Ep 13. The Word

In The Handmaid's Tale season 2 episode 13, titled The Word, viewers see the aftermath of the previous episode's events. Offred (played by Elisabeth Moss) is dealing with the trauma of watching her friend and fellow Handmaid, Ofglen (Tattiawna Jones), being executed for her involvement in a bombing at the new Rachel and Leah Center. Meanwhile, Serena Joy (Yvonne Strahovski) is dealing with her own guilt and grief over the incident.

As the episode unfolds, Offred continues her quest to escape the oppressive regime of Gilead and reunite with her husband and daughter. She turns to Commander Lawrence (Bradley Whitford) for help, but quickly realizes that he may have his own covert agenda. Meanwhile, Serena Joy begins to question her loyalty to Gilead and her relationship with her husband, Commander Waterford (Joseph Fiennes).

The tension builds as Offred and other Handmaids are forced to attend a mass execution, where dozens of people are killed for their alleged crimes against the state. This event pushes Offred to her breaking point and she begins to take drastic actions in order to secure her freedom.

The Handmaid's Tale season 2 episode 13 also explores the backstory of Aunt Lydia (Ann Dowd), the cruel and calculating enforcer of Gilead's totalitarian regime. Through a series of flashbacks, we see how Lydia became indoctrinated into the ideology of Gilead and how she rose to her current position of power.

The episode ends with a shocking twist that will leave viewers on the edge of their seats and eager to see what happens next. Overall, The Word is a thrilling and emotionally charged episode that pushes the story of The Handmaid's Tale to new heights.