The Handmaid's Tale Season 2 Finale: 7 Ups & 1 Down From 'The Word'

Ups...

7. The Women Are Fighting Back

The women of Gilead have had to put up with a lot this past season, and we're not just talking about the handmaids. Whether it a be a handmaid, a Martha or even a commander's wife, the women have endured hell in Season 2 of the Emmy-winning series. But Eden's death proves to be the finale straw for many of these brave souls, with some of them making clear that they've grown tired of the archaic laws. Perhaps the driving force against June's rebellious attitude is the discovery that Eden's own father is the one who turned his daughter in because he deemed it the pious thing to do.

June's attitude pisses off Fred, so he slaps her. But the turning point in the narrative arrives when June decides to smack him back. It was a moment two seasons in the making, and it was as delicious as it sounds. Finally, some justice had prevailed, and nothing Fred could do would make that moment lose its value.

In terms of fighting back, the ladies of Gilead aren't doing it physically. Instead, they're using their minds, which is forbidden in this community. Serena confronts the male leaders about the possibility of letting women read. She wants a better future for her daughter - a thought that was brought on by a conversation she had with June earlier in the episode. Of course, Serena is put in her place - Fred has her arrested - but her efforts to make things better are admirable.