In the beginning of Episode 2 of The Testaments, Agnes narrates how her period marks her as one of the Chosen Ones. Although she's filled with a mix of emotions—surprise, happiness, and fear—she's also scared. This cacophony of emotions swirls around her, and with her friends Martha and Rosa gone, she informs Paula about her coming of age.
Agnes is greeted with a slightly warmer-than-usual set of instructions from Paula. She explains that she never got the same induction from her own mother, but does hand over Tabitha's cover for her pads, something that's been kept for Agnes for years. Tabitha is the woman Agnes believes is her birth mother. However, this warmth doesn't last long as responsibilities are turned over to Rosa when she shows. Rosa is much more forthcoming with the girl, hugging her and offering some coffee too.
Rosa actually took care of Tabitha in the past when she was dying, sitting next to her bed and feeding her ice cubes at the end. At school, Agnes dismisses Daisy when she tries to talk and heads up to the belltower alone, ringing the bell to mark her joyous day. There's actually a pretty clever shot here, as one of the girls drops her red paintbrush in the paint pot, turning the water red.
The whole school gathers outside as Aunt Vidala blesses Agnes with a new pin. Things are looking up for her… until she's called into Corrections. Now, Corrections are done in a separate part of the school in the Aunts' wing and usually reserved for punishments. Unfortunately, the girl being punished here is Daisy. She's admitted to her cursing and with a muzzle on, Agnes is forced to torture her. The girls revel in the anger and aggression of it all… until Daisy brings up that Agnes was in attendance when she cursed.
While the rest of the girls are allowed to leave, both Daisy and Agnes are forced to scrub their mouths out with soap. Following this, Daisy apologizes but Agnes isn't one for forgiving. She tells Daisy to go back home if it's too much for her, but Daisy explains she has no home.
After school, Agnes undergoes a medical examination from a doctor who, unfortunately, abuses her during the procedure. He reaches under her clothes to touch her breasts, making the entire situation feel incredibly inappropriate and uncomfortable. It's around this time that Agnes starts having nightmares about her husband in a dark room.
That night, Agnes is awoken by Aunt Lydia, who tells her that "it's time." This is all part of her ceremony, where she's essentially baptised in a large swimming pool. Afterwards, Becka approaches Agnes and expresses how she doesn't want a husband or to get married. Her longing glances and little gestures suggest that she may have feelings for Agnes. Agnes tries her best to reassure her friend that they'll both be free of the Aunts soon once they're married.
As for Daisy, she secretly sketches a layout of the school, avoiding detection from others by hiding in the toilet stalls that night. It's clear at this point that she's part of the resistance.
Meanwhile, Agnes is taken back home but on the way, she strikes up a conversation with one of the guards outside the Commander's house, Garth. They share an undeniable chemistry, but in Gilead, this is never going to happen.
Inside, Agnes is brought before Commander Mackenzie, where she drops to her knees and confesses how she's become a woman.
