Daisy thinks about how beautiful Gilead looks on the outside at the beginning of Episode 4 of The Testaments. But there is always danger underneath that shiny surface. Daisy lives deep in enemy territory, so she knows the Eyes could catch her at any time. She is taking a big risk, and one wrong move could kill her.
As the wedding season begins, people in Gilead start to focus on planning and ceremonies. Daisy uses this distraction to stay out of the spotlight while she works on her mission. She is still not alone, though. There are a few undercover agents in Gilead, including a florist who knows Garth, but some of them are starting to lose their nerve.
Daisy is scared when she sees Mayday rebels hanging as public warnings while Agnes and Becka walk through the streets in green. Agnes tries to calm Daisy down and tells her that she is safe for now, not knowing who she really is. The group goes to Agnes’s house for a formal tea party. There, Agnes and Becka practice dances that they hope will impress future Commanders.
Paula gets the house ready downstairs because the Aunts are coming. Penny is also there, bringing gifts for Agnes and Becka, like baskets full of gifts. Commander Stevens, one possible suitor, sends a letter that Garth awkwardly reads out loud. Daisy, who already knows about Garth’s dangerous behavior, confronts him at the party.
Garth says that Gilead is getting back at them for the bus incident, which makes their mission more dangerous. Even though Daisy is worried, he says they are closer than ever to doing something important, maybe because Daisy is so close to the girls.
When the Aunts get to the Mackenzie house, it becomes clear how important the event is. This meeting is the girls’ last chance to prove they would make good wives. Paula Mackenzie is the most powerful wife in Gilead, and many of the girls try to win her favor because they know that having power there often means staying alive.
One of the most important things the girls do is show off their skills by making tea. Paula purposefully messes with a girl named Miriam, making her spill tea in front of everyone. Daisy quickly understands how serious the mistake is; it could lead to exile or worse.
Daisy runs into Commander Mackenzie while she is looking around the house. Their talk is mostly about Agnes, and even though Daisy is technically trespassing, the Commander stays calm. He even gives her a piece of chocolate, saying that Agnes doesn’t seem to like them anymore.
The Commander’s Cake is a Gilead tradition that is like the European custom of hiding a gift inside a cake. Agnes finds a tiny porcelain bride in her slice, which means she is probably the first to get married. But she accidentally breaks a tooth when she bites into it.
Paula gets angry and tells Agnes that she has to go to the dentist. It is revealed there that the scary doctor from before is Becka’s father, Dr. Grove. He gives Agnes a sedative and shuts the door, leaving unsettling hints about what might have happened.
Daisy waits outside and feels like something is wrong. Later, she gives Garth the chocolate that Commander Mackenzie sent him. He sees Japanese writing on it and tells him that Japan has put sanctions on Gilead. Daisy also tells Garth to be careful about getting emotionally involved, suggesting that feelings could make their mission harder.
Dr. Grove is gone when Agnes wakes up, leaving behind a very troubling situation. Paula tells Agnes that she is “weak” because of her birth mother, not Tabitha, when they get home. Daisy tries to connect with Agnes by talking about how she lost her mother, and the two start to form a weak bond.
Daisy sees that there are guards around the florist’s shop on her way back to school. The florist tried to run away when the Eyes showed up, but they shot him in the street. The message is clear: there is no room for mistakes.
That night, Daisy tries to listen to Mayday broadcasts, but all she hears is a short warning about Boston before the signal turns into static. Not long after that, she finds out that her things have been messed with, which proves that Becka’s father has also hurt her.
Review of the Episode
This episode adds to several ongoing storylines and makes Gilead feel even more oppressive. Agnes’ situation is very bad. It seems like Dr. Grove abused her, but it’s almost impossible for her to say anything. Gilead’s system needs a lot of witnesses to challenge authority, and even then, the consequences could ruin her chances of getting married and having a good reputation.
Daisy is smart, but she can’t do much. Because she is an undercover agent, she is in danger. Sometimes, especially when she talks to Garth, she acts carelessly, even though she is always being watched.
There is also a growing power struggle between the Aunts, especially between Lydia and Vidala. Vidala’s unhappiness with Gilead’s strict rules suggests that there may be trouble ahead, but Lydia quickly shuts down any disagreement.
Paula is still a complicated person. She is in charge and controls situations, like when she sabotages Miriam, but her actions also show how much pressure wives are under in Gilead’s hierarchy. Her treatment of Agnes suggests that she is both strategically calculating and biased.
But the way Mayday is shown makes people wonder. Even with all of its power and resources, the resistance still looks disorganized and too dependent on Daisy. Putting such an important job in the hands of one teenager shows how weak their operation is.
In general, Episode 4 is a good one that strikes a good balance between character development and rising tension. The last few minutes, especially the broken radio broadcast, did a good job of getting things ready for the next chapter.
