But its endingJune sacrificing her freedom to fight for Hannah’swhile affecting, doesn’t feel earned.
Grief hangs over “The Word” from beginning to end.
It seems her loss has been particularly difficult for Rita.
Credit: George Kraychyk/Hulu
“I treated her like s,” she says, anguished.
“I should have tried to help her.”
But Serena won’t go there.
“She will obey His word.”
June offers a sharp retort: “She cannotreadHis word.”
She is afraid for Nicole’s future.
Initially she stays quiet.
He smacks her across the face.
But June, energized by her fury, doesn’t back down.
She smacks him back.
He scolds her, coldly, “You are the misery of all menall of you.”
Here are still more warnings that Nicole is entering a dark, dangerous world.
Looking on from behind the bench, Fred looks alternately embarrassed and enraged.
June sits beside her in sympathy.
Serena says to her, crying, “I tried.”
The nasty offer leads her to get in another jab: “Go f yourself.”
Typically, however, Joseph bucks expectations.
He shrugs off the possibility with weary nonchalance: “No, get up.
I’m not going to do that with you.
Go to your room.”
The knife still gets put to use, though.
She leaves furious, and Emily runs after herand stabs her in the back, literally.
(Miller has confirmed Lydia is not dead.)
It’s also a strangely triumphant moment for Emily.
Which leads us to the third game-changing movefrom Serena.
It all comes to a head here.
And she tries again.
“I can get her out,” June says.
“You know she can’t grow up here.”
She knows she’s right.
And finally, at long last, she lets Juneand the babygo free.
She passes it back to June, tears streaming down her cheeks.And she says goodbye.
And so we’re left with June and her baby.
The whole thing moves seamlessly.
Then the car arrives.
“I’m getting myself in deep s,” he tells Emily.
June adds: “You’re getting out of Gilead.”
Another car pulls up.
Emily runs toward it and gets in, while June stays behind for a moment, contemplating.
Then, a knowing smile.
She walks toward the car, baby in hand, and gives her to Emily.
“Tell her I love her.”
She closes the door and watches them drive away.
But of course, June’s decision does drag the show back into familiar territory.
And it’s deeply frustrating, given how much of a loop that path is on.
Whether that’ll change course in season 3, the jury’s still out.
