At the start of ep 9, Aunt Lydia was looking at a file and referred to the Commander who hasn’t made a match this year. Who was this Commander and had we seen him previously? Was this the old man who got Becca drunk? >! Will she be made to marry him now perhaps? Since she chose Garth and he’s now off the table , that might be part of her punishment ? !<

The Testaments S1 E09 "Marat Sade"

As Daisy steps into a new role, she considers what she's willing to lose to help her friends.

Airdate: May 20th, 2026

Spoiler tags are not required in this subreddit, view at your own risk.

So we now know when Agnes confronts Garth and asks where “she” is and “I could hear her screaming” in the season sneak peek that she was referring to Becka.

I have a couple of theories for the rest of the season:

- Aunts took Becka, not Eyes, peep the dresses. I think Mackenzie did Becka a favor and either Paula doesn’t know it wasn’t Eyes or she does and she’s pissed about how this could screw up her standing in Gilead, aka the “what did you do?” Moment in the season sneak peek. That doesn’t mean that this is Aunt training, though. This could still be punishment by the Aunts. Becka could say she has a divine calling due to her comments after murdering her father, maybe she is being put through some things by the Aunts as a test to see if she stands by what she says before officially becoming an Aunt in training.

- Whether or not she becomes an Aunt yet is unclear, which makes me wonder if Becka could become the Mackenzie’s handmaid as the true breaking point for Agnes.

- I’m also starting to become suspicious of Paula and her motivations. It would not surprise me if the show takes a turn and she murders Mackenzie and blames the Marthas, which would be another thing that breaks Agnes down, as she has such a loving relationship with them. If Becka as a handmaid is what makes Agnes rebel and she is no longer eligible to be wed on top of her father’s murder, maybe Paula takes her place, or she ends up with Maddox. I lean towards Weston though, it felt like there was some tension between them that could be sexual. Maybe she intended to kill Mackenzie down the line and he Agnes so that they could end up together, but Agnes being ineligible speeds up the process, thus putting a twist on her story in the book.

- Definitely feels like Daisy and Garth are going to be matched now and Garth is going to have a hard time reeling in Daisy’s anger and vengeful streak, much like June and Nick.

- Which, given Daisy’s antics, I’m really thinking Daisy is still Nichole, idc. Who’s to say Nichole didn’t end up with the caregivers she did because Holly was too old to care for her or she died?

EDIT: scratch my Daisy ➡️ Nichole mention. I am constantly forgetting her TV show age vs the book.

When Shu said to Jehosheba, “Sketch us, it’ll last longer!” lolllll she is so funny. I love her.

But for real. It’s intriguing to imagine colloquialisms becoming watered down and morphed to fit Gileadian society and what is allowed depending on position. We know photographs are allowed for special occasions but that sketching is accessible to the girls as a “hobby” - although photography would never be. À la, Jehosheba couldn’t take a picture, even thought they do have them. But she could sketch them!

Funny. Great acting from the girls this week! This episode had my eyes wide and my back off my chair the whole time.

Any optimist takes?

Will Agnes try to intervene via Weston?
Was that actually the eyes?
Gosh. Becka…. My shaylaaaa noooo 😭😭😭😭

Again these are just theories/predictions for FUN before anyone gets triggered. Some are more plausible than others. Some are me coping. Some are me being unhinged. Let me LIVE… and if you only have snark, just continue scrolling. Otherwise, lemme know what you think!!!

1. Agnes

I’m even MORE convinced now that Agnes is not going to immediately become some flawless rebel heroine who suddenly rejects Gilead overnight. McKenzie just threw the Eyes onto her BECKA. Whatever lingering fantasy she (and any of you all) had about “good” powerful men protecting people is cracking. 😭
What does she actually have to survive Gilead besides proximity to power? Weston. Status. Marriage. Whatever little influence she can get by attaching herself to a powerful WESTON.

So yes, I absolutely think we’re entering Agnes’s powerful wife era before her eventual awakening. Not evil forever. Not Serena 2.0 permanently. But a traumatised, indoctrinated girl learning how power works and potentially using it to survive, protect herself, maybe even protect others aka her BECKA. Which is WAY more interesting and believable than instant MayDay heiress.

2. Daisy
   I love you Daisy but GIRL YOU ARE NOT A GOOD SPY 😭 I mean, I can’t even blame you. You were thrown into Gilead w no military training whatsoever let alone a developed frontal cortex.

