In the aftermath of the bombing and Commander Waterford's severe injuries, the district that the Waterfords are in are put in lockdown with extreme measures being enforced by an overzealous Commander. Serena, Nick, and June work together to protect each other.
This episode provies examples of:
- Book Ends: The previous episode closed with Ofglen/Lillie pressing a button that had consequences for Gilead, this episode closes with June doing the same.
- Does This Remind You of Anything?: The Martha was shot whilst reaching for her pass to show the police. This is much like the police shootings happening across America.
- Karma Houdini: Emily. She is brought back from the Colonies to be a handmaid despite Gilead documenting that she brutally killed a guard.
- The Lost Lenore: Odette, for Moira when the latter finds out the former was killed.
- Origins Episode: This episode concentrates on Moira's background and her relationship with Odette.
- Pet the Dog: As much as Serena understands the need for heightened security in light of her husband nearly getting killed, she believes that the crackdown ordered by Commander Ray Cushing is overkill. Not to mention the interrogations of all of the women in the Waterford home.
- The Reveal:
- Many of the Handmaids' names.
- The second Ofglen's name is Lillie Fuller
- Commander Pryce was also killed in the bombing, meaning that Nick has no one to report to.
- Saved for the Sequel: The brief subplot of a Martha being accidentally shot by one of the Angels occurred in the original novel, but wasn't featured in the first season, which was largely based on it.
- Screw the Rules, I'm Doing What's Right!: Both Nick and Serena conspire to have Commander Cushing arrested so that they can get the Guardians off their streets and him from interrogating June again, with Serena forging Fred's signature. It doesn't end there, as Serena then has Offred helping her drafting laws and rules in Fred's absense at the end of the episode.
- Surprisingly Realistic Outcome:
- As the Handmaids' funerals demonstrates, Ofglen/Lillie's suicide bombing may have shaken up Gilead and she may had tried to her best to ward off her Handmaid friends, but it still had major consequences for even the people oppressed by Gilead.
- Because of the decline of the population of Handmaids, even the ones declared "Unwomen" are brought back in order to make up its numbers. Even one previously convicted of murder.
- Tyrant Takes the Helm: The regime was already oppresive under Commander Pryce, but under Commander Cushing it goes full-blown police state, with the household Ofglen/Lillie belonged to being entirely executed. Not only are Martha's executed in the streets but also commanders and wives end up executed in the wake of the bombing.
- We Hardly Knew Ye: Despite being introduced in the previous episode and shaping up to be a major antagonist, by the end of the episode Cushing ends up arrested for apostasy and treason by Commander Warren.
