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[Thisstorycontainsspoilersforthesixthepisodeof[ThisstorycontainsspoilersfromthesixthepisodeofCovenants“the stadium.”]
Covenants It provided another backstory for Aunt Lydia and in the middle of the episode there is a revelation, The Handmaid’s Tale The sequel series has revealed the key to understanding the puzzling franchise character played by Ann Dowd. The moment comes in a scene between a pre-Gilead Lydia in the midst of a totalitarian takeover and one of the men, Commander Judd (Charlie Carrick), who becomes a high-ranking leader in the fictional fascist government.
In a flashback scene, Lydia presents herself as an asset to Commander Judd by asking him to cast aside her history — which includes that she is unmarried and had a miscarriage, a “form of murder” that is now punishable by death, even retroactively, Judd says — and elevate her to the position of chief aunt she has become. The Handmaid’s Talepledging to enforce Gilead’s religious views and train young women how to become servants to bear children for Gilead’s infertile wives. The scene pays homage to the major miscarriage mystery revealed in Margaret Atwood’s sequel novel of the same name, on which the show is based; Dodd says below that she learned about the miscarriage when she read the sequel novel, when she was still filming The Handmaid’s Tale.
Then, in the flashback’s most shocking moment, Lydia agrees to kill her former colleague to prove her loyalty to Gilead. Jude was just testing it, so she pulled the trigger, and it was empty. But that colleague becomes Aunt Vidala (played by Mabel Lee), and Vidala carries the shock and resentment from that day all the time. Covenants.
It’s a brutal moment, but it’s all explained by a key voiceover from Lydia during this scene between her and Jude when she says, “Surviving with these guys requires patience, and allies wherever you can find them.”
At the end of this sixth episode, viewers see that the voiceover comes from Lydia’s diary – her “will” in this story. After pledging to be an ally of the resistance movement Mayday June (Elisabeth Moss) at the end of… The Handmaid’s TaleLydia was secretly recording her thoughts and working behind the scenes at her ally Covenants. How exactly? Viewers and even Dodd herself don’t have that full picture yet.
“We talk about survival, and what Lydia does to survive,” Dodd says of what we learn in her background episode. “She’s making the decision at the expense of ending her colleague’s life. We’re learning a lot about Lydia. Not only will she survive, she won’t be Aunt No. 6. She’ll be Aunt No. 1, and she’ll find a way to do it.”
Below, Dodd and Lee spoke Hollywood Reporter About the flashback and what it reveals about their aunt’s current ship. Also during this episode, the aunts reference main protagonist Agnes (Chase Infinity) and the fact that her mother is June (Moss). The women did not mention June by name, but they referred to Agnes’s mother as “no mere servant.” Dowd and Li also comment on the subtext of that moment below, and if it means Lydia and June could be in for a Mayday collaboration.
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Mabel, did you read the chemistry with Anne for the role of Aunt Vidala?
Mabel Lee No, that would have been fun — and scary, because I’m a fan of Anne. I wish I could do that.
When you were cast, did you read Covenants Were you familiar with your character from the book?
for me I didn’t read Covenants But when I got the part. I read The Handmaid’s Tale He was a fan of the show. But when I got the part, I read it immediately. It was a great read. It was very helpful and I took it all in, but then I also had to put it aside and say, “Okay, I need to find it myself now.” Because in the book, Vedala is filtered through other people’s points of view. And very biased.
Anne, have you read the book before? As in, did you know you would Covenants?
that Dao Yes, I had a little guess that would happen.[[Author’s Note: Dodd revealed when Atwood told her about the sequel THR’Q The Handmaid’s Tale Oral history.]
Anne, I was going to ask you when you first read Covenants.
Dao We did the audio [for the book] Quickly, so I read the book first of course.
What is the shooting season? The Handmaid’s Tale Was that?
Dao Closer to the end. Maybe you already knew. I’ve given a little advice. Not exactly what it would be like, but, yeah [that it was happening].
I know you were thrilled with Lydia’s backstory The Handmaid’s Tale. So when you learned that you were going to get another backstory in this sequel series, what excited you the most and what did you learn about it this time?
Dao I was incredibly excited to do this. Because when we get down to it, what are we talking about here? We’re talking about survival, and what Lydia does to survive. she She makes the decision at the cost of possibly ending her colleague’s life. We learn a lot about Lydia. Not only will you be alive, you won’t be Aunt No. 6. You’ll be Aunt No. 1, and you’ll find a way to do it. We learn a lot about her character and her courage, so to speak. You can call it something else, but we see those parts of it very quickly.
How surprised were you both when you saw that Lydia actually pulled the trigger and intended to kill Vidala, as she says, for her own survival?
Dao Yes yes. I can finally bring myself to do it. But it was very difficult. Just imagine being responsible for someone else’s life? Not just a stranger, but your colleague and friend. Oh, brutality. Absolutely brutal.
for me At this moment, it was shocking every time. Every time we did a take — and you do many, many takes — the shock never dissipated. It’s a great thing to be ready to kill your friend.
Dao How would you feel if you were in your position? You didn’t say a word to me.
for me Resentment, shock. It’s very meaningful, because it permeates our relationship in a profound way throughout the entire show.
Dao It’s always there.
It makes you two rivals, but we don’t understand why in the first half of the show yet. How was the game?
for me It’s hard because Anne is really warm and kind. She is the most devious girl in the group. And then I have to resent her and know that this is the person who almost killed my character. It’s hard, because you’re so warm!
