HuluJune and Luke butt heads in The Handmaid’s Tale Season 6 Episode 4, ‘Promotion’, while Janine gets an unexpected visitor at Jezebels, all of which sets up an exciting chapter to follow.
In Season 6 Episode 3, June left Holly (her daughter) with Holly (her mom) to go and bail Moira and Luke out of No Man’s Land after a Mayday mission went awry. Of course, Nick was the key to getting them out of there, but he had to shoot two Guardians in the process.
If you were excited about seeing the fallout this week, hold your horses. Even though these events were teased in the promo, it appears the latest instalment is setting this up for Episode 5.
But there’s still plenty to take note of, with the Hulu series giving us more time with Janine and a final sequence that promises big things to come. Warning: spoilers ahead!
Luke gets some good news
HuluThe episode kicks off at Mayday’s base, where Luke’s helping to draw out big plans to kill the extremist Commanders of Gilead. June has doubts, and grills him about how they’re going to execute it.
Luke has all the answers, explaining that they’re going to get in via a new trade route, but clearly there’s tension between the two.
Mark Tuello heads over and greets them with good news: the murder charges against Luke have been dropped. He’s officially a free man after exchanging intel with the Canadian government (who also want the worst Commanders gone, “unofficially”).
However, when Tuello leaves them alone, June and Luke continue to argue. She wants them to go back to Alaska and start a new life with the Hollys, and she also knows how difficult it is to go against Gilead.
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But Luke is deep in his revolutionary era and is insistent that it’s his turn to fight.
Lawrence shuts down Naomi
HuluOver in New Bethlehem, Commander Joseph Lawrence is proving to be the best dad to Angela, Janine’s biological daughter (and his new wife Naomi’s stolen daughter).
Naomi heads over to thank Lawrence for her jewelry from Paris, a result of improved international relations sparked by their new “liberalized” territory. She goes to kiss him but he recoils – to him, their marriage is for show and nothing more.
Lawrence prepares his outfit, indicating he’s set to become a High Commander. “They’re going to expect things from you now,” she tells him, to which he insists he can handle before making a snarky comment about what they prioritize.
She tries to take him down a peg or two, saying they derive their power from their “virility,” which essentially means their masculinity. But Lawrence retorts, “Power will come from reform. They know I’m their man.”
Rita has an emotional reunion
HuluAs Lawrence prepares for his ceremony, Rita visits New Bethlehem for the first time. Serena Joy – the face of Gilead 2.0 – is there to greet her.
She gives it her best PR speech, but Rita’s too focused on finding her sister. When they finally find each other, it’s an emotional reunion.
Back at Mayday’s HQ, their coordinator Ellen is giving a speech celebrating Luke and Moira’s safe return. She then turns to their plan to kill the extremist Commanders before invading Gilead.
There’s a slight issue, though: they’re going to target Jezebels. June is understandably concerned, knowing that women could get caught in the crossfire.
When she voices the faults in their plan, Ellen says they’re going to do a dry run first, smuggling one of their own into Jezebels as a Martha to talk to the women there and give them a head’s up.
But even so, the Mayday fighters accept that some women may get hurt in the process, which compels Moira to volunteer herself. “I’m the only Jezebel here,” she says. “I’m the one who’s got to go.”
The High Commanders throw a party for Lawrence
HuluAfter Lawrence is sworn in as a High Commander, his fellow Gilead heads gather round and make plans for an after party.
We’re introduced to Timothy Simons’ character, who makes his debut in The Handmaid’s Tale Season 6. He’s also a High Commander, but unlike Rose’s father Wharton – who’s more concerned about politics and family – he is a sleaze and just wants to go out drinking.
Wharton heads home where he finds Serena. She’s brought a pie for Rose, but since she’s sleeping, he asks for a slice and a sit down.
The pair have gotten to know each other better since their arrival in New Bethlehem, and it’s clear they have respect for one another.
Wharton is one of many former Sons of Jacob members who expresses extreme contradictions in his philosophy.
He’s been hesitant about the reforms and was instrumental in the development of Gilead, and yet he tells Serena that he appreciates her finally having a voice and a platform.
Referring to Fred Waterford, he tells her, “A better man would’ve encouraged your influence.”
Janine catches up with Lawrence
HuluThe Handmaid’s Tale Season 6 Episode 4 heads back to June, who’s trying to convince Moira that the mission is too dangerous. Much like Luke, Moira’s having none of it and is clearly growing tired of June telling her what to do.
