Luke and June embark on a dangerous journey to find out more about Hannah's situation in Gilead. Serena is made to feel welcome at the Wheeler's residence and comes up with an idea to change the focus of the Gilead Information center to one centered on fertility.
Tropes present in this episode
- Dead Guy on Display: While on the trail to the place where they will be meeting the Guardian, Luke and June encounter a corpse hanging from a tree bearing a sign on him reading "RAPIST". Luke wonders if it is Gilead's work but June says Gilead doesn't use words.
- Delayed Reaction: Luke took too long to realize that with the other guardians approaching and Jaeden the guardian mole they're helping would likely get helped by the others, compromising their escape. Overall, June and Luke took too long to understand that it wasn't simply a polite refusal of help when Jaeden told them to run.
- Gilded Cage: The Wheeler estate is one for Serena. She is treated as an honored guest and is fussed over by Mrs. Wheeler and the other women. But she is not allowed past the gates to chat with a visitor or to have a cell phone over "security concerns".
- Idiot Ball: Luke and June commit a series of errors that end up with them being captured by Gilead loyalists.
- Jaeden, Luke, and June choose to relax and drink beer and bowl in the middle of enemy territory while waiting for the sun to set so Luke and June can safely return to Canada.
- Then Jaeden encourages them to take a shortcut to the border to make things easier, taking them off the longer but safe path the freedom fighters marked on the map for them. Eventually Jaeden accidentally steps on a mine and it blows up, maiming him.
- Upon seeing Jaeden bleeding heavily from what is left of his leg, Luke and June try to help him instead of running off like he is telling them to do. While it is a kind gesture, the explosion attracted attention from a group of Gilead Loyalists, who could have helped Jaeden. They lose valuable seconds and end up getting caught before they make it to the border.
- Land Mine Goes "Click!": Jaeden is escorting Luke and June back to the border when he steps on a mine. Shortly after, it deploys, blowing off his leg.
- Nice Guy: Jaeden is nothing but sweet to June and Luke, and June remarks how pure he is.
- Pop-Cultural Osmosis Failure: While June, Luke and the Guardian are chilling at the bowling alley, Luke starts goofing off at an organ and then plays Al Green's "Let's Stay Together", serenading June. Jaeden, the Guardian, tells him the song is awesome and asks if he wrote it. Luke is all, "Yup".
- Sad Clown: Jaeden is nothing but optimistic and jovial, even though he's fully aware that Gilead is a shitty place that separates families.
- Surprisingly Realistic Outcome: Minefields have long been used during times of war as an intimidation tactic to prevent people from escaping authoritarian regimes, and was likely the reason for the longer path that the freedom fighters laid out for them. It's no surprise that Jaeden ends up stepping on one.
- Wide-Eyed Idealist: Jaeden. "People should just be able to talk to each other. See their families. Do whatever they want." June remarks that she has never met anybody from Gilead who is as pure as him.