She’s brave, loyal… but she acts first and thinks later. I totally understand why she did what she did for her friends and I’m not judging her morally at all, but resistance in Gilead requires calculation too. I think episode 10 and season two is going to humble her hard and teach her that impulsiveness can get MayDay destroyed waaaaaay before the bringing down of Gilead and the bastards.

3. Garth
   Okay I no longer think Garth is some mastermind resistance operative playing 4D chess 😭 BUT I do think he knows more than he lets on.

I think he genuinely cares about Becka platonically. Like he sees how vulnerable and emotionally fragile she is. At the same time, he’s still a boy raised in Gilead, so I can absolutely see him viewing marriage as a way to advance socially and gain more freedom/power within the system. Which honestly, if he’s really that deep into MayDay, it’d be a good thing for MayDay too.

I still think my husband’s theory is still plausible that maybe he poisoned his own father as some kind of MayDay loyalty test or because his father discovered compromising info.

In any case I hope he’s a finally one of the good ones even with flaws… I’m tired of the every man is either evil or incompetent trope of THT universe.

4. Becka
   I say this with love my Shayla… that is not love. That is obsession, emotional starvation and attachment issues produced by growing up in fascism 😭 you do not “love” Agnes, you’re obsessed with the idealisation you have of Agnes.

Gilead gives these girls ZERO identity, sexuality, emotional regulation or autonomy. So of course Becka clings desperately to fantasy and emotional escape wherever she can find it. No girl, Agnes will not run away with you to “idk anywhere”.

I honestly think the Aunt path might become her best survival option. But I’m scared she could also panic and betray someone out of fear/self-preservation before eventually regretting it horribly.

Please don’t send my girl to the Wall. My Shayla nooooo 😭😭😭😭

5. Judd
   Oh he is ABSOLUTELY getting paired with one of the main girls eventually. The show is slow-cooking him so hard. Just praying by His mercy that season 2 will be more action and less world building!!

And I don’t even mean romantically. His interest in Agnes especially feels more like possession, fascination and obsession with purity/control. Which honestly makes him even creepier. I also think this is why Grove didn’t actually touch Daisy but he did with the others…

With Penny and the book stuff… yeah. I don’t trust that man AT ALL. I think this becomes more of a season two thing though.

6. Shu
   I still think Shu becoming an Aunt is EXTREMELY plausible. Honestly the more Gilead reveals itself, the more becoming an Aunt probably starts looking like freedom compared to marriage. Also she’s such a savage lol there’s no way my smack talk girl would be as cool as a wife. She’s gotta be an aunt!! I absolutely think she could become resistance through the Aunt path.

Do I still lowkey think she might never get her period? Yes 😭

7. Hulda
   Oh Hulda… my poor delusional optimistic queen 😭 my Shayla 2.0

The rose-tinted way she talks about marriage gives me the WORST gut feeling because Gilead always punishes optimists eventually. I honestly think she’s going to learn the horrifying lesson that the dentist taught everyone: no powerful man in Gilead is truly safe to trust.

At this point my biggest hope for Hulda is literally:
may she at least get her dog.

8. Lydia
   I no longer think Lydia’s “redemption arc” is going to be some huge revolutionary girlboss freedom fighter moment. That would honestly feel too neat. And wouldn’t make me forgive what she’s done to the handmaids.

I think instead she becomes increasingly godmother-like toward the girls. Protective, manipulative, controlling, morally compromised… but genuinely trying in her own Lydia way to keep them out of the Colonies, the Wall or horrifying marriages.

9. Vidala
   VIDALA GIRL PLEASE RELAX 😭 Judd checked her starvation for power outttt so bad after he offered her to go after Lydia lol.

No but seriously, this lady is STARVED for power and authority. Is it a spy thing? Is she genuinely wanting to get at Lydia? Is she just wanting power cause she truly believes? I DONT KNOW!! But I do know that I don’t trust her. How she tried to gaslight Daisy too!

I NEED a Vidala-centric episode because I think she represents a really interesting type of female complicity in authoritarian systems: women who gain power through enforcing patriarchy and become deeply invested in the hierarchy because it finally gives them status, clarity and authority. I mean. Look at her before? She had no power at the school. Lydia put her down for not refilling the coffee. I don’t think that was random.

But also girl… act a little more nonchalant sometimes damn.

Ok that’s me for now.
Thoughts?

....Since the commanders can have a say in who they would like to marry, what happens if no commanders want a Plum because they are ugly?

They talk about Nick’s arc and his shocking final scene at 30:12.

