In The Handmaid's Tale, June bites off a piece of Commander Fred Waterford's face (often described as his cheek/lip or possibly his tongue, in a moment of intense revenge) during the ritualistic killing by former handmaids in No Man's Land, symbolizing her taking back power after his abuse, though the exact body part is deliberately obscured in the dark scene.
The finger were Fred had his wedding ring, the symbol of him and Serena being family, meant June was avenging the destruction of her own family... it was a different, more personal meaning... which made Serena realize it was about June's revenge.
Making a deal with Gilead, Fred was traded back to the Republic in exchange for 22 women they had held there, but that wasn't going to cut it for June. Instead, she arranged for Fred to be taken to No Man's Land, where she and many other former Handmaids gave chase to Fred Waterford before brutally killing him.
The actress in real life has Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. While this is of course true, in the book Serena is an older woman who walks with a cane. I thought they were just incorporating this into another character until I read about the actress having EDS.
In The Handmaid's Tale season 2, June attempts to escape Gilead once again. Part of her strategy involved her cutting off her own ear tag. The brutal, bloody, and memorable scene sees June cut off a chunk of her own ear, removing some of her cartilage with the tag.
The suicide bomber was Ofglen (the second), who had her tongue cut out for being the first to object to the stoning of Janine, and thus paved the way for June/Offred's epic, infamous act of “I'm sorry, Aunt Lydia” recalcitrance.
Unbaby, or shredder, is the term used in the Republic of Gilead to describe infants that are suffering from birth defects or physical deformities. These die shortly after birth due to their defects. They are usually taken away to be disposed of.
she has clearly been shown to have bipolar disorder that gilead doesn't really allow her to medicate and SHE IS STILL ONE OF THE MOST REASONABLE CHARACTERS. it's so interesting to me how she clearly still holds love for joseph, but she misses the old him.
Holly Osborne, temporarily named Nichole Waterford, and Nichole Holly Osborne, is the biological daughter of Nick Blaine and June Osborne. She was initially named Holly by her mother when giving birth (after her maternal grandmother) and renamed Nichole by the Waterfords.
“A rat in a maze is free to go anywhere, as long as it stays inside the maze.”
Fred blames Serena's constant cruelty to Offred for her escape attempts.
But this means that this tale has reached its end, and June (and viewers) didn't get the reunion they'd been hoping for since the start: The dystopian series doesn't end with June reuniting with her oldest daughter, Hannah. It ends with June continuing to fight for her.
It was ordered by her husband because she read in front of the council. Reading was forbidden by women. He had to do it to ensure he wasn't showing any weakness, even when it came to his own wife. By doing so, he did quell any uprising but that was just de facto.
In the Latin dictionary the “Nolite te bastardes carborundorum” was written in the cover. But it's implied that the former Offred wrote the phrase in a hard to see spot in the closet so it wouldn't be found.
In that locker room Nick begged her to be like him - to play along so she could survive in Gilead. Eden would not and she went to her death finding freedom in her heart. Nick would continue to play along, never finding the courage to leave Gilead and follow his heart.
The season ends with eighty-six children escaping Gilead.
Despite a brief separation, June and Nick's romance continues to play a significant role. They understand each other on a deeper level due to their shared experiences in Gilead. June's character development and trajectory suggest that Nick is the option that makes the most sense for her.
When she was twenty-five, Offred gave birth to their child, a daughter. After her daughter was born, a delusional woman attempted to abduct her in a supermarket due to the fertility crisis.
Most Marthas seem to be infertile, low-ranking, and/or unmarried women; events in season 3 ("Chicago Women") suggest Marthas to be Unwomen who still appear to be "useful" for domestic tasks due to their pre-Gileadean occupation.
She reports that Lawrence has sent Cora away since "he doesn't like liars”.
Nick Blaine
June early on discovers that Nick is an Eye, a spy for Gilead. He is eventually promoted to the rank of Commander and briefly sent to the war front in Chicago.
Over time, the Wheelers strip Serena of her autonomy; they deny her a phone, confine her to their home, and arrange in-house medical care to control her. They make it clear that their plan to keep both Serena and her child, replicating Gilead's treatment of Handmaids.
Handmaids that become infertile or reach a certain age without having ever conceived are also sent to the Colonies, as are women who refuse to become Handmaids.
He asks her to kiss him "like you mean it". She kisses the Commander and leaves, ferociously brushing her teeth afterwards. “Please remove the damaged ones”: Janine is ushered away.