The Handmaid's Tale Just Made Lydia Totally Unforgivable
Thought Aunt Lydia couldn't shock you any more? The Handmaid's Tale Episode 6 will prove you wrong.
Every week we tune into The Handmaid's Tale and get closer and closer to the series finale. With just four weeks to go, the stakes have never been higher.
The show has always been loved for its complex characters, but there's probably no one quite like Aunt Lydia. She's cruel, but she also wants to do good (in her own way, of course).
Understanding Aunt Lydia of The Handmaid’s Tale
For those who might need a refresher, Aunt Lydia serves as a feared teacher at the Rachel and Leah Center, where she transforms women into Handmaids through her signature strict discipline and psychological manipulation.
Ann Dowd is the one behind Lydia. In an interview with The Guardian, she reflected on her character, saying:
“She’s a human being. She loves those girls, she’s devoted to their wellbeing, and it’s up to me to make sure they have a meaningful life.”
While Dowd's performance gives us glimpses of humanity beneath Lydia's exterior, recent events have pushed many fans past their breaking point.
The Handmaid’s Tale Episode 6 Proved That Lydia Is Irredeemable, Fans Say
We're talking about the particular moment in Episode 6 between Lydia and Janine. And while it could have been a genuine moment between the two (though we don't really know if that's possible given their history), it was absolutely ruined by Lydia's burst of anger.
“This episode proves why Lydia is unforgivable for me. Even when she's attempting to "save" Janine she slaps her, when Janine calls her a– out. She is not sorry for who she treated those girls at all. She's just mad that Gilead lied to her,” Redditor Mysterious_Spinach_4 wrote.
“I'm glad she [Janine] didn't [slap Lydia back]. She's above Lydia. Instead, she hurt Lydia more by calling out that Lydia kidnapped her child,” another fan, abu_nawas on Reddit said.
“She’s [Lydia] like a lot of religious controlling mothers. She treats Janine like a child, wants her to be child like. When Janine’s mental health was declining and she reverted to child like behaviors, Lydia had the most control over her. And violently abused her,” Redditor Maleficent_Radio_674 noticed.
What’s Next for Aunt Lydia in The Handmaid’s Tale?
As we approach the series finale, the question remains: can someone like Aunt Lydia ever truly change? Or are some actions simply unforgivable? New episodes continue to drop on Hulu every Tuesday at 12 am ET.