I found it really interesting when Bruce said that Nick never truly chose Gilead or fully bowed down to it when he tells Lawrence : « you joined the winning side ». Bruce Miller points out that Nick didn’t say « you joined the RIGHT side » or « you joined US ». He specifically chose the term « winning side » because for Nick, winning means survival and safety. And safety is what a family man and father would choose.

What do you thing about that ?

Yes they’re unhinged so if you don’t like that or just have snark please keep scrolling. If you do find it interesting lemme know what you think and what your predictions are!!

1. Agnes: I honestly think, like in my past posts, that we’ll see some MOMENTARY character development where she enforces Gilead before escaping it; perhaps in her role as Weston’s fiancé or wife; she’ll see she can put Paula’s where they belong… and if she does end up marrying Weston and he’s an outright POS she might redirect rage onto others of lesser status. Again, temporarily, I’m not saying this is Agnes forever before you all get triggered. It just simply makes sense that we might not see an outright rebel who has an epiphany and goes full on mayday heiress. I’m hoping more of a slow awakening from the life time of indoctrination.

2. Judd kills Penny: Source: honestly, going off by the book and Penny’s latest appearance. He’s seemed infatuated with Agnes, so if he does kill Penny, perhaps he could express an interest in her… But if the engagement to Weston is an absolute not go maybe the show could try to pair him with Daisy… even if it doesn’t eventually happen.

3. Daisy: I think she will absolutely disclose her period to get that dentist appointment and snitch on him like if that was her get free out of Gilead forceful marriage card. But a womb is a womb in Gilead, and as I said before, I suspect Judd will soon be single/widowed. Would make a good intelligence target plot for MayDay ngl.

4. Garth: okay this one is my husband’s theory and I actually think is plausible. What if Garth poisoned his own father as a MayDay mission/loyalty test? After all he said: MayDay poisoned him, and Garth is MayDay! Or maybe his father discovered compromising info and had to be silenced?

5. Shu: we see our girl Shu become an aunt this season. Perhaps seeing one of her friends suffer, idk Penny? Or Hulda? Would finally open her eyes that being a Prune is actually a blessing. Plus what other path is there for her? Considering how elitist Gilead is…

6. Becka: okay you all can stfu if you judge my girl Becka. Because of course we all would’ve chosen Garth if given the chance. I think she’s idealised with the idea of a Levander marriage. Can’t blame her… but she’ll discover Garth is up to spy stuff and after all don’t you have to try and make babies at all costs? Could snitching on him be a pathway to becoming an aunt and never have to do baby making with a man?

7. Hulda: ugh how rose tinted she is with her match gives me a real bad gut feeling. I’m sorry Hulda… but Gilead will Gilead. I think we’ll see her learning that just like the dentist… no man in Gilead is trustworthy.

8. Lydia: I’m sorry Lydia but you’re becoming boring. Been waiting for her to have that redemption arc for most of THT… it’s just a bit yawn 🥱 but I do see her plotting to bring revenge onto some of the men… maybe the dentist to begin with.

9. Vidala: a bit more of a wish… but I hope they give us a Vidala episode before the finale… and that her character actually has a bigger role in the whole plot.

Thoughts?

I’ve seen lots of fans speculate that he was poisoned at Jezebels or something alike.

I actually think this could be plausible but not necessarily because he was 100% a bad commander. He could’ve been in the wrong place and time. After all, commanders must do commander things, and if he sympathised with some sort of resistance wouldn’t it make sense that he’d have to avoid all suspicion by hanging out with other commanders in dodgy places prone to MayDay attacks like Jezebels?

I’m not outright speculating that he was a MayDay operative. But perhaps he didn’t buy the whole religious fanatic woohoo, think Commander Lawrence type. Hence why his son might’ve learnt academic works on Freud and alike. Perhaps it was okay to read and learn at home, also Garth is a boy/young man, so it’s not absolutely insane that he’ll read, and perhaps taboo works too.

As for Garth having been a kidnapped child… I mean, there are econofamilies with children. Couldn’t this just be his biological family and their survival strategy is to collaborate to survive and secure a prestigious position within the system?

Thoughts?

Pray, excuse my ignorance, I only seen clips on tiktok.

But it all make sense now how he doesn't know who June is or what tampons are.

The Testaments S1 E08 "Broken"

As Agnes is swept up in wedding plans, Daisy hides a life-altering secret and Hulda faces backlash after speaking out.

Airdate: May 13th, 2026

Spoiler tags are not required in this subreddit, view at your own risk.