The Handmaid’s Tale Review: Mary and Martha (Season 3 Episode 2)
On The Handmaid’s Tale Season 3 Episode 2, “Mary and Martha,” June learns firsthand the dangers of joining the resistance. Emily struggles to adapt to life outside Gilead, and her continued presence frustrates Luke.
“Mary and Martha” delves deeper into the resistance network in Gilead which appears to be organized primarily by the Marthas. Unlike the Handmaids, the Marthas are able to move around more undetected under the ever-present watchful Eyes.
We learn Aunt Lydia survives Emily’s attack, and she’s finding it difficult to maintain her usual cool facade. She distrusts not only June but Commander Lawrence as well.
She’s like a child who’s suddenly been bitten by the family dog: she never thought any of the Handmaids capable of doing her any harm, and she’s genuinely shocked.
Aunt Lydia is a woman who truly believes what she’s doing is right even in her cruelest moments. It would be interesting to see more of her background, and how she came to believe she’s on a righteous path.
Commander Lawrence is proving to be less empathetic and less heroic than his actions on the final episodes of Season 2 would have us believe. He may not embrace every aspect of the totalitarian government he played an instrumental role in implementing, but he doesn’t completely eschew the misogynistic culture.
Commander Lawrence: Women like you are like … children. Asking for too much, taking what you want. Damn the consequences.
Lawrence is willing to look the other way but not to stick his neck out. This side of him is difficult to reconcile with his decision to help Emily and June escape. Maybe he was having a good day, or maybe he has motives that are yet to be revealed.
There are moments when he’gives the impression he’s disappointed in June’s failures as if he’s a tutor disheartened by a pupil’s failing grade. He scolds her but gives her a chance to redeem herself or at least clean up her mess. There are lessons to be learned in order to lead a successful revolution (like how to dispose of a body).
Lawrence is the most complex male character viewers have encountered so far. He can’t be classified as a hero or a villain; a good guy or a bad one. He’s neither especially cruel or particularly kind.
As June becomes more involved in the resistance, Luke, Moira, and Emily deal with their own battle scars. Emily is so fragile as she readjusts to the everyday kindnesses and routines we all take for granted. She looks like someone who is waiting for the next bad thing to happen because her pain is so deeply-rooted.
Moira: I mean, look … I’ve seen a lot of these reunions, and it’s not always a storybook ending. But nobody’s talking about happily ever after. Just after.
Impotence is a common thread shared among the men on The Handmaid’s Tale. For Luke, there’s a sense of futility because he’s unable to help his wife or his daughter. June tasks him with taking care of a child who is not his, and who is a reminder that his wife is being used as breeding stock.
Would it hurt Luke more or less to learn Nichole isn’t conceived out of love, but the act itself is the catalyst for June and Nick’s affair?
There is no happily ever after for any of these characters. All they can hope for is an after.
What did you think of this episode of The Handmaid’s Tale? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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The Handmaid’s Tale airs Wednesdays on Hulu.
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Jennifer Lind-Westbrook
Jennifer has been working as a freelance writer for six years, contributing to BuddyTV, Screen Rant, TVRage, Hidden Remote, Gossip On This, and PopMatters. She prefers binge-watching old episodes of The Office (British and American versions) to long walks on the beach. She's still holding out hope that Happy Endings will get a revival.