The Handmaid's Tale (TV Series) Other Women (2018) User Reviews

Other Women

[bobcobb301 · 7/10 · 9 July 2018]

Aunt Lydia is an interesting character that can be a key villain for this show, but sometimes they don't give Ann Dowd the best material to work with. We needed to see Offred understand her consequences and we certainly got that near the end of this episode.

The second season is a bit more clear with the direction, but this was just a so-so episode.

A Battle of Wills

[badeclerck · 7/10 · 26 November 2023]

In the highly anticipated fourth episode of The Handmaid's Tale Season 2, viewers are thrust back into the haunting confines of the Red Center, where the intricate dance of power and submission unfolds with chilling intensity. The episode centers around the relentless struggle for control between Ofred (June) and Tante Lydia, a battle that resonates with echoes of defiance and submission.

Chained to her bed during Tante Lydia's sermon, Ofred becomes the focal point of the narrative. Tante Lydia, with her unwavering devotion to Gilead's oppressive ideology, employs psychological tactics to shatter Ofred's sense of self. Throughout the episode, Tante Lydia deliberately separates June, the woman, from Ofred, the Handmaid, insisting that salvation awaits the former. This manipulation aims to break the spirit of resistance within Ofred, leaving her vulnerable to the promises of redemption offered by Gilead's twisted version of salvation.

The tension escalates as Ofred is reluctantly returned to the Waterford household to continue her pregnancy. The heart of the episode lies in the riveting clash between Ofred and Serena Joy. The palpable animosity between these two women, who share an intimate connection through the unborn child, drives the narrative forward. Serena, grappling with her own frustrations and powerlessness, contemplates the unthinkable but refrains from acting on her darkest impulses.

Ofred, on the other hand, navigates the treacherous waters of the Waterford household, reporting every detail to Serena in a bid to regain some semblance of control. The power dynamics between these two characters create a riveting spectacle, as each attempts to outmaneuver the other within the constraints of Gilead's oppressive regime.

While the episode succeeds in delivering a gripping narrative, it also highlights a recurring pattern in the series. The formulaic nature of character development, coupled with a storyline that seemingly lacks the urgency of the previous season, leaves some viewers yearning for a more innovative approach.

In conclusion, this episode offers a compelling exploration of power dynamics within the confines of Gilead. The psychological warfare waged between Ofred and Tante Lydia, as well as the tense interplay between Ofred and Serena, create a captivating narrative. However, the episode falls prey to a sense of predictability, leaving audiences eager for the series to break free from its established formula and introduce new dimensions to the unfolding drama.

So haunting

[Slwebb71 · 10/10 · 16 May 2018]

I was so glad that Aunt Lydia and Serena were back . The scene where aunt Lydia hugged June after seeing the driver hung . It was absolutely chilling . I do wish they wouldn't show sooooo many close ups of OFFRED's face . It gets annoying . But I love the show !

Well made, but so slow

[Leofwine_draca · 6/10 · 12 December 2020]

Episode four and we're back to where we were during the last season, with slight differences in character but that's about it. Too much of this stuff feels like filler, with all of the slow motion inserts of Offred staring vacantly into space and the like; the last 20 minutes in particular is really difficult to watch because precisely nothing happens. It's only the production values and care that's gone into it that keeps you watching by this point.

June Gets Caught

[vivianla · 3 October 2022]

Poor June was caught and brought back to Aunt Lydia where she is shackled to a bed. They had tagged her ear again.

Aunt Lydia goes with June to the Waterfords' where they stand side by side like a perfect couple. They are of the same height.

Later Aunt Lydia enters the room where June is taking a bath. June just stares at her for coming in without permission. Lydia watches as she cleans down there as per her instructions.

June sees Nick for the first time when he walks by her in the kitchen. She smiles at him.

June attends the baby shower and finds out her walking partner had her tongue cut off after speaking out for Janine.

Nick and Rita stand together as June kneels in front of the fireplace, pleading to be allowed to stay.

June goes to bed and Serena comes later to feel her belly. The next morning June walks by Rita and puts on her wings and coat. Walking outside Nick speaks to her for the first time, apologizing for her not having made it out. He tried everything. She replies they have been sent good weather.