The fourth season of Hulu’s dystopian The Handmaid’s Tale is finally premiering this week. And while not too much is known about the season, the show hasn't shown too much of some of the characters' backstories on screen. Joseph Fiennes, who portrays Commander Fred Waterford, revealed what episode should really be included in the series.
When shows air flashback episodes, they can give fans the chance to really dig deeper into a specific character. What their story is, how they got to where they are, etc. Joseph Fiennes told Fortress of Solitude that he’d like to delve back into some of the early days of certain characters, saying:
Though we don’t get a lot of airtime to examine this dynamic, we have seen a flashback in the early days of Serena in front of the crowds and Fred supporting her. I would love to see an episode where we delve back into the early days to examine the headiness and support that Fred provided Serena. Following how it went wrong would show the corrosive effects of power especially, when you have a weaker character like Fred, who hides beneath double-breasted jackets, political positions, and mahogany desks.
Fred and Serena’s relationship has been complicated throughout the series. Fred once basked in his wife’s glory after she published her book, supporting her any way he could. But then he cut off her finger just for reading. Showing how Fred got to that point would be interesting. Seeing how a character could be so corrupted by power and politics could be a good thing in a show like Handmaid's Tale. It can also serve as a “What if?” scenario, maybe seeing if things went differently could have resulted a different outcome completely.
The Season 3 finale saw Fred worrying about Serena and being shown a video of a Canadian protest showing solidarity with Chicago. Serena, meanwhile, ends up getting arrested, being charged with getting her driver Nick Blaine to rape June Osborne. When Season 4 picks up, a video hyping what's ahead reveals Serena unexpectedly learns that she is pregnant. She tells Rita about it after inviting her to visit in prison, but she does not intend to tell Fred. Fred, though, learns from Rita about the pregnancy, and is shocked at the news, especially that Serena’s been keeping it a secret from him.
Season 4 is already shaping up to be a big one, and now with Serena’s pregnancy, it could give the show a chance to flash back to happier days between the couple. Even if the flashback doesn’t happen soon, there’s still hope it could happen in the future, as The Handmaid’s Tale is renewed for Season 5 already. The Handmaid’s Tale Season 4 releases on Hulu this Wednesday, April 28, with new episodes weekly.
