The fifth episode of Season 5 of "The Handmaid's Tale" kicks off with an urgent phone call that interrupts June's peaceful night. It's Lily on the line, informing her that a guardian, bearing vital information, is en route. Without hesitation, Moira and Luke join June, and they set off together into the unknown.
However, they soon discover that the border patrols have tightened their grip, leaving the friendly stuck in No Man’s Land, a perilous limbo between safety and danger. Faced with no alternative, Luke makes the brave decision to venture out alone to uncover news of Hannah. June, driven by an unyielding resolve, insists on accompanying him. Moira, however, stays behind, steadfast in her duty to protect Nichole.
The identity of their contact remains concealed, a necessity in such a perilous world, replaced instead by a code-word and meticulous instructions as they plunge back into the treacherous lands of Gilead. The memory of Hannah being wrenched from their grasp years ago looms heavily over them, yet June pushes forward, undeterred.
Elsewhere, Serena finds herself awkwardly immersed in the generous hospitality of the Wheelers, savoring another exquisite breakfast laid out for her. She harbors plans to reopen another center, defiantly asserting that she won't let arbitrary rules thwart God's will. Both Warren and Joseph call her, the former disgruntled by the negative press following the shutdown of her previous center.
Serena, undeterred and visionary, believes that the focus on Gilead is misplaced; instead, they should concentrate on fertility and the infants. Warren, incensed, abruptly terminates the call. He is steadfast in his conviction that Gilead should remain shuttered from the world's gaze. Lawrence, however, warns that if they don't open their doors, even just a crack, their nation will wither and die.
Eventually, June and Luke encounter their contact, who insists on guiding them further into the unknown. Though their caution is understandable, they comply, following him to an abandoned bowling alley that seemed to have been forgotten by time. There, he produces a USB drive, the contents of which hold the crucial keys to unlocking their search. The footage of Hannah, though intermittently chopped and fractured, is unmistakably present. Their guide emphatically advises them to wait until the sun dips below the horizon before attempting to return to the border, citing the perilous dangers that lurk in the twilight. Luke, though hesitant, nods in agreement, and the pair decides to pass the time by indulging in a nostalgic game of bowling amidst the decaying ambiance of the alley.
Meanwhile, a dawning realization is settling over Serena: the limited influence she wields and how her perspective has shifted since arriving in Canada. The Commanders have given the green light to proceed with the fertility center, yet Serena is essentially confined to her home, her movements severely restricted. Moreover, she's been stripped of her cell phone, further isolating her.
Elsewhere, Luke and June set off through the woods, but their journey is cut short by a tragic accident. Their Gilead contact steps on a landmine, and his leg is blown off in a gruesome instant. Despite the gravity of the situation, the pair attempts to stabilize his wound with a tourniquet and offer assistance. However, his screams echo through the forest, drawing flashlight beams from the horizon. With a plea for them to flee, they oblige, racing through the darkness. Unfortunately, their escape is halted on an open road as they are captured, their fate now hanging in the balance.
