History Recap / TheHandmaidsTaleS4E9Progress

* FallenPrincess: Esther is revealed to have lost her status as a commander’s wife and has been forced into becoming a handmaid.

* HollywoodLaw: In reality, Mark Tuello would have no authority to release the Waterfords in return for their intelligence. They were being tried in the International Criminal Court, not in an American one, and Tuello is a representative of the American Government. There is also the fact that June's testimony is now a matter of court record, as is Fred's outburst where he admitted that he raped her. June should still therefore be able to press charges against both of the Waterfords. Even with this, it is possible that the ICC is more involved in trying to help the Americans and it is possible that the plea deal is between the Waterfords and them, with Tuello having made the deal which the prosecutor agree to. For instance, the ICC may realize that with a new source of intelligence like Waterford, they can possibly help bring down the Gilead regime and do far more than just the conviction of one Commander.

* HollywoodLaw: In reality, Mark Tuello would have no authority to release the Waterfords in return for their intelligence. They were being tried in the International Criminal Court, not in an American one, and Tuello is representative of the American Government. There is also the fact that June's testimony is now a matter of court record, as is Fred's outburst where he admitted that he raped her. June should still therefore be able to press charges against both of the Waterfords. Even with this, it is possible that the ICC is more involved in trying to help the Americans and it is possible that the plea deal is between the Waterfords and them, with Tuello having made the deal which the prosecutor agree to. For instance, the ICC may realize that with a new source of intelligence like Waterford, they can possibly help bring down the Gilead regime and do far more than just the conviction of one Commander.

%%* DeadpanSnarker: Lawrence's call to June, all the way.

** The Americans have so far been unable to do anything significant against Gilead other than orchestrating Fred Waterford's capture. So when Fred offers to turn over state secrets against Gilead for his and Serena's freedom, the Americans (and by extension, Canada) are not in a good position to deny Fred's request, especially since Gilead has no interest in negotiating for the fate of the Waterfords. Not only that, since Serena is about to give birth, forcing Serena to give birth while in captivity is not a good look for the Americans trying to take back their country.

June attempts to contact Commander Lawrence to plead him to use his power to release Hannah from Gilead. Lawrence refuses, saying that the only thing that Gilead will accept in return for Hannah's release is the return of several children taken by June to Canada. Nearly out of options, Luke and June ask for Nick to visit so he can at least see his own daughter in return for any information regarding Hannah. Nick agrees and provides recent information on Hannah to June while reuniting with his own daughter. The Putnams also visit the Waterfords and they separately tell Nick and Serena that Gilead will not be taking any action on their behalf as the Commanders believe it weakens their position in the world. This enrages the Waterfords to the point where they decide to take a plea deal with the Americans for Gilead state secrets in exchange for their freedom. When June hears about the deal, she physically threatens Mark Tuello. In Gilead, Esther is revealed to be "in training" to become a Handmaid and catches the attention of Janine.

* MoralityPet: Janine has become a much more twisted version to Aunt Lydia, acting as a servant around the Red Center, and impressing Aunt Lydia for "trying". Still, this doesn't stop Aunt Lydia from attempting to send Janine to a posting in the future.