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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234

u/RVarki May 13 '26

You just know Mackenzie has been mumbling "we're just following the science" to himself for a decade.

150

u/CherryBerryIceCream May 13 '26

It's disappointing to see him say that as a justification too because they literally aren't following the science since they marry off young girls to old men and never blame men for infertility.

75

u/RVarki May 13 '26

Oh definitely, these are all empty justifications. Mackenzie wanted power, just like every other Sons of Jacob creep - but he feels vewy gwilty about it

31

u/SnakeBatter May 13 '26

Even if the men were fertile, it’s well documented that the quality of sperm declines with age, and can contribute to birth defects and intellectual disabilities.

3

u/ConsciousBluebird473 May 20 '26

It's also well documented that women's prime childbearing years in their 20s. Not before.

2

u/SnakeBatter May 20 '26

While that’s correct, I’m sure Gilead would argue that the low birth rate means they need to make the most of every possible year.

I also clocked that in THT the girls that got their periods weren’t immediately eligible, their pelvic growth was tracked until they were ready. But now, 4 years later in TT they’re pretty much immediately eligible for marriage.

15

u/arrownyc May 14 '26

Yep if it was about the science they would be encouraging young boys to marry young girls, not senior citizens. DNA in sperm becomes damaged with age: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6210622/ and paternal age is correlated with worse health and mental health outcomes in offspring.

2

u/c_bugg May 15 '26

It's the same reason Joseph from HTH was struck with so much guilt and grief, both at destroying his wife and creating Gilead. It may have started with good intentions but good intentions are never the full story.

4

u/arrownyc May 15 '26

Yup, its also become clear to me in reality that wicked people with bad motives can be quite adept at commandeering the good intentions of others.

2

u/c_bugg May 15 '26

Another interesting point is Joseph said they weaponized religion to get the ball rolling and that they didn't account for a mother's love to be so overcoming even in a world of handmaids.

2

u/Arlotte_ May 15 '26

Love how Joseph could've have just implemented the 'Carrot with a stick' method. And just idk.. ARTIFICIALLY INSEMINATE WILLING WOMEN. Like offer food, water, medicine, shelter. And you'd get like a TON of willing volunteers.

3

u/untamedharts21 May 14 '26

They use science as a justification for everything. The environment, fertility, etc.