The Handmaid’s Tale, Season 6 Episode 604 Review

June disrupts the rebels’ plans. Commander Lawrence gains power and influence.

Writer: Jacey Heldrich

Director: Natalia Leite

At Mayday’s base camp house, everyone is hard at work on their plans. Luke is all in on the efforts to bomb several Gilead targets and is stoked to “blow some shit up”. Knowing that he has little experience executing an attack on Gilead, June starts to ask logistics questions. Mark Tuello arrives with the news that Luke’s charges have been dismissed, and his case has been dropped. He’s officially being deported, and Mark says he’ll book flights for June, Moira, and Luke to Alaska as soon as he can. June is relieved; however, Luke appears hesitant. After years of inaction and feeling like he has not tried hard enough to rescue Hannah, he finally has an opportunity to take real action against the Gilead regime. Even the allure of a peaceful life in Alaska with June, Nichole (who June is now calling Holly full-time), and June’s mom is not enough to deter him from his dreams of vengeance.

Little Angela (Janine’s daughter birthed for Naomi) is beginning to have a very sweet relationship with her new stepfather, Commander Lawrence. Naomi rushes her out of Joseph’s study and attempts to flatter him. Lawrence appears to be up for some sort of promotion. Naomi reminds him that the High Commanders “derive their sense of power from their virility”, but he insists that his power comes from reform, namely New Bethlehem.

As June rushes to pack for Alaska, Luke comes in with excuses about why they were stuck in No Man’s Land. After years fighting Gilead from within, June aptly points out that there will always be something that cannot be predicted. Luke reveals that he is the one scheduled to drive the bombs into Gilead. Cue the alarm bells and all the red flags! Luke has no business attempting to attack Gilead from the inside. June has finally wised up and insists that it is too dangerous, and that Holly needs them. She asks Luke to come with her so they can try to build some sort of a life together, but he walks off without giving a real answer.

Rita has taken the leap and arrives via bus ride to New Bethlehem. The prospect of being reunited with family members in Gilead by going to New Bethlehem is luring in refugees. Although the idea of returning to Gilead is unthinkable, the temptation to finally reunite with loved ones is irresistible to many, including Rita. But, of course, who is there to greet her at the bus stop in New Bethlehem? Serena Joy in her new pink wardrobe. The women in New Bethlehem appear to be wearing pastel shades, but it is yet to be determined if the colors signify anything in terms of status like they do in Gilead proper. It appears that Serena has arranged for Rita’s trip, and along with Nick pulled many strings to arrange for her reunion with her sister. It’s such a beautiful, emotional moment when her sister arrives.

In front of a crowd, one of the leaders of Mayday reveals where they will be hitting Gilead with the bombs to kill the commanders that shot down the U.S. planes. The plan is to hit Jezebel’s with the bombs, and then the military can come in. June pokes holes in this plan in front of everyone, pointing out all the things they have not considered. The crowd agrees, and the leader says that they plan to do a dry run to scope out Jezebel’s to confirm their plan. June aptly asks if they are also making a plan to get the women out. But Mayday is fine with the women being collateral damage. Moira steps up to volunteer for the dry run. “I’m the only Jezebel here, and unfortunately I know that place like the back of my hand, so I’m the one that’s got to go.”

Commander Wharton is overseeing Lawrence’s promotion ceremony as he becomes a High Commander. What will Joseph do with his newfound power? Will it go to his head and lure him into the Gilead ways, or will he use it to set things right, the way he promised his late wife Eleanor? Some young, sleazeball commander reminds all the commanders at the ceremony that the after party is at Jezebel’s. Apparently, Lawrence intends to go and encourages Nick to come along. But Wharton steps in to remind him that Rose is expecting them. The power dynamics at play amongst the commanders are so chaotic, I don’t know where this will go.

Serena brings a pie to Rose, but instead finds Commander Wharton in the Blaine household. Wharton reveals that Rose’s mother died young, but he’d always wanted a large family. He also acknowledges Serena’s contributions to the framing of Gilead, which is rare coming from a commander. He also is beginning to come around to the idea of New Bethlehem, particularly in the way that Serena has been trying to sell it. Taking a dig at dead Fred, Wharton drops a line: “A better man would have encouraged your influence.” WHOOP there it is. Serena will be putty in that man’s hands after compliments like that. Fred never truly saw and appreciated her for her intellect and political prowess.

June attempts to convince Moira that she cannot go back to Gilead, especially at Jezebel’s. June has finally decided to stop trying to destroy Gilead, but Luke and Moira have never had a stronger desire to hurt them as hard as they possibly can. Moira drops the hammer: “I cannot live your life anymore.” As mugshots of the women at Jezebel’s are being printed, June and Moira are gutting to see Janine’s face.

At the commanders after party, Mr. Sleazeball Commander (name still unknown) is obsessed with Janine and ordering her around. Lawrence is clearly uncomfortable to be there, but the commanders urge him to go sleep with Janine. To save face, he agrees, but once alone says they won’t do anything, but they can talk. Janine points out that he’s the reason she ended up at Jezebel’s. He knew she would end up either on The Wall or in The Colonies, so he did what he could to give her a chance at Jezebel’s so that at least she would live. Thankfully, he still has some decency and brings a drawing Angela made to Janine. He assures Janine that he will do everything he can to keep Angela safe.

Rita pays a visit to Nick at his home, to ask if New Bethlehem is as good as people say. After he says yes, she agrees to stay until Nick can get her family out.

Back at Mayday HQ, June gives the leader some pointers and then breaks my heart by volunteering to go to Jezebel’s to make the dry run instead of Moira. She uses her connections to Nick to seal the deal. Moira approaches June and Nick and demands to know why June volunteers to go into Jezebel. They’re both pissed, but Moira asserts that she is going no matter what, and that June can either come with her or stay there. June is convinced Moira and Luke won’t survive, but Moira asks, “you think so little of us?” I always love it when characters, especially Moira call June out and put her in her place. Luke insists that she wants to go in because she wants vengeance just as much as they do.

Serena and Wharton take a moonlit stroll through New Bethlehem. Wharton admits that he noticed Serena in DC when she was dancing with Fred. He asks her to dance right then and there in the street (very The Notebook-Esque). After a few moments, they are hysterically caught by Aunt Lydia, with a face full of judgement. I wonder how Aunt Lydia feels about New Bethlehem’s liberalized way of life.

Luke finally relents and tells June to come into Gilead to fight with him. June wants so desperately to protect Luke from the vicious cycle of fighting, getting close to Hannah, and then failing. But he points out she can’t protect him from it. As much as June wanted a life with her family in Alaska, she knows she can’t really have what she wants without Hannah. Luke manages to pull a few tears from my eyes by telling June, “We are a broken family, and we may be beyond saving. But I already got one impossible dream…I got you back. You’re alive!” June makes sure that Luke knows that even if their plan does work, that doesn’t mean they will get to Hannah. But they both agree they must try. What else are they supposed to do?