Oh wow, Fiderer, I didn't think about a 'double cross'! I just figured Serena's only thought was to get Nichole back and Fred was willing to do anything rather than lose her. Now I can't decide who was double crossed by whom! Did Serena know about the whole thing and threw Fred under the bus to get Nichole back or was she double crossed too? I did think she looked upset & surprised though when Fred was arrested. I gave a huge fist pump and a 'yes' too. I just can't decide what I want to happen to Serena. After all, she's guilty of assisting in Fred's rape of Handmaids, and I suppose being an accessory to slavery. Is part of a possible 'deal' that she gets immunity or will she be seen as being a victim herself?
I also gasped at the scene in the woods where Fred said "You would have left because I couldn't give you a child". He's made it clear that he knows that Nichole isn't his bio child. I know he was told it (in anger) by June last season, but this is the first I really knew that he believed her.
That arrest scene really raised a question for me. How far would I go to get my children back. Would I betray & possibly sacrifice my husband? In the 'Handmaid Universe' I assume Canada still doesn't have the death penalty, but does whatever International Court he'd be tried before have it? And if he's going to be tried in (what remains of) a US Federal court, they DO have the death penalty (in the 'real world'). At any rate, I hope they do an in depth storyline following his trial.
I didn't think the Winslow murder was too terribly contrived. After all, we've known that June is at the breaking point for some time now. Not surprised that she 'snapped'. And I loved (if you can use that word) the incinerator scene. The symbolism re the furnaces in Nazi death camps being used to get rid of their victims was obvious. And I think the Martha being there (& the Marthas confronting June) just showed how huge the network is. And that the arrogance of the conquerers will always cause defeat by the 'lowest' if the lowest can get their shit together.
I wondered what happened to Mrs L, too. But then when June was talking to Billy she said "a Cdr and his wife" as far as who would be on the plane, so Mrs L must be back in the house. There was an offscreen piece of dialogue from Cdr L outside the room when he first came home, but I didn't catch what he was saying. Maybe about taking Mrs L upstairs or something? Did anyone catch it? And I found it interesting that he only came back because they couldn't get the papers to get across the border. An uneasy alliance. Each must know that the other will throw them under the bus if need be. And what did he mean by 'they're coming for us'? Why? Because he tried to 'defect'? Or just because he knows he's being 'pushed out' of the Inner Circle & needs to be eliminated? And now that Fred & Winslow are both out of the picture, will that noose around Cdr L's neck be removed, or at least loosened?
I think all the art June offered Billy is the Gilead equivalent of the stolen Nazi art. Some from museums, but I'll bet a lot of it was taken off people who were executed when Gilead took over the US. Or used as bribes to get out when things got hot for 'traitors'.
There are two episodes left.