As they talk, Moira prints out the profiles of the women working at Jezebels when all of a sudden they come across a familiar face: Janine.
The scene cuts to Jezebels, where Thomas’ High Commander tells Janine (who’s nicknamed Kitty) to come over. He degrades her in front of his fellow Commanders, causing Lawrence to look to the floor in shame.
“I’ll let you have her,” he says, and Lawrence agrees, giving him time to talk to Janine in private.
Janine is understandably angry with him for ending up in Jezebels, but he reminds her that this was the best he could do – it was either this, a “slow death in the Colonies, or a quick one on the wall.”
Lawrence tells her that Angela is thriving. He gives Janine one of her drawings and promises to make sure she is safe no matter what.
Luke and Moira stand their ground
HuluIn New Bethlehem, Rita visits Nick and asks him if it’s really safe for her to move back, to which he says, “I think so… it’s my job to make sure it does.”
Rita says she’ll stay until he can help her get her family out of Gilead for good. Nick agrees, although it could take a year or two. It’s a no-brainer for Rita, who will do anything for her loved ones.
Meanwhile, June catches up with Ellen and tells her she needs to be the one to go to Jezebels. Ellen’s hesitant, saying Moira’s already volunteered, but June convinces her that it would be safer if she went as she has a Commander on the inside.
June goes to tell Luke, but before she can explain, Moira storms over and she’s fuming. It turns into a full-blown argument, with June implying that Moira and Luke don’t have what it takes to pull off the dry run.
She tries to convince them to go to Alaska while she handles it, but Moira says, “I’m going to Jezebels, so you can either come with me or not go at all.”
However, June just keeps going. “You don’t know what you’re doing. You don’t know how to fight in there, okay, and you will not survive,” she says. “You think that little of us?” Moira replies, before walking off.
Now it’s Luke’s turn to take the floor. He suggests June is suppressing the fact that, deep down, she wants to return and she wants to fight.
“I built this plan from the ground up, okay? I’m going to deliver my bombs to the locations I picked. This is my chance to fight for Hannah,” he says.
Wharton and Serena grow close
HuluLawrence makes good on his word. Later that evening, he reads A Little Princess to Angela, a book that’s more relevant than you think.
Like Sara in the novel, Janine has often used imagination and childlike hope as a way to survive unimaginable cruelty, and she always leads with kindness – a trait that’s often mistaken for naivety.
The truth is Janine has demonstrated unimaginable strength and grace throughout The Handmaid’s Tale, and the same can be said for Sara in A Little Princess.
Solidifying this comparison, the scene cuts to Janine. Despite being stuck in the misery of Jezebels, she admires Angela’s drawing with a look of joy.
On the streets of New Bethlehem, Wharton and Serena enjoy a peaceful stroll, and he admits that he saw her at a ball in DC when she was still married to Waterford.
He prayed for forgiveness for coveting another man’s wife, but he did wish he could have been in Fred’s shoes. Wharton decides it’s better late than never, and invites her to a slow dance in the middle of the street.
Their intimate moment is interrupted by Aunt Lydia, which leaves Serena feeling embarrassed. “Blessed evening,” says Lydia, a little too enthusiastically.
Luke and June agree to “fight” for Hannah
HuluIn the final scene of The Handmaid’s Tale Season 6 Episode 4, Luke and June have cooled down and they have a heart-to-heart.
“If you have to go in, then go in with me. If you want to fight then let’s fight together,” says Luke, to which June admits, “Of course I want to fight. Hannah’s there.”
She explains why she reacted the way she did, pointing out how difficult it was getting so close to Hannah and yet being unable to save her.
But the truth is even if they did go back to Alaska to raise Holly, they would never truly be able to move on when they know Hannah is still stuck in Gilead.
“Even if this Mayday plan were to work perfectly, which it will not, you know that doesn’t necessarily mean that we may get to her, right? I need you to know that,” says June.
Luke replies, “Yeah, but we’ve got to try.” Finally, they’re in agreement, and they finish their tearful conversation by saying, “I love you,” to one another. Let the rebellion begin.
Find out when the next episode drops with Dexerto’s guide to The Handmaid’s Tale Season 6 release schedule. You can also catch up with our recaps of Season 6 Episode 1 and Episode 2, and take a look at the social hierarchy of the women of Gilead.