Dao Okay, I’ll work on that. I’ll keep that under control. No thanks necessary!
We see this new alliance now forming between Aunt Vidala and Jude in the present day. Are you saying Vidala was playing the long game? Did this opportunity just come, or do you think she was always looking to bring Lidya down?
for me I think that subconsciously, because of the roots of the trauma, she always wanted to get rid of Lydya. And I think when Commander Jude opens that door, it awakens something inside her. Perhaps it awakens deep anger and betrayal. But it’s interesting because Vedala is still an aunt and a woman in this world. She is still at the mercy of others who open doors for her so she can succeed and continue to rise. It balances the delicate power structure.
The main revelation in this backstory is that Aunt Lydia had a miscarriage when she was younger. When you read that in Covenant Book, and you’re still making The Handmaid’s TaleDid that affect the way you played it?
Dao I think it’s buried a lot – when you make a decision to just survive, whatever that takes and what’s in your past – you focus on the present so hard just to make sure that you have a place in this world and that it’s something that you can live with. So I’m not sure. It’s interesting. I think she put it behind her as a mistake she made in her youth. Having sex and not being protected, what is the reason for this? I don’t know that she carries it in a meaningful way Covenants.
If you are a new viewer of this world, who has not seen The Handmaid’s Tale Or reading the books, she may not know Lydia’s true intentions until this episode, when she sees She writes and begins to understand that she is working to do good on the other side. Did you talk to creator Bruce Miller about this slow reveal?
Dao I didn’t ask her, and I’d love to come up with my own version of what she was up to. This is one of the changes she made when maid Finished and Covenants He started. She always pays attention. Always be alert. Nothing happens. And when she takes her moments to write secretly [her thoughts] Clear as a bell, it protects them and keeps them away from the idea that “I have time, and I can do everything I need and want to do.” It gives me goosebumps when I think about her in this situation. It really is.
The big question on this show was whether June would show up, and we found out she would. Elisabeth Moss reprized the character in previous episodes and returns later in the season.
Dao Isn’t that something?
When you learned that Lizzie (Moss) would be returning to the screen, as well as serving as an executive producer, what was your reaction? And did that turn you on to the idea that John and Lydia might be making plans together?
Dao Anything with Lizzie makes me so happy. I love that woman. It’s extraordinary. Our guidance[in[inmaid]it was amazing. She knows everything about it, just the idea of communication Covenants Really amazing. I don’t know how or when it’s going to end, but boy, is it going to be great? I’m excited.
Also in this episode, you both admit that Agnes has a very important mother. You don’t mention John’s name, but you say Agnes’s mother was a servant. This was another big question regarding the sequel series. Of course, Lydia has access to bloodlines, so she must know who Agnes is. But I don’t see her treating Agnes any differently. Can you talk about the conversations you had with Bruce and what you want us to think about what Lydia knows or feels about Agnes?
Dao I didn’t get a definitive answer on that, which I also find interesting, and be patient – it will come when it comes. I think she has a special feeling for Agnes. She tries not to show it too much, but to watch Agnes and what is happening. Her eyes are on Lucy [Halliday]a personality [Daisy]Always watching and observing. But I think she has something special about Agnes, without a doubt.
Aunt Vidala also says she knows who Agnes’s mother is. So Mabel, Vidala knows how powerful Agnes’ mother is?
for me The take they chose for my response was that the subtext was a bit judgmental. So I think she disagrees [of June]. The filth of it all. I think the fact that Agnes’s mother is a resistance fighter is not good in Vidala’s eyes.
It opens the door for June and Lydia to meet at some point. Have you imagined what it would be like, Anne, if you were in the same room again?
Dao I haven’t spent a lot of time working on it, but boy, I imagine it’s going to be exceptional. Because the last time these two were together[in[inmaid], What happened? June Osborne Take it down. He spared nothing for her. Lydia did not resist. She got down on her hands and knees and begged her for forgiveness. So I think there’s room for a very interesting, deep relationship that could follow from that.
We’ve seen that Daisy and John have a Mayday relationship, so I thought that maybe Daisy ended up at Lydia’s school because of John and Lydia’s connection.
Dao I don’t have the answer for you. I’m very interested to know that. This is an interesting theory. But hey, we’re in season one. Of course, we hope to continue for several seasons, so it will be an extended story.
The Handmaid’s Tale It was very relevant. Bruce Miller has always said that he will stop doing this show when it becomes no longer relevant. You’re back, and you’re relevant. What was it like participating in a show that raises so many issues that affect women and people in our real world?
Dao Just being grateful to be in a show leaves the living room and goes to the streets. The message is: “Stay alert. Be careful. Put your phone down. Go out into the street and protest, because no one is going to do it for you. You’re doing it yourself.” Being part of a show that does that? I mean, the first time I saw young women dressed as maids on the street, I almost fell off my bike, literally. I was so confused. I was about to call out to them, thinking that I had suddenly become Lydia. I was about to stop them. Just the power of it, how wonderful it is. Thank you, Margaret Atwood.
for me What is so powerful about Margaret’s writing is that it is, unfortunately, timeless. It explores the ways in which fascist or authoritarian states are created and maintained. It’s very unfortunate that it’s so relevant now, again, with Covenantslike The Handmaid’s Tale It was at the right time when he was coming out.
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Covenants New episodes release every Wednesday on Hulu.
