u/False-Average-9368

I have two theories. The first one was triggered by a split-second scene of Paula sitting on the bathroom floor screaming, "What did you do!?!?!?!??" The second is about Becka.

>!Theory 1:!<

>!In the book, Commander McKenzie and Paula were having an affair and killed their respective spouses so they could be together. McKenzie did it by slowly poisoning Tabitha, and Paula framed their Handmaid for her husband's murder. !<

>!The augmented storyline: Paula is still plotting, this time with Commander Weston, with whom I think she is having an affair. She loves her lifestyle (riding horses, living in an estate), and she got it through her marriage to McKenzie. She gained the McKenzies' "good graces" by befriending Tabitha, whom Paula slowly poisoned. Once Tabatha was out of the way, she swooped in and became Ms. McKenzie 2.0.!<

>! Assuming that money is inherited by the males in the family, Paula kills off McKenzie after Weston and Agnes' wedding and frames Rosa for his murder. Weston, being the "son-in-law," would take over the estate. Then Agnes will become "ill" and die, leaving Weston and Paula to be together (Or it could go the other way. The McKenzies want to get rid of Agnes and Weston, so they kill him off after they are married, assume Weston's estate, then kill off Agnes. I like the first theory better.)!<

>!HOWEVER, Agnes learns of Paula's plot, including killing Tabatha, and her inner June comes out, killing Paula. Daisy, Rosa, and the other Marthas help cover up the murder. !<

>!Theory 2.!<

>!This was triggered by the scene where Becka is running away in the night. !<

>!In the book, Becka is also being SA'ed by her father. Perhaps he is in the show also, but she doesn't realize it because he sedates her. He has access to those drugs, and seeing the news of late, it is not out of the realm of possibility. !<

Has anyone else noticed Shunamite's off-hand remarks?

Hulda: Do you think they will cancel class?

Shunamitte: Probably not, unless they have to hang someone, and that might take all day.

I know it's supposed to show how culturally integrated the Plums are. Her matter-of-factness reminds me of the pictures of people in the American Jim Crow South, having picnics among lynching victims.

<<Shudder>>

I think the honey jars the Pearl Girls are distributing in Canada serve as a vehicle for sending secret messages. That's why they would visit Daisy's parents' shop and possibly how Gilead found out they were part of Mayday.

I am not necessarily saying that the Pearl Girls are spies. Perhaps some of them are, while others are just unwitting message mules.