In the previous episode of Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale, Frances was executed because Ofmatthew informed on her to Aunt Lydia. The Handmaid’s Tale Season 3 Episode 8 explored Aunt Lydia’s past as Ofmatthew faced the repercussions of her actions.
Testify
The other Handmaids – those on June’s side – ostracized Ofmatthew while Ofandy was having contractions. The contractions stopped, and Lydia had everyone go back to the birthmobile. She had noticed how everyone was acting toward Ofmatthew. The Handmaids sat in a circle around June. She had to admit that Frances’s execution and the Mackenzies’ leaving were her fault.
June told Lydia and the group that Ofmatthew didn’t want her baby. Lydia had June switch places with her. June had successfully manipulated the situation against Ofmatthew, who broke down. Janine was sympathetic toward her. However, at Loaves and Fishes, Ofmatthew snapped and beat Janine with canned food. She killed a guard and got his gun. After pointing it at June, she switched to Aunt Lydia. Before Ofmatthew could pulled the trigger, a guard shot and killed her. June watched them drag her away without remorse.
Bad Apple
Lydia and two other Aunts were matching families with Handmaids. When it came to the Waterfords, Lydia noted that the trouble with June started with them. However, she felt that the Lawrences were bad influences as well, considering what happened with Emily.
June confronted Commander Lawrence about his wife. Though he was protective of Mrs. Lawrence, he kept her in Gilead when he could get her out with a phone call.
After being called back to Ofandy’s, June didn’t console her after the baby was stillborn. At Loaves and Fishes, before Ofmatthew’s death, Lydia told June that she would be reassigned. June had been confident that wouldn’t happen since Commander Lawrence asked for her. Lydia remarked that there were Commanders who were more important than him.
Aunt Lydia
We saw Aunt Lydia’s life before the rise of Gilead. As a teacher, she looked after a young boy, Ryan, whose mother, Noelle, hadn’t picked him up. He was hungry, as Noelle had only packed him a bag of chips for lunch. Lydia took Noelle and Ryan back to her house for some chili.
During Christmas, Lydia exchanged gifts with them. Noelle gave Lydia some makeup. For New Year’s Eve, Lydia went out with Jim Thorne, the principal of the school where she worked. They sang karaoke and kissed at midnight. However, Jim couldn’t go further since he was still mourning the death of his wife.
At the school, Lydia reported Noelle as being an unfit mother. Ryan would be put in foster care; there were plenty of people willing to take him in. Noelle confronted Lydia, but it was no use. She would have to wait six weeks to dispute Lydia’s claims.
What did you think of this episode of The Handmaid’s Tale? Let us know in the comment section below!
