Anna Green
The following contains spoilers for The Handmaid’s Tale S5E9, “Allegiance”
S5E9 opens dramatically with the Canadian government’s plan to get Hannah (Jordana Blake) out of Gilead. For whatever reason, June (Elisabeth Moss) and Luke (O-T Fagbenle) are allowed in the room to watch the screens when the raid takes place, and are there to see everything when Gilead shoots down the three rescue planes. We are simultaneously shown shots of Hannah getting ready for bed. She is looking at a book rich in presumably religious artwork, and we watch her sign her name on the bottom of a drawing of her own. June looks up at the school on the screen, whispering, “banana”. It is clear that the couple have hope in this mission and believe it will succeed. We ended the last episode with their joy at this prospect, and now we are watching it dash before their eyes.
Later, Tuello (Sam Jaeger) informs them that one of the men they met before the mission and had become fond of was killed, alongside all of the others on the mission. This is devastating for the couple, hearing this on top of learning that their daughter was not rescued.
It is especially heart wrenching to see them go through this after waiting and staying united for so long. They will have to go home and tell Moira that the plan was unsuccessful, and that lives were lost. There is so much devastation but at least they now know how far the Canadian government is willing to go to help them.
Elsewhere, Serena (Yvonne Strahovski), who has become somewhat of a glorified handmaid, is struggling with the treatment she is receiving from the Wheelers. It is very clear that they, especially Mrs. Wheeler (Genevieve Angelson), see Serena as sub-human.
She later goes to visit Mr. Wheeler (Lucas Neff) in his office, despite being told by Mrs. Wheeler that her husband is never to be disturbed. He seems annoyed to see her, but does not ignore her. Serena outlines to him the plans she has for the infertility centre and the involvement she wishes to have in its running. He is very off-handed with her propositions, making it clear that she no longer has any power and is entirely at his whim. It is unusual to see Serena in such a weak position and it begs the question, ‘what is she scheming?’. As it turns out, though, she is entirely desperate and the best plan she can come up with is to simply make a run for it.
Whilst showing Noah off to a group of women at the infertility centre, Serena slips out of a side door and into the street. She is frustrated by her treatment—Mrs. Wheeler slapped her when they left the house, demanded for her to leave Noah with the Wheelers to show off, told her she couldn’t accompany them the next day, and is trying to prevent her from breastfeeding—and this is her final attempt to have her child for herself. Mrs. Wheeler is short-sighted in allowing Serena out of her sight. She is threatened by Serena’s visit to her husband, made insecure by her cunning and her clever mind and is unable to see that Serena wants her husband’s power, not he himself. She calls her a whore to humiliate and upset her, but ends up hardening her resolve to escape.
Serena, once out on the street, throws herself into a car and begs the woman driving it to help her. The woman is surprised but allows her to enter her car and drives off. It seems unlikely that Serena has a plan beyond this at this point, but she is always full of surprises.
Meanwhile in Gilead, things are looking interesting for Joseph (Bradley Whitford). During a visit from the newly-single Naomi Putnam (Ever Carradine), he reluctantly offers to marry her. He is off-handed and it is clear that he doesn’t really want it any more that she does, but it would be mutually beneficial for the both of them. Commander Lawrence has been jibed by other high-ranking commanders for not having a family, and Mrs. Putnam will be wanting to keep up appearances after the shocking and humiliating death of her husband. This would allow Lawrence to fly under the radar a little bit longer, and Naomi would be able to live in luxury with Angela and a high profile husband. It is an interesting proposition.
Lawrence, after the shooting down of Hannah’s rescue planes, once again reaches out to June. He tells her again what a good deal living in New Bethlehem would be for her, how nice it would be for her to live near Hannah and Nick. June does not accept, taunting him with the death of his wife. She tells him she watched Eleanor die and did nothing to save her. While affected by this, Lawrence stays strong and tells June that Hannah will never leave Gilead.
His regrets have become personal as well as professional.
Later in the episode we are faced with yet another surprise—June’s reunion with Nick (Max Minghella). After the failed rescue operation, Mark tells June that the best thing they can do now is get information from the inside. He tells her he already proposed to Nick that they work together, in exchange for Nick being granted immunity from any crimes he committed in Gilead and becoming a Canadian citizen. June is surprised to learn that Nick turned down this offer, and Mark sets up a meeting for the two of them to give June a chance to persuade him.
Seeing Nick and June together again was emotive. There is clearly a deep care between them, and after learning why Nick won’t leave Gilead, the couple exchange, ‘I love you”s.
Learning about the status of Rose (Carey Cox)’s father also gives us an insight into why Nick has been rising rank so quickly among the other commanders. They reach an impasse when June learns that, whilst she cannot leave Canada because of Luke and Nichole, Nick cannot leave Gilead because of Rose and their unborn child. Although I think it is a bit of a stretch that Nick would love his wife enough to feel this way, it is understandable that he would hesitate to give up a life that is, for the moment, working out for him quite well. Despite the love still between himself and June, Nick is very aware of her marriage to Luke, and so the decision for him really comes down to choosing between his children—an impossible task. As they part, June comments, ‘well this is a fine mess isn’t it’, and Nick tells her to give his love to Nichole.
At one point it looks almost as though Nick was about to kiss June, before pulling back. He respects his wife and wants to be a good person, but this leaves June very emotional. She seems to be sensing that this conversation marks some kind of ending for the pair. There is still palpable chemistry between the two characters with June seeming to feel more passion toward Nick than she does for Luke. June loves Luke, but he will never be able to understand her the way Nick can. Nick likely feels a similar way toward June. I hope we get to see these characters together again some day—perhaps in Canada, perhaps in New Bethlehem. June reminds him to set a good example for his new child.
At Rose’s pregnancy celebration, we learn that Naomi has accepted Commander Lawrence’s offer of marriage, and, although neither seem particularly happy, this will continue Lawrence’s interesting new trajectory.
The Handmaid’s Tale S5E9 ends with the memorial service for the man June and Luke befriended before Hannah’s rescue mission. Emma, his daughter, stands near June before stepping forward to read out the United States Pledge of Allegiance. She looks about seven years old and struggles to speak whilst looking at a picture of her father. June, after asking her mother’s permission, walks over to help her. Gently speaking the words next to her, June holds back emotion before sudden gunshots erupt, apparently aiming at the American flag. She jumps over Emma, pulling her to the ground, and lies over her before the screen goes black.
The memorial attracted a lot of protestors, the likes of which have been following Gilead refugees around for as long as they have been in Canada. Did one of these fire the shot, or did it come from a more targeted source?
