Handmaid's Tale wtf moment

[Hilleni]

I'm autistic so I'm not sure if it's just this which is the barrier or if anyone else dosn't understand.

Ive been binge watching and am on S3E6. First of all that June is so shocked Nick isn't trustworthy.. Ofglen literally says not to trust him from the first episode.

But the real bit I'm struggling with, aunt Lydia has just given June the muffler thing. And June says do you want to silence us, and Aunt Lydia is crying and June is crying and I just don't understand. Aunt Lydia hates June. She whacked her when June tried to help her up the stairs the other episode.

She says 'ah the dedication' and seems really impressed when we first see them at the train station with others muffled. I just don't understand what is happening. What are these emotions?

Can anyone explain at all?

@Drinkingallthewine

Aunt Lydia sees herself as a mother figure to the handmaids. What we see as abusive, brutal behaviour she would see as being strict and what she does is for the girl's own good and because she wants what is best for them - and in her mind the doctrine of the land is what is best for them.

Yep, spare the rod spoil the child kind of thing.

Look, back in British history to The Scolds Bridle, they did silence women by using a metal cage, a bridle on a woman’s head. The tongue would be ripped if the woman tried to speak.

I don’t think aunt Lydia hates June, I think she sees her ‘potential’ and kind of admires her and has a soft spot for her and wants her to just settle down and be a good handmaid

Yes I don't understand how June is shocked at Nick's role in Gilead. I think it's in S1 she asks him if he is an eye and he says yes.

@Crinkle77

Yes I don't understand how June is shocked at Nick's role in Gilead. I think it's in S1 she asks him if he is an eye and he says yes.

I don't remember him saying yes directly though. I don't know how to elaborate without spoling. Where are you up to OP?

I think he does say yes directly. Will have to find the clip.

I don’t understand the whole Nick thing either... so is he a decent bloke or not? I’m confused. Is he coerced into it or not...? I guess we will find out.

I thought the AL bit was just AL saying what June wanted to hear - they were a long way from home and she needed June to keep in line.

Bagel - we do find out. There's a flashback to his past. He wasn't totally forced into his job, but he didn't have any other opportunities either.
Are we doing spoilers or not because if you've seen both series it's quite clear I think.