The Testaments finally begins to reveal the true horrors of Gilead – but in a very different way to The Handmaid’s Tale

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Please be advised that this article reveals key plot details from both the novel The Testaments and the fourth episode of its TV series adaptation. It also discusses sensitive and potentially upsetting themes of sexual abuse, so reader discretion is advised.

When you watch The Testaments, it’s easy to momentarily lose sight of how truly terrible Gilead is. The world presented on screen looks so clean, orderly, and carefully designed. Characters talk about being kind, considerate, and doing the right thing. But underneath it all, it’s a facade – a complete deception.

The terrifying world depicted in The Handmaid’s Tale, ruled by a fascist regime, feels increasingly relevant to current events. Many people, not just viewers, are noticing this disturbing parallel to reality.

In the opening of the series The Testaments, Agnes MacKenzie (played by Chase Infiniti) confesses she used to put her faith in Gilead’s ideals. She explains it was simpler to believe a comforting narrative – even a naive one – than to accept that the people she knew could be capable of terrible things.

But there are glimpses early on of just how monstrous this society truly is.

Later in the first episode, Agnes and the other Plums are forced to view the bodies of people who were executed for breaking Gilead’s laws. They’re told that this is an example of God’s justice, and are expected to see it as something positive.

Later, a man caught committing a lewd act on school property is brutally executed – tied down and sawn in half, with onlookers present. The girls watching scream at him, demanding he suffer, but the story suggests they are themselves deeply traumatized, and witnessing his punishment provides a disturbing release for their own pain, allowing Agnes and others to continue their actions.

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Despite how strange it seems, everyone in Gilead accepts this as ordinary. Everyone, that is, except for Daisy, a recent arrival who is still getting used to things.

We guess that’s what happens when you’re raised in a dystopian nightmare and don’t know better.

It doesn’t take long for Agnes and the other girls to realize there’s something even more sinister hidden beneath the school’s already frightening surface.

The second episode introduces Becka’s father, Dr. Grove, a dentist in Gilead. Agnes is visiting his office for a routine check-up, but the appointment takes a disturbing turn when Dr. Grove starts behaving inappropriately and making unwanted physical contact.

“You really are getting to be a big girl, Agnes,” Grove says as he lightly strokes her breasts.

Agnes was completely stunned and upset, but the situation happened so quickly that she didn’t have time to react. She’d been raised to believe that respecting men was the most important thing.

Honestly, things don’t really start happening until the fourth episode, when they schedule another meeting with Aunt Lydia. But something’s already changing within Agnes. Up until now, despite everything she’s been through, she’s always felt a strange sense of security within Gilead’s rules and system. That feeling is gone now, though – even if she can’t quite put her finger on why.

Agnes hadn’t learned about sex or consent before, so she doesn’t completely understand what happened, but she knows it felt wrong.

Agnes feels terrible at the thought of returning to Grove, but she knows she has no choice. She’s expected to obey the adults who make all the decisions in her life.

Daisy notices Agnes is scared in the waiting room, but she initially assumes it’s just normal nervousness about a dental appointment. She jokingly thinks to herself, “I suppose even in Gilead, no one enjoys going to the dentist.”

Agnes requires additional dental procedures, so Grove uses a gentle sedative to help her relax. It’s unclear what happens during the procedure until Agnes returns home later that evening.

As Agnes was preparing for bed, she realized her shirt was unbuttoned. She hadn’t undone it herself.

The episode concludes with Agnes utterly shocked, realizing Grove likely took advantage of her while she was asleep. While she may not know exactly what happened, the feeling of betrayal by someone she trusted deeply is devastating and could shatter her completely.

So far, the worst aspects of Gilead have remained somewhat distant from the main characters. However, this shifts dramatically, making The Testaments feel much more connected to the intense experiences of The Handmaid’s Tale.

June and the other Handmaids faced open and constant mistreatment, a public display of cruelty that Gilead permitted. However, the abuse Agnes experiences is different – it’s subtle and hidden, taking place in private. This secrecy is deliberate, meant to uphold the false image of kindness and flawlessness that Gilead relies on to maintain control.

The show is based on a book, and it’s important to know there are major spoilers ahead. In the book, Grove also sexually abused his daughter, Becka, starting when she was four years old. Both Becka and her sister are afraid to report him, fearing they will be punished for damaging the doctor’s reputation. It isn’t until Aunt Lydia intervenes that Grove is brought to justice, ultimately through a public execution.

With the story already altered from the book, it’s currently uncertain if Becka is also suffering abuse from her father. However, the cruelty of Gilead will inevitably be revealed, no matter who is affected.

As we reach the middle of the story, it’s becoming clear just how deeply rooted the evil is in The Testaments. It won’t be long before it’s impossible to ignore the monstrous nature of those around them, because this society is built on wickedness.

You can now watch The Testaments on Disney+ in the UK and Hulu in the US. Disney+ subscriptions start at just £5.99 per month.

Don’t miss out on The Testaments! Add it to your watchlist on the TopMob: What to Watch app. Download the app today for daily TV suggestions, exclusive features, and more.

Authors

David OpieFreelance Writer

David Opie is a freelance journalist who covers TV and film for various online publications like TopMob, Indiewire, and Empire. He’s a strong advocate for LGBTQ+ representation, often speaking on panels about queer stories in media and actively promoting LGBTQ+ storytelling. Beyond that, he loves comics, animation, and horror – and he’s particularly hoping to see a Buffy the Vampire Slayerthemed challenge on RuPaul’s Drag Race*. Before becoming a freelancer, David worked as a Deputy TV Editor at Digital Spy and holds a degree in Psychology.

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2026-04-15 14:40