In the previous episode of Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale, Serena and June reunited, and Emily wasn’t ready to reach out to her wife yet. In The Handmaid’s Tale Season 3 Episode 4, Gilead celebrated the births of the community’s babies, while Emily saw her family for the first time since getting out of Gilead.
Celebration
The Commanders, their wives, and the Handmaids gathered for a ceremony to celebrate the births of the babies. The Handmaids who gave birth got a special front row seat, including Janine, June, and her walking partner Ofmatthew. After welcoming the babies into the community, they acknowledged the loss of Nichole.
Afterwards, the Putnams invited everyone to their house for a reception. The Handmaids weren’t allowed to eat at the buffet. Janine brought Aunt Lydia tea and told her they prayed for her recovery. Aunt Lydia didn’t believe her, but Janine was sincere.
When Naomi brought out Angela, Janine asked to hold her. Miraculously, Naomi agreed. When Janine handed the baby back, she desperately told the Putnams they could have more children if they took her back. As she got pushier, Aunt Lydia beat her violently. June stepped in and stopped her.
Power
At the Putnams, Commander Waterford talked to June alone. He told her about the problems he and Serena were having. June suggested that he let her have more say behind the scenes. Alone with Serena, June told her about the conversation. Though Serena was doubtful she had any influence, June pointed out that she had more than she thought.
At the end of the night, Serena told June where Hannah went to school. She suggested that June could find a way to see her while she was outside playing. When June turned to thank her, Serena had already left the room. She heard a Guardian showing the Waterfords a video of Luke holding Nichole at a protest in support of Chicago. She identified him, and Serena was happy to see the video.
Baptism
June remembered Hannah’s baptism. Though Holly and Moira wanted June to reconsider, they went through with it. Though they weren’t particularly religious, June and Luke wanted to thank God for Hannah, especially with the infertility epidemic. In the present, Luke and Moira baptized Nichole.
Fighting to Get Back
Emily awkwardly met Sylvia outside of the train station. Oliver would be coming home from school soon, but Sylvia wanted to give her a moment before seeing him. Emily asked if Oliver remembered her. Sylvia showed Emily his room, which included photos of her with him and a drawing he made of her.
When he arrived home, Oliver didn’t hug Emily because she wasn’t ready. He showed her pictures of fossils, and at night, he asked Emily to read the dinosaur book to her.
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