The Testaments episode 7 airs shock return scenes for another Handmaid’s Tale character

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Since The Testaments continues the story of The Handmaid’s Tale, it wasn’t surprising that it brought back some beloved characters from the original series.

The show has largely centered on June Osborne (Elisabeth Moss) and Aunt Lydia (Ann Dowd), but episode 7 offered a pleasant change of pace by introducing Rita Blue, a character portrayed by Amanda Brugel who originally appeared in The Handmaid’s Tale.

We last saw Rita actively involved with the Mayday resistance, working with June’s husband, Luke, to fight against Gilead. Given that Gilead hasn’t fallen, as shown in The Testaments, it’s logical that someone as important as Rita would still be helping Mayday try to overthrow the regime.

Rita isn’t physically present in Gilead, nor is she mentioned in The Testaments, but she reappears through flashbacks. These scenes show her assisting Daisy (played by Lucy Halliday) in getting ready for her role as a Pearl.

Initially, the goal was to get Daisy to safety after her parents were killed. However, Daisy is set on getting revenge and wants to join Mayday to fight against Gilead. Rita is hesitant, understanding the extreme danger involved, but then remembers a plan June had – one that needs a child of the right age to put into action.

This is when Daisy chooses to become a double agent, feigning loyalty to Gilead while secretly working with Mayday to dismantle it from within.

Okay, so Rita finally relents and gets Daisy completely ready for this crazy plan, making sure she has everything she needs to pull it off and, more importantly, survive. But the real turning point was this intense conversation Rita had with Daisy. Daisy was acting way too confident, like she didn’t grasp just how dangerous this whole thing was, and Rita really laid it on her – a tough love pep talk, basically – to make sure she understood the stakes. It wasn’t just about giving her the tools, it was about getting her head right.

Rita warns, “If you go in there with an attitude of superiority, you won’t survive.” She then asks, “Do you understand what I’m telling you?”

Rita might seem stricter than normal, but it’s because she’s deeply worried about Daisy. Once Daisy enters Gilead, there’s no escaping it, and Rita knows firsthand how perilous life is under that oppressive government.

I’ve always loved the quiet strength Martha Stewart brings to everything she does, and this episode really lets that shine. It’s a fantastic moment, and honestly, it feels like a perfect connection back to the original show that got us all hooked. It’s a real highlight of ‘The Testaments,’ for sure.

Later in the episode, Gilead suspects Daisy of being a spy, but surprisingly, they punish a different woman, Pearl, instead. This is the closest Daisy has come to being discovered, which really highlights how right Rita was to warn her before.

Even if Rita doesn’t appear in future episodes, it’s still a nice touch to see her included now, considering her character was somewhat forgotten towards the end of The Handmaid’s Tale. It also aligns with the history Brugel created for her.

I was really captivated by Amanda Brugel’s interview with The Hollywood Reporter after the last episode of The Handmaid’s Tale. She shared some fascinating insights into what she envisions for Rita now that she’s finally found a measure of freedom, and it was so interesting to hear her perspective.

I decided her story would end with her continuing to operate like Rita – either as a secret spy or someone who discreetly gathers and shares important information, just as she’s done throughout the series. I envision her doing that for the rest of her life.

According to Brugel, the writers didn’t know about this concept initially, but it strongly appears they were influenced by that interview. The way Rita returned in this week’s episode of The Testaments closely mirrors details from it.

But wait, there’s more.

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Brugel shared that Rita has a nephew, and the plan was for everyone to be aware of this. He imagines that after Rita passes away, her nephew will discover evidence while going through her belongings, revealing she was secretly responsible for dismantling parts of Gilead and played a key role in exposing many people within the organization. This information will remain hidden until after her death.

It’s too early to say if these events will be officially part of the show’s storyline until the upcoming season of The Testaments finishes. However, many dedicated fans are thrilled to see Rita’s influence continuing, and hope this is just the first of several future appearances.

It’s surprising how much impact this character has, considering they weren’t even in Margaret Atwood’s original The Testaments novel.

It’s possible we’ll see even more familiar faces from the show’s history reappear. There are lots of characters they could bring back, but right now, we’re hoping Madeline Brewer returns as Janine.

Just a quick heads-up for my fellow fans: you can still catch ‘The Testaments’ every Wednesday on Disney+ in the UK. And if you haven’t signed up yet, it’s surprisingly affordable – plans start at just £5.99 a month!

Don’t forget to add The Testaments to your watchlist on the TopMob: What to Watch app! Download the app now to get daily TV recommendations, exclusive features, and stay up-to-date with everything happening in the world of television.

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 in media, often speaking on related panels and prioritizing queer stories in his work. Beyond that, he loves comics, animation, and horror – and he’s a big fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, hoping to see a musical episode inspired by it 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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2026-05-06 11:37