*SPOILERS AHEAD* There’s a famous ethical dilemma in the philosophical world about a train, in which you can control its path, but ultimately it will run over someone. One path has 5 strangers to you and the other has just one person, but it is someone you love. Do you let the train run over the strangers to save your loved one or do you save the strangers in return for one, very important, loss of life? This is very similar to the moral issue in which June keeps finding herself. Season 3 of The Handmaid’s Tale a constant state of worry and fight-or-flight. 

Season 2 of The Handmaid’s Tale left us with June purposefully staying behind in Gilead while Emily (played by Alexis Bledel) and her own newborn flee to Canada. We pick up season 3 knowing that they made it safely, but also realizing the effects of this feat. The Waterfords seem to take the biggest hit, of course, from this, even though Serena willingly gave up her “daughter” knowing she would have a far better life in Canada. She’s not the same after this decision and mourns her. Commander Waterford seems in denial about it all, never questioning Serena’s motives, and constantly undermining her emotions. This is another obvious way of taking Serena’s power away from her, but it just comes naturally to him. The conflict between them the entire season was agonizing and also captivating. Were they ever going to fall back in love with Serena knowing that her husband plays a huge part in the machine that forced her to give her biggest love away? With regards to almost every character this season, it was so difficult to tell who was losing their mind, what true intentions were, and who were the good people. That’s the main, provocative element to the moral drama this season. 

The obvious main person we question this time is June. She goes through so much after not escaping. I’m truly surprised she wasn’t tortured or murdered for her previous actions and the ones she continues to make, but she has powerful people on her side. It just seemed like so many characters were ended for so much less. June’s main motive, for the most part, seems to revolve around escaping with her first daughter, Hannah. She knows where she lives and who has her, but how to flee together is her problem. At the end of the season, we meet a young girl who is about Hannah’s age, and it becomes apparent that Hannah likely shares this girl’s fear and confusion, which must be heartbreaking for June. The little girl can’t remember life before Gilead even though she was likely taken at 5 or 6 also. If they have grown adults accepting their fates, imagine how traumatizing it must be for the children forced into this new reality. Well, after multiple failed attempts to rescue Hannah, she is ultimately taken away with no known address. June assumes she is gone, but I predict season 4 will bring some news of her whereabouts. With June now absolutely enraged about the loss of Hannah, she doesn’t quit, she thinks bigger and more vengeful. Gilead is based on the need of having children, so she decides to take them. She comes up with a plan to steal them back and escape with them to Canada. It sounds so big that it’s almost ludicrous but it’s also brilliant. The dominoes falling that lead to this idea and the plan unfolding afterward is a masterpiece of a story. The writers did a hell of a job being able to fill the viewer with anxiety and passion, similar to the characters’. 

The Handmaid’s Tale continues to amaze me with the directing, the way every scene is set up, the soundtrack, the writing, the acting… it all leaves me in awe. It’s so beautiful, and chilling, and anxiety causing that it’s physically altering. This is a show you can become so wrapped up in that you forget where you are and you forget that it’s not real. Last season had such gripping shots and this season, somehow, they did it even better. How they play with balance, darkness, depth, and busyness, among many other qualities, is genius. Everything is incredibly thought out from the facial expressions to the colors of the uniforms and even the trees. 

The season ends with a major cliffhanger. We don’t know what truly happens with many people’s fates. Does June ever reunite with Hannah? Will anything bring down Gilead? This obviously adds to the uncertainty we feel throughout the entire show. I love that I’m left on the edge of my seat after almost every scene. If many people were in the position that not only June is in, but so many characters of The Handmaid’s Tale are, in and out of Gilead, would you really consider yourself sane if you didn’t rise up with passionate fervor to create change? June isn’t the crazy one. She’s extremely lucid. The same can also be applied to Serena, and even some of the antagonists, like Commander Waterford and Commander Lawrence. Are they doing the wrong things by trying to protect their families? Does choosing the loved one, instead of the strangers, make you evil? How far do you let your decisions to help your family get out of hand?

I give this season a 9. It is so torrid and frightening that it amazes me how beautiful it still feels. Like I said, I’m in love with every part of this show. It is an art. This show is a dark, confusing, deep painting turned into an incredible series. I can’t wait to see what season 4 makes me feel. I’m just so worried for June’s character and really wondered why she is of a handful of characters that seem to be allowed to push their limits. I don’t want her to be harmed, but it almost doesn’t fit with the rest of the punishments that she hasn’t been penalized yet. Even though it would make sense, I pray that she isn’t tortured next season.