The Handmaid's Tale Season 2: 7 Ups And 1 Down From 'After'

1. Serena and June's Alliance

You know what they say. The pen is mightier than the sword. And these words were never more relevant than they are right now in The Handmaid's Tale.

To say that Serena's relationship with her handmaid is frosty would be an understatement. The two women rarely see eye to eye, but their heated rivalry reached new highs - and lows - during last week's episode.

But this week, the chaos at Gilead brings them closer once more, and Serena fears that Cushing's thirst for power could prove fatal if he were to learn the wrong thing. As a result, she conspires with Nick to have him overthrown - and it works!

Serena decides to restore order in Gilead by doing away with the checkpoints and issuing new security orders. While it would appear that Commander Waterford is behind these orders, the subtext suggests that it's Serena's doing.

June was an editor before Gilead, so Serena asks her to read over the documents. There is another wonderful scene as June picks up the pen and clicks the top - and it's a motion that's reminiscent of how Oflgen triggered the explosion.