The Handmaid's Tale - Faithful - Advance Preview

Episode five of The Handmaid’s Tale “Faithful” was directed by Mike Barker with the teleplay by Dorothy Fortenberry, whose only other writing credit on IMDb is The 100. We see the women throughout the episode trying to take some agency back. The title of the episode resonates in both the present storyline and the one told in flashbacks of Offred’s (Elisabeth Moss) previous life.

The show is doing a wonderful job in maintaining the level of acting and the beautiful and haunting cinematography. There’s one scene from the flashbacks in which you can see through a window a group of small girls all dressed in red coats and supervised by several women, playing in an area with large white pillars. They seem to playing some kind of tag, but it’s a beautiful echo of the Handmaidens.

As the episode opens, some time has passed. Offred seems to have grown closer to the Commander (Joseph Fiennes) and more relaxed in his company. In fact, later in the episode she’ll take him to task for something. He gives her a gift.

Early in the episode, June quotes a poem – and fittingly, it is actually one of Margaret Atwood’s most famous poems – at least it was a good friend of mine’s favorite! Offred spends some time with Serena Joy (Yvonne Strahovski). Serena Joy makes a suggestion about Nick (Max Minghella). We learn that not all the Handmaids are unhappy with their situations. Offred runs into an old friend.

Someone goes for a joyride. There is one very steamy sex scene. We find out in flashbacks about how June and Luke (O-T Fagbenle) met and how their relationship started.

And here are a few dialogue spoilers! Can you guess which line is from the Atwood poem?

You look invincible.
Your time is running out here.
Maybe he can’t.
We had choices then.
Biological destiny.
Love isn’t real.
It should be with someone we trust.
Might as well strike while the iron is hot.
What is Mayday?
Winter is so late this year.
You fit into me like a hook into an eye.
I like to be on top.
Some of us maintain an appreciation for the old things.
Every love story is a tragedy if you wait long enough.

Don’t miss “Faithful” streaming May 10 on Hulu!