Ep 1. Night

In The Handmaid's Tale season 3 episode 1, "Night," the story picks up where season 2 left off, with June (played by Elisabeth Moss) choosing to stay in Gilead to try and save her daughter, Hannah. She's been taken to a new posting with the Waterfords in a house far outside the city, away from the watchful eyes of the other handmaids. June is still grappling with the choices she's made and the fact that she's left her husband, Luke (played by O.T. Fagbenle), behind in Canada.

June's new posting is difficult for her, even though she's away from the prying eyes of her fellow handmaids. The Waterfords have her under close watch, and she's always on guard for potential threats. She soon learns that her new commander, Commander Lawrence (played by Bradley Whitford), is a shady figure who was involved in the creation of Gilead's economy. While he isn't as outwardly cruel as say, Commander Fred Waterford (played by Joseph Fiennes), he still poses a significant threat to June.

The other handmaids in Gilead, meanwhile, continue to struggle in their own postings. We see the brutal treatment of Ofmatthew (played by Ashleigh LaThrop) by her new commander, who forces her to eat fleshy moldy bread after she refuses to eat "unfit" food. We also get a glimpse into the relationship between Emily (played by Alexis Bledel) and her new commander, Commander Lawrence's Martha, who is helping Emily navigate her new life. There's a lot of tension between the two, and it's clear that Emily doesn't trust anyone in Gilead.

Overall, "Night" sets up what promises to be an intense season of The Handmaid's Tale. June is still trying to play the long game and stay alive long enough to save her daughter, but there are so many obstacles in her way. She's trying to work with a commander who might not be entirely trustworthy, and she's still not sure who she can turn to for help. Meanwhile, the other handmaids are all facing their own set of challenges. There's a pervasive feeling of helplessness throughout the episode, and it's clear that things are only going to get worse. The question is, can June find a way to make any progress in her quest to save her family?