The following podcast contains explicit language.

As faithful servants, it is our duty to ensure that the children of Gilead live by the laws of Scripture.

The Holy Scripture is a miracle.

It is a gift given by him to all of humanity. We believe that our sons and daughters

should be taught to read it. That is a radical proposal, this is Waterford.

Hello and welcome to another Slate spoiler special.

I'm Christina Cauderucci, a staff writer at Slate, and today we are spoiling the second season of The Handmaid's Tale.

Here to talk with me about the show is Slate podcast producer Varyland Williams.

Hey, Varylian. Hey, Christina. How are you? Great. How are you? I'm well, despite the trains being, you know, trains. We're also so happy to have freelance culture writer and former Slate intern Lena Wilson with us today. Hello, Lena. Hi. Thank you so much, Christina. Oh, no problem. All right. So the first season of Handmaid's Tale, which was loosely based on a 1985 novel by Margaret Atwood, debuted in

spring 2017. The second season dropped in April. Lena. Can you give us a little recap for listeners who haven't been watching of where the last

season left off and where the second season picked up?

Sure.

So previously on the handmade's time.

Elizabeth Moss, I'm sorry.

So first season finale kicks off with June finding out she's pregnant.

Serena takes her to see her daughter Hannah and threatens Hannah's life.

She's basically like, be good because I want this baby so, so, so bad.

Janine, who tried to kill herself and her child that she had biologically with a commander,

is about to get stoned to death by all her handmade buddies,

but they ritualistically drop the stones,

and it's like very dramatic.

There's a lot of slow-mo,

...