The Testaments introduces a dark spin on Bridgerton in disturbing episode 5

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Beautiful dresses, secret looks, and the sound of music filling the air as you fall for him – a truly magical moment.

Bridgerton’s balls are meant to be fun for the young women, but only if everything goes smoothly. They experience the excitement of new romance, along with the worry of being turned down. And all of this happens only if they even want to get married and follow society’s expectations.

The upcoming fifth season of Bridgerton highlights that not all women desire marriage, or relationships with men.

Despite the stress and expectations of Bridgerton’s balls, the events are still much more pleasant than the experiences of the characters in Gilead when they’re forced to attend their own version of a prom.

The newest installment of The Testaments features dances similar to those in Bridgerton, but with a more ominous tone. Like in Bridgerton, the young women participating are focused on attracting a suitable husband to ensure their future security.

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The truth is, the women in Gilead are really just girls. Those in control may claim otherwise, but they haven’t fully grown up yet.

As Agnes MacKenzie explains in this episode, Gilead sharply separates childhood and adulthood. Before the Prom, individuals are considered children, but immediately afterward, they’re treated as adults. This single event, the Prom, determines the course of their entire lives.

The girls appear thrilled, and it’s easy to understand why. They’ve been raised to believe marriage is the key to happiness, and that’s how they’re expected to act. However, a sense of unease is starting to surface, pushing them to mature before their time. Things only become more difficult when the Prom night arrives.

I was absolutely shaken after what Dr. Grove did, but somehow I had to keep going. It was so bizarre – these older Commanders just grabbed our hands and started leading us in a dance. It felt…surreal, especially after everything that had just happened.

“I was dancing with a boy,” she said to herself, trying to be excited. But that is no boy.

Daisy (played by Lucy Halliday) is disturbed when a commanding officer makes unwanted advances, and her experiences in Canada have given her a strong intuition about people and situations.

The Commander tells her, “If you behave well, this white could turn green, and you’ll be ready.”

The Prom in Gilead isn’t a celebration at all; it’s a horrifying event where powerful men exploit and abuse young women before arranging forced marriages. While it’s presented as a glamorous, fairytale-like occasion – something similar to shows like Bridgerton – the reality is deeply disturbing and sinister.

Don’t forget that some of these girls haven’t even had their periods yet.

Many of the young women participate, and even compete with each other, because they believe the Prom is incredibly important. It’s their opportunity to impress the Commanders and secure a good future for themselves within Gilead.

For a moment, Agnes understands things could be different when she finds herself dancing with Garth, the younger man she’s been attracted to for a while.

Okay, so The Testaments really hits you hard when Becka Grove, who honestly wasn’t even looking forward to Prom, gets pressured into drinking underage. And the reason why she’s pushed into it? It’s absolutely terrifying, and totally threw me for a loop.

Okay, so things get really messy when Becka, clearly not doing well, starts to unravel. Daisy steps in to get her away from this creepy Commander guy, and it quickly becomes apparent Becka’s been running on empty – she skipped a meal because she was so stressed, and now the thought of facing those men again is just too much. It’s a vulnerable moment, and Daisy’s intervention feels absolutely necessary.

“I just want to be left alone,” Becka says. “I don’t want anyone to touch or even look at me. I know it’s wrong, but sometimes I desperately wish everything would just end – I even pray for it.”

Daisy attempts to reassure Becka, reminding her that Agnes cares about her deeply. Becka responds sadly, implying that her feelings for Agnes are romantic – something the audience has likely guessed all along.

Agnes is in a difficult situation, having to explain to a group of Commanders over webcam how she intends to fulfill her expected role as a wife.

After the prom, the two friends got together and talked about running away, wanting to avoid whatever challenges lay ahead.

Agnes is completely preoccupied with her feelings for Garth. If he were promoted to Commander, he’d be able to marry someone, and Agnes hopes that someone could be her. She thinks to herself, “If he were available, maybe he’d choose me.”

“I couldn’t stop thinking about his eyes,” Agnes shared. “The way he touched me, how warm he felt… I really believed anything was possible, that things could be good,” she explained.

But as we already know, this is no possibility for Agnes and the others. There is no hope.

Taking away these girls’ carefree childhoods has already stolen their innocence. No amount of fancy events or promises of a better future can ever truly restore what they’ve lost.

I’m so excited! I just found out The Testaments is coming to Disney+ on Wednesday, April 8th, 2026! If you don’t have a subscription yet, it’s super affordable – you can sign up for just £5.99 a month.

I just added The Testaments to my watchlist on the TopMob app – it’s called ‘What to Watch,’ and I downloaded it because it gives me daily TV recommendations and cool features. I highly recommend checking it out!

Authors

David OpieFreelance Writer

David Opie is a freelance journalist who covers TV and film for various publications like TopMob, Indiewire, and Empire. He’s a passionate advocate for LGBTQ+ representation, often speaking on panels about queer stories in media. Beyond TV and film, he loves comics, animation, and horror – and he’s particularly hoping to see a ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’-themed musical 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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2026-04-23 12:39