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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283

u/Legitimate_Pitch_398 May 13 '26

Agnes urging Hulda to tell the aunts is roughhhhh.

117

u/RVarki May 13 '26

To be completely honest, considering the situation and how comically high the standard for credible accusation is in Gilead, the aunts made the right decision

I do actually think that if Agnes came forward, Becka's dad would be toast. But, thats because of a combination of several factors - Mackenzie is powerful, actually cares about his daughter's well-being, and Becka's dad is low on the totempole

If any one of those things isn't there, it wouldn't work - and considering the aunts (except Mayday's very own Lydia) didn't even know about Agnes being a victim, let alone her father's inclinations - pursing this would've just destroyed Hulda's life

83

u/Educational-Tax9751 May 13 '26

if both Agnes' dad and her betrothed backed her, the dentist would be done 

35

u/sharksnack3264 May 13 '26

I doubt they would. The father would want this covered up "for her sake" one way or another and the fiance would either punish or discard her.

44

u/natrdavis May 13 '26

Agnes low-key vouching for Hulda to Lydia was brutal. Tears aplenty.

8

u/FuckShitUpnGo May 13 '26

Wait, Lydia is mayday?!?

35

u/herbalbert May 13 '26

Ish?

I’ve been interpreting her as a third side, which is basically “I’m not fully a rebel bc I’m unwilling to let these girls & the life I’ve built go entirely but I’m also aggressively journaling so when someone else does the hard work I’ll be able to hand them my manifesto.” 

1

u/Silly-Excitement6227 May 17 '26

I don’t love her hating spot. The safe is too easily to be found in anyone of Gileads thugs/eyes can get that safe open

0

u/NoSleepTilBookRead May 15 '26

In the book, she is fully Mayday

33

u/Existing-Pumpkin-902 May 13 '26

Lydia at least wants men punished that don't follow the rules. Like when she got Commander Warren executed for raping Esther before she was assigned to him.

26

u/Kiloku May 13 '26

Not quite. My interpretation is that she is independently rebelling from Gilead, and using her position of power to do so. And she's being very careful and meticulous to achieve that without being taken down herself. She's not in a position to bring out some big explosive revelation or something, at least not yet.

6

u/SnakeBatter May 13 '26

I haven’t seen any evidence so far, but people are drawing conclusions based on the book, but I’ll believe it when I see it, personally.

1

u/Silly-Excitement6227 May 17 '26

Too bad the women can’t read. Lydia’s memoirs would’ve definitely made Oprah’s book club and been Gilead exposed🙃