'The Handmaid's Tale' Takes a Turn in Season 3: June Devises a Dangerous New Plan

June’s mind was put to the test when she was forced to watch her walking partner, Ofmatthew’s seemingly lifeless body lie in a hospital bed. For months, Ofjoseph sat on her knees in silence while her fellow handmaid was being kept alive by machines until she could deliver her baby.  

Starting to go insane with the lack of communication and forced isolation, June started to think of ways to kill Ofmatthew and anyone who entered the room, just to end her own suffering. 

Mental and physical torture in The Handmaid’s Tale is nothing new for audiences to bear witness, but watching June start to truly crack under the treacherous conditions was an eye-opener. 

Finally, after months of suffering both mental and physical torture as a form of punishment orchestrated by Aunt Lydia, June was able to walk free. Sadly, OfMatthew did not pull through, but her baby was delivered. With a new moment of clarity, June has a new sense of purpose and a plan. 

In the most recent episode, fans watch as the heroine handmaid hobbles around looking for allies. As to why Ofjoseph is limping, June just spent three months on her knees in a hospital room. Basically, she’s pretty injured. 

Moving on from just solely getting her daughter out of Gilead, June’s new mission is to help as many children as she can escape the confines of the totalitarian society. In the most recent episode of The Handmaid’s Tale, June aka Ofjoseph starts to devise a plan on how she can move the kids trapped in Gilead out of the country. 

In a disturbing sequence of events, June and Joseph are forced to actually perform The Ceremony after Fred persuades Winslow to “set an example” with the commander. Citing that he’s had four handmaids and no children Fred states, “If he’s unfit to lead his household, he’s unfit to lead Gilead.” 

June and Commander Lawrence are forced to bed one another with the Waterfords, Aunt Lydia, and Winslow downstairs. “Bearing witness ensures that every member is performing their role,” Aunt Lydia tells June. With a doctor onsite to make sure the two performed The Ceremony, it is a disturbing and uncomfortable scene to watch.  

After the emotionally cringe-worthy scene, Joseph is now onboard in helping June with her plan to help the children of Gilead. “I’ll get you a truck. You get my wife out safely,” he says. 

Returning home, the handmaid finds a kitchen full of muffins. “Muffins mean yes,” Beth says, which means her message about moving kids across the border was received and the Martha Network will help. While her plans for escape have been thwarted numerous times, we’re hoping this new storyline in the series will lead to (at least a few) happy endings. 

Stream new episodes of The Handmaid’s Tale on Wednesdays on Hulu.