The Handmaid’s Tale Review: Liars (Season 3 Episode 11)

On The Handmaid’s Tale Season 3 Episode 11, “Liars,” as the mighty fall one by one, June finds herself in the forefront of a possible revolution.

June’s plan to liberate some of the children from her district felt farfetched before the number swells to 52, but considering all the blessings bestowed upon Ofjoseph on “Liars,” her mission may not end with her dangling from a rope after all.

With Commanders Waterford and Winslow no longer in power, the noose Lawrence feels around his own neck is likely to loosen. Given his propensity for cowardice and the fact he’s already proven he’s not committed to June’s cause, Lawrence isn’t exactly the person June should pin her hopes on. 

But Lawrence has to come through. It’s the inevitable conclusion. June isn’t leaving Gilead without Hannah, and she doesn’t have the full support of the “Martha Mafia” behind her, so there is no one else. 

The only person who could prove a threat to this rebellion is June herself who has been looking slightly unhinged for several episodes. She’s evolved from being emboldened to becoming completely reckless. She’d be dead already if the Marthas at Jezebels weren’t adept at disposing of dead bodies. 

While fans may have seen Fred’s fate coming for weeks, Winslow’s gruesome end is a total shock. It’s conceivable but unlikely his flirtatious behavior towards Fred is something less like lust and more like a bromance, but it’s hard to shake off the feeling there is something brewing underneath the surface.

Maybe Winslow never felt physically attracted to another man before, and what viewers interpret as almost predatory sexual behavior is simply something else. The possibility Winslow hiding his homosexuality can barely be considered a subplot other than it adds shock value when June encounters him at Jezebels. 

June: You all seem to have your kinks. 

Whatever Winslow’s plans are for June, it’s impossible to shake the dreaded feeling that it’s something far worse than she’s encountered before. 

It’s satisfying to see Winslow wind up in a furnace, but the real payoff for watching all of this misery transpire over the past three years is Waterford’s arrest. 

For anyone who doubts Serena’s involvement, all the signs are there. “Liars” is Serena’s long goodbye. While she’s saying a heartfelt goodbye to Rita, Fred shows up in a sports car looking like he’s ready for Spring Break.

As their journey progresses, it’s obvious Serena feels conflicted. She tries to reassure herself she and Fred haven’t been strictly destructive forces. 

She reminisces about happier times in their marriage, but the resentment she feels towards him is evident as well. It’s unlikely when he expresses a willingness to relinquish his power and move to the country to raise Nichole is a genuine desire.

Is Serena giving him one last chance to prove he’s not just an ambitious, empty shell of the man she married, or is her mind made up the entire time?

Serena does look shocked when it all goes down, and she might even regret her actions in the moment. We’re still left wondering what she’s getting out of the deal. It could be nothing, and her desire to be a mother made her blind to obvious risks.

Commander Lawrence is convinced “they” are coming for himself and June, but with no body, and only one witness who owes her life to the murderer, June is finally catching a break. Since it’s impossible to imagine a scenario where she doesn’t need Lawrence, who may rise in ranks with his enemies gone, these two are going to become fast friends.

Getting those children out could just be the beginning. Amidst the chaos of a regime change, the end of Gilead could be nigh.

What did you think of this episode of The Handmaid’s Tale? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Critic Rating:

User Rating:

 

The Handmaid’s Tale airs Wednesdays on Hulu.

 Follow us on Twitter and on Instagram!

Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!

Killing Eve: 15 Iconic Villanelle Moments