Mamamia recaps The Handmaid's Tale, season 5, episode 4: KEEP YOUR SH*TTY STATE OUT OF CANADA.

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Not to judge anyone's parenting but... June's swinging of Nichole on the swing is a little pathetic. Put some power into it, June!

Actually, maybe not. It'd be harder to get Nichole out of the swing quickly if she was mid-air when this VERY creepy woman approached.

"You were so lucky you were in Gilead," the woman says.

Oh. My. God.

RUDE!!!!!!!!! Image: SBS.

She calls June a slut who does not deserve her daughter and June, to her credit, does not sock her right in the face.

The absolute worst part about this whole 'Gilead seeping into Canada' feeling we're getting this season is that... it feels so realistic. Just IMAGINE the YouTube rabbit holes and podcasts that would exist on Gilead and its ideology.

Across town, Serena is officially released from American custody. She won't claim asylum as an American because her 'allegiance is to God' (ugh!) so she's restricted to Gilead-affiliated properties (which are... what exactly?) but basically, she's free to go.

FEELS LIKE A BAD IDEA.

Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

Hold up. There's a "GILEAD INFORMATION CENTRE" being set up in the middle of Toronto? And the Canadian government is chill with that? IN AN EFFORT TO IMPROVE RELATIONS????

Yeah. Nah. That's f***ed.

"God, you're such a f***ing disappointment," June tells Tuello, who's tries to reason with her, Luke, and Moira that this is... chill and normal.

Luke starts to talk about how he's going to shut it down and June does her overly calm, menacing "I'm not worried" thing, which means we should all be worried.

Ah, sh*t. I told you. She's digging up the gun in the backyard.

Luckily for Serena, the gun is jammed with dirt. So instead of shooting her, June just kind of... stares through the Gilead Centre's window at the literal cult figure standing above adoring fans from a building window.

At home, Luke is remarkably calm about June's confession that she can't stop thinking about shooting Serena in the head. 

He, and his trusty glass of red wine, respond to her fairly and kindly. Bless him. They, given the circumstances, seem to have landed in a pretty healthy spot? They're getting therapy, talking openly about their feelings, not hiding their murderous desires from each other...

It's... nice. And it's not often you can say anything in this show is nice.

In Gilead, Janine is telling Aunt Lydia to "stop talking about the bible" because her "legs don't work".

Esther has not woken up yet, which Aunt Lydia says "serves her right".

Then Janine, an icon and a legend, absolutely takes her to task.

"I SEE YOU. I SEE WHO YOU REALLY ARE. I've still got one good eye, remember?"

Oh sh*t, the forever hopeful, smile-through-gritted-teeth-in-order-to-survive Janine is gone. I'm yelling. I'm screaming. I'm fist-pumping like I've never fist-pumped before.

GET HER, JANINE.

We must protect her at all costs. Image: SBS.

Back across the border, Serena is wearing slightly less suffocating teal clothing and sending out invitations to the Gilead Centre's official opening. She's clearly attempting a 'best of both worlds' situation, or at least trying to stick it to the Commander Council who made her weird pseudo-ambassador to get her to leave them the hell alone.

OH SH*T SHE SENT JUNE AN INVITE IN AN ENVELOPE LABELLED "OFFRED".

That's f***ing evil, but unlike their last mail exchange, won't require an $80 fine for sending body parts.

June's breaking dishes and Moira has to deliver some hard truths: they're in a refugee town, and ya know, the world has a long history of not treating refugees with the empathy and acceptance they deserve. They have to play by the rules, or they'll only blow up their lives further and destroy their chances of taking down Gilead for good.

Serena is sending gift baskets to Germany when Luke arrives for a friendly chat.

He's got a few building code issues to discuss, but also, did she know, his wife is going to kill her?

OOOOF.

Serena then wages psychological warfare. Why didn't Luke return to Gilead to get his family back? June took risks and suffered for them. Nick's support must've been some small comfort, at least?

Oh, she's evil evil!

Luke tells her that maybe he'll just kill her himself, and WE ALL GASP, RIGHT?

Poor Luke but also... this is just going to push him closer to June's vengeance level? Like, you're only putting yourself in more danger, Serena. Image: SBS.

Aunt Lydia has actually listened to Janine. Blessed f***ing Day indeed.

She promises Joseph 'smoother waters' for the Handmaids she's spent the past few years torturing, now that June's "influence" is gone. 

But, huh, she wants reforms to the Handmaid system.

She proposes that rather than postings; the Handmaids live at the Red Centre and the Commanders can visit each month for the state-sanctioned rape.

She wants the enforced sex slavery of fertile women to be a little more comforting! How thoughtful!

Joseph deadpans, "What have you been smoking?" which given the current conversation is a terrible thing to say but also... he continues to have the best lines in this show.

He then says the quiet part out loud: these men don't see Handmaids as their desperate, last-ditch attempt to have a baby. That's just a convenient guise. Handmaids are an outlet for their frustrations, a human punching bag and walking orifice in which to use and abuse however they wish.

OH COME ON LYDIA YOU ALREADY KNEW THIS. Image: SBS.

When Janine is discharged from hospital, Aunt Lydia has the goddamn cheek to ask for her help. At least she seems genuine in her desire to lessen their suffering? If this leads to a full-blown rebel Lydia, I'm here for it.

In Canadian Gilead, Serena is... modelling. June is back outside, this time with a less dirty gun.

There have been protests raging outside the building for days, and it's getting really heated. 

A man is talking sh*t and HOLY SH*T HE JUST PUNCHED MOIRA IN THE FACE.

JUNE AND HER GUN ARE NOT GOING TO TAKE THAT.

Notice how quickly the misogynist shuts up and runs when a woman has the upper hand? Trash!

SCRAM. Image: SBS.

Everyone scatters, which sees June and Juke come face-to-face with a fleeing Serena. June's hand is on the gun, but a split second of lingering on Serena's baby bump deters her. 

Omg, Luke's 'kill-em with red tape' plan actually worked.

The Gilead Centre is being shut down over construction violations. Three cheers for bureaucracy! 

Our couple get all hot and heavy over the gun and their mutual desire to murder.

While they're busy getting it on, Serena's lead to a big ol' house full of Gilead wannabes/allies.

In a show full of uncomfortable moments... this is high up the list. Image: SBS.

Handmaid's often contrasts June and Serena scenes but THIS IS TRULY SOMETHING.

Serena is fake-smiling in her new home, which very much resembles the Gilead cage she had a hand in building. And June is burning her invitation, letting go of some of the pure violent rage she's felt all episode.

Or maybe just inspiring her further to put some others in the ground, as well.

Read more:

• Mamamia recaps The Handmaid's Tale, season 5, episode 1: How to get away with murder. 
• Mamamia recaps The Handmaid's Tale, season 5, episode 2: GET THE F*** AWAY FROM HER.
• Mamamia recaps The Handmaid's Tale, season 5, episode 3: The wedding that wasn't.

Chelsea McLaughlin is Mamamia's Senior Entertainment Writer and co-host of The Spill. For more pop culture takes, recommendations and sarcasm, you can follow her on Instagram.

Feature Image: SBS/Mamamia.