The last two minutes were set up so well throughout the entire episode. But the ending will blow you away. No spoilers here but have Kleenex ready.
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gkimmarygleim12 May 2021
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So I was a huge fan of the first two seasons, then the third one dragged out and I felt like June was always just going to be making back and forth attempts to leave, then stay at Gillead.
This season started off great and I was excited to see what would happen with McKenna Grace's involvement but that fizzled out pretty quickly!
This episode wasn't the greatest, I'm really sick of the commanders and Aunt Lydia, i feel like we need to move on from focusing on them and wrap up this whole story. But that last 30 seconds of this episode makes it feel like we're FINALLY getting somewhere!!! -
dennis-azad12 May 2021Great episode overall. The ending will leave you excited and thrilled for more!! I hope Adam Taylor releases the full score of season 4!!!
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rallder1912 May 2021Every season this show gets better. 4th season is incredible. I was an on again off again fan for a couple years but this season has truly sucked me in.
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vbidz12 May 2021If you're reading this please release the score on Apple Music ALL OF IT.
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rodrigues-3918915 June 2021Brilliant acting and amazing story aside, this episode was absolutely beautiful to look at. The gillead set pieces and cinematography this episode was phenomenal. I'm so happy that this season took the slow start route because it's really paying off, can't wait for what lies ahead.
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So happy for this, finally, i saw no end to the infinite sucesion of horrible events and misfortunes, However there is a happy ending finally.
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badeclerck11 February 2024Episode 5 of The Handmaid's Tale delivers a captivating narrative that introduces new story arcs while deepening existing ones, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats with its rich plot developments and compelling character dynamics.
At the forefront of this episode is the intriguing evolution of Aunt Lydia's character. Struggling to regain her former influence among the new batches of handmaids, Lydia resorts to blackmailing Commander Lawrence with the secrets she holds about him. However, Lawrence skillfully turns the tables, leveraging his own knowledge to secure Lydia's reinstatement. This power play sets the stage for Lydia's return to her role as a formidable enforcer within the Red Center, promising further intrigue and manipulation to come.
Meanwhile, the episode delves into the complex relationship between Commander Lawrence and Commander Blaine, better known as Nick. Both men are driven by a shared desire to protect June, leading Lawrence to propose a ceasefire to safeguard her. However, their efforts are thwarted as the rebels refuse the truce, unaware of June's whereabouts. The revelation of June's presence in Chicago prompts swift action, but not before devastating airstrikes decimate insurgent territories. Amidst the chaos, June grapples with the passivity of Steven's rebel group, ultimately deciding to seek out the more militant Nightingales.
The emotional core of the episode lies in June's farewell to Janine as she embarks on her perilous journey. Their bond is palpable, underscored by mutual loyalty and unwavering support. Yet, their separation is short-lived as Janine soon joins June in her quest for justice. As they seek refuge with the Nightingales, they are confronted with the brutal reality of war, with June determined to find her friend amidst the chaos.
The episode's conclusion is both tense and poignant, as June emerges from the rubble to encounter Moira, her steadfast ally and confidante. Their reunion symbolizes hope amidst despair, hinting at the possibility of a brighter future beyond the confines of Gilead.
Overall, Episode 5 excels in its exploration of power dynamics, loyalty, and resilience in the face of adversity. With its masterful storytelling and nuanced character development, it sets the stage for a thrilling continuation of the season, leaving audiences eagerly anticipating the next chapter in June's journey towards liberation. -
Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge fan of the show. I just feel like this season is just a bit at times. There's not really an explanation for many things that happen and I guess that before when things came together there at least was a reason why. I feel like that's missing now. Why is Nick so influential all of a sudden? Why would anyone listen to Lawrence or even be intimidated by him when he was in huge trouble last season. Why do they barely have any security when escorting June. Where do these new Handmaid's come from? Why is Moira even there? Just random first mission and boom there she is? How did she get through Gilead territory? It's just a bit weird this season. The episode before when they killed two girls to get June to confess, and also shot a handmaid but when they get June she has to live because NOW we're short on Handmaids. Idk I'd love some sort of explanation for all of this.
