanging outside a cabin. Inside, the cabin reveals a pin-up board celebrating those rescued and another, poignantly, honoring those lost. These women harbor a secret weapon: arsenic, administered to Commanders as a silent act of rebellion. "A grim but fitting end," they remark, eliciting a wry smile from June. "Just perfect," she responds.
Elsewhere, Serena and Mark arrive to visit Lawrence, but Mark finds himself waiting outside. Inside, Serena observes Nick's elevation to Commander status, and he enters with his wife, Rose, presenting a gift for Serena's unborn child. The atmosphere is thick with tension.
During dinner, the conversation pivots to June Osbourne, and the decision is made to isolate her, branding her as a destructive force within Gilead. This tightening of security spooks Nick, leading him to backtrack on plans to join Mark.
Serena, meanwhile, declares her intention to stay in Gilead. She rejects Canada, believing she's found a true home within Gilead's borders. Mark, disbelieving and concerned, warns her that staying, especially as an unmarried woman, is perilous. Defeated, Mark departs just as a messenger informs Serena of her upcoming meeting with the council.
Aunt Lydia storms into the hospital to oversee Esther, who unexpectedly still clings to life despite her suicide attempt. In her moment of weakness, Lydia's betrayal bubbles over, leading her to strike Esther across the face with a resounding slap.
Janine also finds herself confined to the hospital's white walls, but Lydia's demeanor changes drastically at her bedside. She kneels, her voice quivering with sincerity as she vows to turn her life around with the Lord's guidance, viewing this as a chance to rectify her past mistakes. She begs God, with all her heart, to spare Janine's life. Ironically, Mrs. Putnam arrives with Angela to visit Janine, adding a touch of warmth to the otherwise cold hospital room.
Now, let's delve into the meaning behind Hannah's purple attire. It transpires that she is being meticulously prepared for a life as a wife, with the McKenzies sending her to a so-called "wife school." June learns of this startling revelation through a phone call with Nick, who also delivers the heartbreaking news of his own marriage. He urges June to stay safe and reluctantly admits that their conversations must cease for the foreseeable future.
Serena's council meeting proceeds as scheduled, but before she enters the chamber, Lawrence intercepts her with an apology. As he takes his seat among the council members, Serena's fate is sealed. She is appointed as an unofficial global ambassador for Gilead, her influence to be wielded from afar. However, Gilead offers her no refuge; instead, she is compelled to leave for Canada, essentially exiled from her homeland. She is provided with provisions, including protection and her own staff, but the sting of rejection remains.
As Serena approaches the bridge marking her exit from Gilead, June materializes at her car window like a ghostly apparition from a horror film. Her voice, a ragged whisper, echoes with a threat: "Never touch my daughter again." Serena, shaken, instructs her driver to turn the car around, leaving the scene tense and fraught with uncertainty.
