The Handmaid's Tale Starts To Radicalize Aunt Lydia In Episode 3 — Read Recap

Editor's note: This recap covers the third installment of The Handmaid's Tale's three-episode Season 6 premiere. Go here for a recap of Episode 1 and here for a recap of Episode 2.

The Handmaid's Tale fans, have you read Margaret Atwood's sequel, The Testaments? And if so, what do you think about what happens in this week's episode re: Aunt Lydia? Seems very much like the beginning of a radicalization, no? (And if you don't know what I'm talking about and would rather just wait for Hulu's upcoming adaptation, that's cool, too!)

Also of note this week: Nick seems far more tortured than usual, which makes far more worried than usual for the future. He's supposed to be our man on the inside. Stand strong, Nick!

Read on for the highlights of Episode 3, "Devotion."

JUNE AND NICK, PART 3,412 | Tuello gets Jane caught up on everything she's missed, including the fact that Lawrence found Serena and brought her to New Bethlehem. We all know that June's feelings about her former commander's wife are... mixed? Complicated? Highly susceptible to the situation at hand? But I definitely detect a sense of relief in June that her shoving Serena and Noah off the train that night didn't result in their demise.

Over in New Bethlehem, Nick is busy hosting foreign dignitaries who are visiting the settlement to see how it's TOTALLY NOT A STIFLING AND VIOLENT THEOCRACY, GUYS! When the German delegate, Herr Strauss, wants to talk to Nick alone, I worry. He seems scary! But he's actually there to deliver a message: "June Osborne is at Mile Marker 17."

So Nick slips away from his official duties and makes a beeline for the waypoint, pulling June into his arms the minute he sees her. She quickly makes clear that she needs him to clear a path so she can get Luke and Moira out of the abandoned water park they're holed up in; there are guardians patrolling the area. But he can't do as she asks: To pull security from the dignitaries' visit would look suspicious, so "I'll go. I'll bring them back," he offers. June is on board... and then literally on board when she refuses to let him go without her, a request he initially refuses but let's be real: Has this man ever really said no to her?

GILEAD'S COMEBACK TOUR | Back in New Bethlehem, Serena is all settled in her new house. Commander Lawrence swings by, and there's a funny bit in which she (very seriously) makes him get down on his knees to pray because she wants to know if she can feel God in him. He kneels, but what comes out of his mouth is just the grace she gave at dinner the night before in Canaan — and she calls him out on it. Then he quotes Book of Mormon (ha!), and honestly, Serena, what were you expecting here? (At least he didn't reference "Hasa Diga Eebowai."

Later, Lawrence gives the out-of-country visitors a tour of Gilead Lite; I'm proud of the female dignitaries for raking him over the coals regarding Gilead's treatment of women. Serena sees that as her moment to step in and shine; sadly for humanity, she succeeds. She talks passionately about everything she's lost, about atoning, about Gilead's clean air and water and "thriving" children and how "that is not something that any of you can say on behalf of your countries." On cue, Noah is wheeled over to her, and the Canadian dignitary, who is clearly falling for the BS, nearly coos as she asks if she can hold him. C'MON CANADA. Then Nick's wife, Rose, shows up to close: Everyone oohs and aahs over her pregnant belly, and suddenly Canada is open to voluntary repatriation as long as the United Nations monitors.

After the foreign guests leave, everyone celebrates — though Nick's absence is noted, and Lawrence covers for him. High Commander Wharton flirts with Serena a little, and she doesn't hate it; she asks him to walk her and Noah home, which is like second base in Gilead, right?

AN UPDATE ON JANINE | What has Aunt Lydia been up to, you ask? When we first see her this season, she's at Jezebels (!) and looking rather worried. She's gotten a message that there's something she needs to see... and when she enters the dressing room, we learn that that something is someone, and that someone is Janine. The former handmaid rushes over and tells Lydia to leave, because "every time you help, you end up making things worse." Lydia is horrified to learn that four of her former "girls" are working at the brothel: "I was told you'd be rewarded for your service!" she cries. Oh Aunt Lydia, you cannot still be so gullible. Janine has harsh words for her harsh aunt: If she really wants to help, "forget me."

Of course, Aunt Lydia doesn't listen. She goes straight to the Lawrences' to beg them to take Janine back as a handmaid, but Naomi shuts that request down almost before it's even out of the older woman's mouth. Joseph makes reference to Aunt Lydia's "newly diagnosed condition," and she has seemed somewhat off the whole episode, but she dismisses his question and brings the conversation back to Janine. He states that Janine was a lost cause "the moment you got your hands on her," then twists the knife a little by reporting that Serena is back in town.

'I'VE LOST YOU OVER AND OVER AGAIN' | Meanwhile, in No Man's Land, June and Nick draw closer to where Moira and Luke are hiding. June wonders what made Nichole's dad change his mind about working with the Americans. "I heard you got hurt, hit by that truck so... I came to see you at the hospital,' he quietly confesses. She's taken aback that she was the catalyst for his involvement. "I had to," he says simply. "I had to see you."

But, as it turns out, Nick is Having Feelings about their situation. "I've risked everything, everything I have to save your husband. But you chose him. You chose Luke." She reasons that Luke waited for her, and while she had Nick to help her get through the tough times, Luke didn't have anyone. "Do you even know what it's like to be in love with you?" he wonders, and there's real anguish behind it. "I imagine it must be hellish," she quips. (Heh.) She explains that she can't lose Luke and Moira because they're part of her. "That's how I feel about you," Sad Nick says sadly. "And I've lost you, over and over again." Oof. She reassures him that "I'm here," but she's not really, right?

A RESCUE GONE WRONG | As Nick and June are dodging patrols outside, Luke is Losing. His. Stuff. inside the abandoned park's gift shop. Though their mission was successful — they obtained the names and photos of the commanders who ordered the planes shot down —he's spiraling because he thinks they're doomed. "What's June gonna hear?" he asks Moira, panicked. "She's gonna hear that I failed, right?" She gives him a little pep talk but it's interrupted by some noise from the entrance, and they both duck behind some counters.

Luke is about to shoot Nick when June says his name and Moira's, and they come out of hiding. I know we're in a life-or-death situation and emotions are heightened, but I stand by the fac that Moira's "'sup?" to Nick is hilarious in ANY circumstance.  June and Luke have a quick reunion but then they all hustle out to the car... and get caught by a patrol.

Under his breath, Nick instructs everyone else to proceed to the vehicle. Then he shoots down the men who saw them, jumps in the car with Luke, June and Moira, and leaves. Oh that's going to be BAD for someone at some point.

Later on, when June and Nick are alone, she points out that they always have big, dramatic goodbyes, yet they always wind up seeing each other again. So this time, they part with a bittersweet "See you later."

Now it's your turn. What did you think of the episode? Sound off in the comments below!