Yesterday, the first teaser for season 2 of The Handmaid’s Tale was released and honestly, it looks more mental than season one – and we’re not sure how that’s even possible.
So while we try to kill time for the next few months before it hits screens (April 25, by the way), we’ll just have to relive the show’s most harrowing moments so far.
Ofglen is mutilated
As a form of punishment for the crime of ‘gender treachery’ (engaging in a same-sex relationship with a Martha), Ofglen (Alexis Bledel) is forced to watch her partner die by hanging. Ofglen is then taken away and wakes up in a sterile, blinding white room. She stumbles out of bed, realising her lower parts are covered in bandages. Aunt Lydia (Ann Dowd) tells her “you won’t want what you cannot have”, implying that she has had her clitoris removed. “You can still have children of course, but things will be so much easier for you now,” Aunt Lydia says. Chills.
When the Mexican governor turns a blind eye
Offred aka June (Elisabeth Moss) finally has a chance to reveal to the Mexican ambassador, Mrs Castillo (Zabryna Guevara), about the rape, maiming and torture that goes on in Gilead. Viewers hoped that maybe the high-ranking official would bring about change as a result. Instead, she tells June that there hasn’t been a baby born alive in six years, thereby justifying her belief that handmaids need to become a commodity to be bought and sold to create life. Cue all of our hearts to sink.
When we learn Mrs Waterford’s past
Throughout the season, we start learning more and more of everyone’s past. One of the most shocking? Serena Joy Waterford (Yvonne Strahovski). Turns out she was a champion for women’s rights and an author of a book called A Woman’s Place, which said the line: “Never mistake a woman’s meekness for weakness.” Cheers for the support, Serena. Her obsession to create life was so warped that she and her husband Fred were the crucial players in creating the messed up system that is Gilead.
Offred learns she’s pregnant
Serena is wild with rage after finding out June had worn her sequin dress and gone out to the Jezabels with the Commander. She then forces her to do a pregnancy test and it turns out to be positive. The show’s second season will focus on the pregnancy, Elisabeth revealed in a recent press tour. “We’ve talked a lot about the impending birth of the child that’s growing inside of her as a bit of a ticking time bomb. The complications are really wonderful to explore,” she said.
Serena visits June’s daughter
Shortly after learning June is pregnant, Serena takes June for a car ride and locks all the doors. Outside, Serena visits a home and brings out Hannah, June’s daughter, knowing full well June can see everything but can’t do anything about it. June thrashes and screams to get out but to no avail. Serena’s threat has been made clear: “As long as my baby is safe, so is yours,” she tells June.
Janine’s punishment is set
Janine (Madeline Brewer) survived her plunge into the icy river after attempting to take back her baby. As punishment for ‘endangering a child’ she is sentenced to death by stoning – by the handmaids. Being forced to torture and kill someone they’ve loved and cared for is clearly something the women are not about to do, so, led by June, they all band together and drop their stones as an act of defiance.