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It shouldn't need to be proved, but this episode illustrates again that the foundation of television and movies is the writing. Without a good story that does not break the willing suspension of disbelief no amount of excellent cinematography and acting will save a show. Even a show with such poignant social commentary still has to deliver on the basics. Unfortunately the last few episodes have only continued a downward trend.
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katildavsan18 May 2021While June cannot find Janine who was running with her a few minutes ago, Moira comes from Canada without a clue and finds June like she texted location. So sad to see that the season is unbeliveably boring and poorly written so far.
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peter-340-32438012 May 2021Bad music choice in the bombing sequence. Inappropriate and too sentimental. Spoiled it all for me.
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jcpurleigh18 July 2021Decided this time to run a stopwatch for every time junes face takes up the whole screen, or focused on her with some sort of pained desperate look.. totalled just over 10 minutes! The final sequence took two whole minutes of slow mo close up june face.. often feels like there is much more than this amount in an average episode! At least some stuff actually happened in this episode.. even if it ended straight after it.... but ill be annoyed if they got rid of janine in the final sequence. Also wtf, moira now? Five minutes after the bombs fell. Really..? Ready for this show to be over with now lol talk about dragging the 'escape' out.. that should really have been done an entire season ago, but every time a worse and worse thing happens.. 5 episodes to go..? Still struggling to see whats going to happen, at this point not expecting much. Would be helpful if we were to know more about the history or origins of gilead and how they ended up with the worlds most fearsome army, versus the united states lol.
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Griff303014 May 2021You know a show is in trouble when it tries to create emotion and drama with music and camera work. The plot of this episode is weak. It could be summed up in three sentences (which I won't do to avoid spoilers for those who want to suffer through it). Instead of good writing, what we get are more drawn out shots of June's pensive face, more slow mo scenes, more aerial drone angles. And the music is over the top and out of place in an attempt to create drama where none exists. The only bright star of this episode, and season, is the acting of Madeline Brewer as Janine.
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bobcobb30128 August 2021The ending was like an unintentional parody of TV shows, but the content was not bad here. The issue is we'll probably never hear from this group again.
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cjonesas29 May 2022Episode 5: Melodramatic "à souhait". Semi-good acting, horrible writing, tons of suspension of disbelief and June doing what she does best, keeping wreaking havoc among her entourage.
The last scene shows two characters being in one (filming) studio, three feet apart. Thank you writers! Capability is oozing from your pores... -
When writers just blatantly don't care anymore, no production values or amount of great acting can save a ridiculous, unbelievable story.
One of the best things about this show was the horrifying realism...the sense of a cautionary tale about something that could have happened (and happened in some countries in the world).
Unfortunately, once you "revive" the main character from a riffle wound in the woods, with no medical assistance - well, who cares about logic anymore. If the audience will eat that, they will eat the other BS as well. I was actually willing to suspend my disbelief for that one if the progression made some sense, but it just gets childishly ridiculous.
A full van of dangerous fugitives, with one guard in the car....no locked doors and the poor Ant Lydia who was ALREADY attacked and almost killed by one of the handmaid's in the past. Are you serious?! It would be more believable if it was an inside job somehow...what, you didn't have budget for some logic?
Then June reaching the post juuuust on time for the airstrike and Moira finding her among the hundreds of people. What is this a Marvel superhero movie? Come on people, put SOME effort even if you don't want to continue working on the show. Who is approving these idiotic story choices?
Very disappointed... -
paulcrean13 May 2021I have liked this show and its frightening concept from day one. I loved the first season and its daring and thought, okay, one more season or perhaps rwo at a stretch, should wrap this up and make it one of the best series ever.
