Why Chase Infiniti will have silenced any critics after Emmy-worthy The Testaments episode 8

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Please be advised that this article reveals major plot points from the eighth episode of The Testaments and includes a discussion of sexual assault which may be upsetting to some readers.

Since it first aired, The Testaments has consistently sparked strong and often contrasting reactions from its audience.

A lot of the criticism towards the show comes from fans of the original books who are disappointed by the changes. Some viewers also feel the show takes too long to establish its setting and are now losing patience with the main storyline.

Some viewers have strongly praised Chase Infiniti as a highlight of the show, while others have criticized the slow pace of Agnes’s more serious storyline. However, I believe many of the complaints are unfair, considering how well-made the series is.

Some viewers seem to be losing patience with Agnes, but they shouldn’t forget how polarizing June Osbourne was in the original series. Despite her often frustrating actions, fans continued to watch. Agnes, however, still holds our attention with her innocent perspective, offering a unique way to see the world of Gilead – something we didn’t quite have with June, at least not yet.

It’s normal for any updated story to have critics, especially when it comes to casting choices. However, most people agree that Chase Infiniti is perfect as Agnes. She proved her talent in previous roles like The Testaments, Presumed Innocent, and One Battle After Another, showing she’s a consistently strong actress. But her performance in episode 8 is truly exceptional – award-worthy, in fact.

The actress beautifully portrays Agnes’s innocent wonder, but that’s just one part of her performance. The series has already showcased her impressive acting abilities and emotional depth. We’ve seen Agnes navigate her developing feelings for Garth (Brad Alexander), cope with the pain of his engagement to Becka (Mattea Conforti), and grapple with the trauma of being assaulted by Dr. Grove (Randal Edwards) while she was unable to consent.

Agnes has been quietly coping with a difficult situation. We’ve seen her struggle to maintain a friendship with Becka while also dealing with her father’s abuse, and she’s been trying to suppress her emotions about everything that’s happened.

In episode 8, “Broken,” Agnes finally confronts her feelings about Dr. Grove when she discovers Hulda has also been abused. Meanwhile, Hulda’s dental appointment doesn’t go as expected, and Agnes, sensing something is wrong with her friend after a sex education lesson, encourages her to open up.

Hulda, raised within Gilead’s strict confines, feels responsible for attracting Dr. Grove’s attention. However, when she hears the news, Infiniti unexpectedly finds her voice. Her desperate plea for Hulda to inform the Aunts—delivered through gritted teeth, with tears streaming down her face and a broken voice—reveals a growing understanding: she, too, is a victim. It also highlights the tragic reality that these young women, despite being treated as adults by Gilead, are still essentially children.

Even with the already moving music, audiences are likely to find themselves tearing up when Agnes says, “I’m with you, Hulda.”

Throughout the rest of the episode, Agnes appears distracted as she continues planning her wedding. She also struggles to stay composed when her Aunt Vidala encourages her to dismiss Hulda’s claims.

At Becka and Garth’s engagement party, Dr. Grove speaks with Hulda and Agnes, and the conversation deeply affects Agnes. She confides in Aunt Lydia, telling her she believes Hulda is being truthful. Aunt Lydia, as usual, acknowledges this but frames it within Gilead’s religious beliefs and suggests Dr. Grove will face consequences.

Infinti’s performance as Agnes in that crucial scene – the first time she reveals Dr. Grove’s actions to another person – is remarkably grounded. She convincingly portrays someone seeking justice while still clinging to the perfect image she’s always been taught to maintain within the confines of Gilead.

The story ends with a deeply upsetting scene. Daisy asks Agnes why she’s skipping her best friend’s party, and while Daisy suspects Agnes is avoiding the party because of her feelings for Garth, the real reason is far more serious. With painful honesty, Agnes reveals that Becka’s father harmed her.

She avoided looking at Daisy when she confessed, but quickly explained that Daisy was the only person she trusted with the truth, not wanting to involve anyone else. The scene truly showcased the actresses’ talents – Halliday perfectly portraying Daisy’s anger and seriousness, and Infiniti bringing a vulnerable, childlike quality to her performance.

Dr. Grove’s story will continue to develop in future episodes, but the series handles the difficult topic of sexual assault with sensitivity and depth. It’s not treated as a minor plot point, but explored thoughtfully within the larger narrative of The Testaments. The show is clearly deliberate in its choices, and that’s especially true with Madeline Brewer’s subtle yet impactful performance as Agnes.

I’ve seen some people online questioning whether Infiniti, at 25, was the right choice to play a teenager. It’s definitely happened before where older actors play younger roles, and honestly, while some initially thought she might seem too mature, after watching this episode – and really, most of the season – I’m convinced she absolutely nails the part of Agnes. Her performance is just fantastic.

The show The Handmaid’s Tale recently featured a young actress, McKenna Grace, in a role that many viewers found unsettling. This was partly because she was the same age – 14 – as the character she played, making her performance particularly impactful and disturbing.

As a fan of the original novel, I thoroughly enjoyed the expansion of the story in The Testaments. However, the show truly shines because of its incredible lead actors. Specifically, Infiniti deserves Emmy recognition for her breathtaking performance as Agnes in episode 8.

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You can still watch The Testaments on Disney+ in the UK every Wednesday. A Disney+ subscription starts at just £5.99 per month.

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Authors

Morgan CormackDrama Writer

Morgan Cormack writes about TV and streaming drama for TopMob. Before that, she was an Entertainment Writer at Stylist. She also has experience in content marketing and freelancing, and holds a BA degree in English Literature.

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2026-05-13 18:41