In the end of The Handmaid’s Tale season five episode seven, June goes from relief to shock in a matter of minutes. The sudden shift highlights one of the most important things that can be offered to a person who has experienced and is healing from trauma: choice.
Research has shown that long-term, repeated exposure to trauma can alter the way the brain functions. Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale brings this to light as once-captive characters attempt to navigate post-Gilead life. Warning: this post contains spoilers for The Handmaid’s Tale Season 5 Episode 5.