Alas, four seasons in and after the dud that was season 3, we are forced to continue along this road of unequal returns. The writing is terrible in this episode and the sustained thin plot (Nick and Lawrence, hey, here's a novel idea - how about having a frank conversation sometime) and the slow tempo very annoying. I mean, lets look at why June is still alive. You (horrific Commanders I mean) gotta kill June after episode 2. HELLO!! She is the cause of a lot of the bad s**t happening! What's one Handmaid? But no, let's put her in a cute red van with all the other rebel handmaids and with ONE guard and let's hope they behave, because thats how Gilead has come to be, right, by being completely blind and inefficient regarding security threats?!! Come on writers, show us a modicum of respect. Or if you are trying to say Gilead is complacent, then make it known more clearly with some expositional sub plots which as I allude to later, would greatly enhance the quality of thew show.
Anyway, this episode,as always, has beautiful and high value production. This is a great thing of course but for me, it sacrifices everything else. The elongation of certain scenes are just too much, and they are really drawing this series out. That final scene could have been done in half the time and been much more affective. I get that June is the protagonist, fine, but what has always killed me is the paper thin world that we're presented as Gilead, since the end of season one. Maybe explore something or somebody(s) else within this amazing and rich Atwood creation and create sub plots that can elucidate the thinking of the patriachy in Gilead? However, that ship has sailed and the showrunners have nailed their colours to the June Show mast now and it seems there is no going back.
Don't get me wrong now, Moss is again excellent and what has happened to her character is horrific and the social commentary derived fom her plight is necessary and drives this show but it looks like they may be trying for at least another 2 seasons at this rate and it will not add up, plot wise or to the shows quality.
The reveal at the end of the episode is just ridiculous and again affords no respect to the viewer. The believability of this world and the notion of a possible, dystopian tangential reality from our world that this show once had, that intensely focused audiances around the world, has disappeared up some writers behind and it ain't coming back from where that Gilead sun don't shine. I just hope that second half of the season can mop up some of the mess and set us up for a final fifth season, no more than that, please. -
Blnq11 June 2021Seriously? Chaos confusion and war and Moira just happened to walk down a random alley and guess what ? There's June !
Honestly, just too much.
Season 4 has no idea where it wants to go. -
foff-3139816 May 2021If ever there was a story that should be filled with disposable protagonists, this is it. The plot armor has been high is season 3 and in season 4 it is off the charts. What did Nick do to become so important that he'd be within the top 10 of Gileads leaders? He's a brand new commander! Whats it going to take for Gilead to decide that June is more trouble than she's worth? How come defenses were so weak at the season 4 getaway? How did June and Janine become separated by an explosion this episode after they were running side by side?
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How many more times can June get caught and escape when otters have been killed for far less. Look more shots of June staring at the camera. Should have ended after season 1. Same thing over and over again.
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loknissen13 May 2021Just read paulcrean's review. He sums it up really nice. I feel like the writers stopped caring at this point and don't give the audience the respect they deserve, with a plot that makes sense. I get that it's supposed to be dramatic and emotional, but for what? Sacrificing basic sense for the visuals and acting doesn't make the cut for me.
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rachelnstephens13 May 2021This show has gone completely off the rails. What could have been 10 minutes just drags.
Also, Janine just being totally chill with June selling them all out because "they had Hannah" is so unrealistic. Actually, Janine and June being alive at all at this point is an absolute joke in the context of Gilead. -
barryhalmore13 May 2021In all the scenes including commanders the writing was nearing kindergarten-age. Character lines and plot developments were very poor and unintelligent.
Especially both Nick and. Joseph (Lawrence) are so desperate at this point the series somehow reminds me of a low budget soap opera. -
davidsonharper16 May 2021The weakest episode of the entire show to date. It relied entirely on a badly written plot with poor dialogue and character development. I've been rewatching seasons one and two the last few weeks and the contrast is laughable. What used to be a show of such nuance and suspense, of character-driven plots and bone chilling realism, has turned into a flimsy action story.