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

6. Emily's Revenge

Emily has been through more than most and, in this world, that's really saying something. With that in mind, her vicious attack on Aunt Lydia was a scene that we needed to see. Again, while all of the handmaid's have suffered at the aunt's hands, none have endured as much pain and loss as Emily. The young woman was not only verbally abused because of her sexuality, she was also mutilated, made to watch her lover hang, and then forced into the colonies. And that's in addition to having to perform her regular handmaid duties. Before she left Gilead once and for all, it was only fair that she seek her revenge on the woman who made her life a living hell.

However, the strong writing in The Handmaid's Tale often results in viewers sympathising with characters like Lydia. In spite of the fact that she absolutely deserves the punishment, it was hard not to feel for her as she lay on the floor, begging for help. That's the power of Bruce Miller's script. The writer manages to make us feel sympathy for even the most abhorrent characters.