Ep 6. Household

The Handmaid's Tale season 3 episode 6, titled "Household," takes viewers back to the Republic of Gilead, a totalitarian society run by a fundamentalist religious group that subjugates women and controls every aspect of their lives. In this episode, we see the domestic side of the regime, with the focus on the Waterford household.

We witness the tensions and struggles that exist within the household, with the strained relationship between Serena Joy (played by Yvonne Strahovski) and her husband Fred (played by Joseph Fiennes). Serena Joy is struggling to come to terms with her own disappointment, having helped to create a world she regrets. She misses the ability to read and write, and yearns for the power she once had, but which is now solely wielded by men. Her struggle is compounded by the fact that she is now pregnant, giving her renewed hope for the future, but also placing her firmly in the role of subservient wife and mother.

Meanwhile, the household's handmaid, June (played by Elisabeth Moss), continues to play a dangerous game of survival as the Waterfords' property and object of power. June is now tasked with helping to train a new handmaid, Ofmatthew (played by Ashleigh LaThrop), and is forced to confront yet another aspect of her captivity and oppression. As June works with Ofmatthew, she must also contend with the knowledge that she is expendable, and her own survival often depends on making alliances with those in power.

The episode also introduces viewers to Commander Lawrence (played by Bradley Whitford), a new character who has a history with June. Lawrence is portrayed as a bit of an enigma, a man with a reputation for being tough to work with, but who may also have secrets that could help June in her quest for freedom. However, as with most things in Gilead, nothing is as it seems.

As we move through "Household," we see the stark contrast between the public image presented by the government and the reality of life under their regime. We see the devastation wrought by years of war, and the brutal tactics used by those in power to control the populace. The episode highlights the fact that even within those in power, there are those who are struggling with their own demons and regrets, and who may be more willing to help bring about change than they seem.

Overall, "Household" is a tense and powerful episode that continues to push the boundaries of the series, exploring new characters and plotlines while staying true to its core themes of oppression, power, and survival. The series continues to be a chilling reminder of the dangers of surrendering too much power to those who would use it to control others, and an even more powerful statement about the human spirit and its ability to resist even the most brutal of regimes.