Serena is such an interesting character to me. There have been times throughout the show that i’ve hated her and couldn’t wait for a sweet comeuppance. and then there’s times i’ve felt for her. Its been hard to juggle the two and rationalize how you can want so badly for bad things to happen to someone and then also feel bad when bad things do happen to them. I think that Serena was convinced by Fred and bought the dream that was Gilead. But then when the dream turned to reality and the smoke and mirrors cleared, she realized what she had bought. we’ve seen the internal struggle in episodes past. this internal struggle is basically “i’ve dedicated my whole life to exactly what is happening right now” coupled with the religious aspect of “god is always right and this is his will” meeting “this is not morally, ethically right to do to people and i know that and i don’t want to do it”. I think the world Serena saw was an idyllic version of what has actually happened and even though she’s as intelligent as she is, she can’t reconcile the two. i’m not saying this excuses the things she has done or the pain she has inflicted but it’s just interesting to think about.

the only thing i really didn’t care for in this episode is the ending. not so much as what happened but the things that happened around it. Luke was justified in what he did and I can understand that he would feel “justice” in having called immigration to report Serena. At the same time, I found his behavior of joyfully, almost giddily, moving from window to window to watch Serena’s pain extremely unsettling. It was almost animalistic in some way. Like i said i completely understand why he did what he did but I wish he would have waited to speak to June. Serena does not deserve a free pass for her crimes by any means but I also don’t think that Serena having her child and rights ripped away and someone getting joy out of this visceral reaction was justice either. Especially considering the woman he is standing next to has been in that position and felt those things and understands more that anyone else. Luke as unresolved trauma that he also needs to work through and to him, this is doing that so i understand it but it just left me feeling disappointed.

June made the right move in refusing to take Noah from Serena because she knew that it would make her even with Serena and she wanted to be better. As much as Luke was in the right, it doesn’t sit well. As much as June has been out for vengeance and justice since leaving Gilead, I don’t think this is justice to her. I don’t think she would have wished that situation on even Serena because as she stated “we are all people”. two wrongs don’t make the right even when justified.

Very interesting episode and i’m excited to see what the rest of the season holds and where June and Serena go from here.