Ep 1. June

In the first episode of The Handmaid's Tale season 2, titled "June," viewers are thrust back into the dystopian world of Gilead. The episode opens with Offred (Elisabeth Moss), now known as June, being taken away by the Eyes, the secret police force of Gilead, after refusing to stone her fellow handmaid to death. It's clear from the outset that the stakes are higher than ever for June and her fellow resistors.

June is taken to an abandoned Fenway Park, where she's hooded, stripped, and threatened with torture. It's a chilling scene, and viewers are left to wonder what horrors await her. Meanwhile, we catch glimpses of other familiar characters from the first season. Moira (Samira Wiley) is shown working in Canada at a refugee center for other women who've escaped Gilead. Luke (O.T. Fagbenle) is shown trying to make sense of what's happened to his wife and child, as he pieces together the details of their escape. And Aunt Lydia (Ann Dowd), the cruel enforcer of Gilead's laws who oversaw June's training as a handmaid, is revealed to have suffered a gunshot wound in the previous season's finale.

As the episode progresses, we see June trying to navigate her new, even more dangerous circumstances. She's assigned to a new commander, one who's particularly sadistic and abusive. June is horrified to find out that her best friend, the fellow handmaid she refused to kill in the previous season's finale, has been executed for their disobedience. But even in the face of such despair and trauma, June refuses to give up hope. She continues to resist, to plot, and to search for any way out of her situation.

One of the most striking things about this episode, and The Handmaid's Tale in general, is how topical it feels. With the rise of the #MeToo movement and the ongoing assault on women's rights around the world, the show's themes of oppression, patriarchy, and brutality against women feel more relevant than ever. The show's creators seem to be acutely aware of this, and they've turned up the volume on the already intense fear and dread that permeated the first season.

As the episode comes to a close, viewers are left with a sense of both dread and hope. The situation in Gilead seems more dire than ever, but June's resilience and determination are inspiring. The show's masterful use of visual storytelling, music, and performance make for a gripping and emotional experience. It's clear that the second season of The Handmaid's Tale is going to be just as powerful, just as important, and just as devastating as the first.