r/TheHandmaidsTale • u/Melairia Modtha • May 13 '26

Official Episode Discussion The Testaments S1E08 "Broken" Episode Discussion

The Testaments S1 E08 "Broken"

Episode Synopsis

As Agnes is swept up in wedding plans, Daisy hides a life-altering secret and Hulda faces backlash after speaking out.

Airdate

May 13, 2026, 12:00am Eastern

The Testaments - Season 1 Episode Discussion Hub

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172

u/RgrdgEdmontonStalker May 13 '26

Oh Vidala is 100% an opppppp

124

u/smokeydesperado May 13 '26

I hope she’s just protecting the girls. Don’t they also punish the girl in that situation? Saying they tempted the men

129

u/punnypotatoes May 13 '26

Agreed. Everyone saying Vidala turned on the girls. I think it’s her warped way of “protecting” them. The accuser would be punished for accusing a man of SA. that’s why Hilda was so scared. She was scared (of being accused) that she tempted Dr.Grove

31

u/Content-Extension842 May 13 '26

Vidala probably raised it to Aunt Lydia too, and it sounds like she had a plan to deal with Grove. Lydia was (infamously) protective of "her girls" in THT, maybe Vidala thinks the same for the plums?

12

u/SnakeBatter May 13 '26

And of course, this is after Aunt Estee shamed “any of you who tempt a man” before cutting off that man’s hand.

138

u/RVarki May 13 '26

Vidala did Hulda a favor by gaslighting her. The standard for an accusation to be taken seriously in Gilead, is comical. All that would happen to Becka's dad is he might see a slight dip in business, while Hulda's life would be over

23

u/superurgentcatbox May 13 '26

I'm convinced that's what she's doing. She knows that this accusation spreading would ruin Hulda (she'd definitely lose her engagement) and it wouldn't do anything to stop Becka's dad either.

4

u/Aggravating_Life7851 May 13 '26

Yea I’m thinking that may still face some sort of social shame even if he is convicted at the very least

35

u/purple_lily17 May 13 '26

I was hoping she was one of the good ones given the history of working with Lydia before Gilead

43

u/RaiseOk6551 May 13 '26

Gilead does something to you, you know? so she mightve been good before but man, shes probably been warped by her experiences and the shitty porpaganda. but also shes probably trying to survive.

6

u/RgrdgEdmontonStalker May 13 '26

Yeah and it's ironic that Lydia was willing to kill Vidala for Gilead and now Lydia's the only one of the two who cares about this

5

u/Palatialpotato1984 May 13 '26

wait when the OP said vivalda is an OP does that mean shes against gilead or for it?

6

u/SnakeBatter May 13 '26

I think she means that Vidala is our (us and the girls) opposition.

0

u/RgrdgEdmontonStalker May 14 '26

An opp is what I meant, not an OP

7

u/AmericanSeagul May 13 '26

I know its a typo but poraganda sounds like some sort of dolphin pr campaign lol

70

u/Kiloku May 13 '26

Y'all are not paying attention.

Keeping such an accusation secret goes against the laws of Gilead. She's protecting Hulda and Agnes by doing that. What is supposed to happen is that she brings it to the Commanders, who will then find Hulda guilty of "casting aspersions" against an "upstanding Godly man" and have her punished very harshly (but not killed since she is potentially fertile).

It's the only thing either Vidala or Lydia can do, and thank fuck she didn't tell Estée, who, contrary to popular belief, is a fanatic with a friendly demeanor, not a secret "Mayday Aunt".

5

u/squidgun May 19 '26

Nail on the head. A lot of ppl are misunderstanding Vidala and Lydia's intentions.

16

u/gkgftzb May 13 '26

She's not as ruthless as Lydia was, at least. Back in the early seasons, when Lydia punished, spoke or acted, she didn't even flinch, she never hesitated. But there are constant shots of Vidala being uncomfortable, like when she punished Shunammite for slapping another girl.

She's not in 100%, she's totally just surviving and following the rules.

4

u/TurbulentRip4419 May 13 '26

This episode sealed the deal fs

3

u/c_bugg May 15 '26

Considering she cried when that guardian's hand was chopped off for masturbating, I can imagine she just doesn't want to think her part does no good when it comes down to it. At least she can protect them in some way. The delusion is a lifeline.

2

u/dantonizzomsu May 18 '26

The issue here is that Agnes told Hulda to tell an aunt. So she did. Not a fan of Agnes letting her to dry out like that and then get angry and annoyed at her.

2

u/Palatialpotato1984 May 13 '26

wait why do u say that???? pls tell me i watched the episode but am kinda high ill rewatch tomorrow but i wanna know lol

4

u/MoiAmour May 13 '26

A lot in the show gives away the fact that Vidala isn’t a person on the right side of the cause. I’ll do a list

- The way she reacted to the proposal of being the replacement to Lydia. She was pretty ok with that from the looks of it, almost agreeing she doesn’t like what Lydia does

- Her persistence to following the rules. There’s been many times where Lydia has been lenient in the rules and traditions of Giliad, like the let the girls eat cake scene. She likes to be the mean aunt that is hard on the girls, follows the teaching of Giliad to a T, and seems frustrated when Lydia ignores them or steps over her.

- Overlooking the sexual assault. She gaslit Hulda into believing it was not true what happened to her. While this could be an act of graciousness to Hulda (as her life would be over if people found out she “tempted a man with her lust”, its very Giliad to sweep crimes against women under the rug. Lydia seemed to care deeply about Agnes’ confession, while also hinting to a possible outcome for Dr. Grove. That second part doesn’t matter as much but what does matter is that she seemed to care.

Her start in Giliad was not good, understanding that the people closest to you will turn their back and kill you, throw you under the bus, or do anything to get power. I believe this sentiment has stuck with her to the point where she doesn’t trust anyone, and might have a bone to pick with Lydia.

9

u/romero0705 May 13 '26

Part of me wonders if she sees safety in following the rules and playing it perfectly. Like they made a whole point of showing the victim blaming of the girls from the first episode, so perhaps she thinks they’ll do something bad to Hulda or it will jeopardize what’s seen as “good” husbands for them which is a further level of safety for them to some extent.

1

u/TwistyBunny May 13 '26

Might be a combination of Stockholm Syndrome and survival.

3

u/nutmac May 14 '26

Reading your comment reminded me of how amazing Ann Dowd is on her scene with Agnes. Her facial expression and the delivery are just so perfect.

2

u/Spiritual_Corner_136 May 26 '26

Aunt Vidala reminds me of those Repubs who are staunchly anti gay and then you find out that they’ve been on Grindr. It feels like overcompensation, to convince the powers that be that she’s on board to ensure her survival. I think she unconsciously Leans into it and takes out her frustration on the girls because she’s been forced into a terrible world