Season One, Episode Nine: “Marat Sade”
This season is definitely one you will enjoy diving into. The Green girls are starting to come into their own, but of course, in true Gilead style. It’s interesting to watch them quietly begin thinking for themselves, especially Agnes. Daisy has always had a mind of her own, but now she is becoming even bolder. It’s exciting to see these girls finding their voices, even in a world that constantly tries to silence them.
This is such a chilling scene and a way to start an episode. The Pearl Girls quietly mopping up the blood while Aunt Elsie recites “an eye for an eye” makes the violence feel almost routine in Gilead. It shows how punishment is not only accepted but justified through Scripture and presented as something that is simply part of the order of things. The fact that the girls are cleaning up afterward makes you wonder what they have been taught to believe about the person who was punished and how much of this they are beginning to question..
This is such an important moment for Daisy. School is out, and the Plums have gone home for the day when the bell rings. Everyone gathers outside to see who has been blessed. The Aunts and Pearl Girls are waiting as Daisy walks out onto the stage. She gets down on her knees and tries to recite the poem, while Aunt Lydia is clearly pleased with her. It makes the moment feel even more significant. Daisy is being recognized by Gilead and rewarded for learning to follow its rules, but you can’t help wondering what is really going through her mind. She had no choice but to do this before her secret was accidentally leaked by her friends.
The next day in class, Becka asks Agnes why she hasn’t come to her house in a while. Agnes is saved from having to answer when the Aunts bring in Daisy and announce that she will be joining them as a Plum. They dress her in the purple uniform, and Daisy is now officially a Green girl. Everyone is happy for her—except Becka. She is given the task of placing the pen on Daisy’s blouse, but she purposely pokes her instead. Becka, stop being such a spoiled child! Agnes is next, and she proudly places the purple headband on Daisy’s head. This is such an interesting moment because Agnes seems genuinely happy for Daisy, while Becka’s jealousy and resentment are becoming harder to hide.
Aunt Estee tells Daisy that she has to go to her first dentist appointment, and Agnes asks if she can go with her. Becka, of course, gets upset about it. When Daisy arrives at the dentist’s office, Dr. Grove calls her into the exam room. Daisy sits and waits, expecting him to try something, but he doesn’t touch her at all. That doesn’t stop Daisy from carrying out her plan. She rips open her shirt and screams that Dr. Grove attacked her. Come on, Daisy! Do you really think that was believable? Somehow, Aunt Estee and Agnes believe her.
Daisy is called into Aunt Lydia’s office to tell her side of the story. Aunt Lydia dismisses the other Aunts, leaving the two of them alone. She questions Daisy and gives her the opportunity to explain what happened. Daisy tries hard to sound convincing, but Aunt Lydia doesn’t believe her. Still, Aunt Lydia is glad that Daisy came forward and seems more concerned about what Daisy may be trying to tell her than simply accepting the accusation. When Daisy leaves the office, Aunt Estelle is waiting for her and is devastated that she wasn’t there to protect Daisy. This is another moment that makes you wonder just how much Aunt Lydia already suspects Dr Grove.
Agnes is waiting for Daisy when she comes out and asks if she is okay. Daisy starts to get her story mixed up and doesn’t seem as concerned about what supposedly happened to her as she is about the other girls. Agnes notices the difference and tells Daisy that she doesn’t seem like she really cares. She even begins to wonder why Daisy came to Gilead in the first place. Oh boy, Daisy! You can’t keep slipping up like that! Agnes is starting to wonder about Daisy. The more questions Agnes asks, the harder it is going to be for Daisy to keep her secret hidden.
Agnes goes home and heads straight to her room, where the weight of everything that has happened finally catches up with her. She begins having a panic attack, and it’s clear that she is overwhelmed by everything she has been feeling and questioning. Between Daisy’s strange behavior, the secrets surrounding her own past, and everything she has been taught about Gilead, Agnes is reaching a breaking point. This moment really shows just how much pressure she has been carrying inside.
Commander Judd comes to see Aunt Lydia to discuss what happened with Dr. Grove. They both agree that they will wait until after Becka gets married before punishing him. This is such a disturbing decision because it shows how easily Gilead can turn punishment into a political or personal calculation. They are not questioning whether Dr. Grove is actually guilty but deciding when it will be most convenient to punish him. And with Becka’s wedding coming up, it makes you wonder what they have planned for him. I’m sure he will end up hung on the Wall. That seems like exactly the kind of punishment Gilead would use for Dr. Grove, especially after an accusation like this. The fact that Aunt Lydia and Commander Judd are already discussing when to punish him makes it feel like his fate may already be decided.
Garth is at Becka’s house, and they are waiting for Dr. Grove to come home so they can have dinner. When he finally arrives, he explains that he was delayed and then excuses himself. Mrs. Grove follows him upstairs. While they wait, Garth and Becka talk about the upcoming wedding, but Becka still looks worried. Garth does his best to calm her down and even gets her to laugh for a moment. When Dr. Grove and Mrs. Grove finally come downstairs, he tells them that he has been accused of molesting one of the Pearl Girls. Dr. Grove insists that he is innocent. Becka is shocked, but then it suddenly clicks. The only Pearl Girl who went to the dentist was Daisy.
The next day, Becka confronts Daisy and accuses her of lying about what happened with Dr. Grove. Agnes takes Becka outside to talk and tries to calm her down. Becka insists that Daisy is lying and that nothing really happened to her, but Agnes tells her that it is true. Then Agnes reveals that it happened to her too. Becka is devastated and begins to cry in disbelief. Aunt Estee comes outside and tells them they are not allowed to be outside. They can’t even show their emotions without being told what they can and cannot do? The Plums then form a circle inside and begin praying. But now I have to wonder who exactly are they praying for? Is it Dr. Grove, Daisy, Agnes, or someone else entirely? They better be praying for a plan to get out of Gilead.
Daisy calls Garth over to let him know that she is okay and asks if Dr. Grove is going to be punished. Daisy finally admits that she made up the story. Garth is furious and warns her that she could get everyone killed if she keeps acting on her own instead of following the plan. Daisy tells him that someone had to protect those girls since it didn’t seem like anyone else was going to. Garth walks away, clearly frustrated with her. I understand why Daisy did what she did, but Garth has a point. She is putting the entire plan and Mayday at risk by acting without telling anyone. At the same time, Daisy is beginning to realize that she can’t just stand by and watch these girls suffer. She wants to protect them, even if it means putting herself in danger.
Becka is home with her parents, and they are sitting down for dinner. Mrs. Grove keeps talking, trying to make everything seem normal, but there is clearly tension at the table. There is a lot of nervous chatter, but Dr. Grove eventually looks at Becka and asks her if she believes him. Becka asks him directly if the accusation is true, and he tells her no. Becka becomes very quiet. You can tell she is struggling with what she has heard and what Agnes told her. This has to be such a confusing moment for Becka because he wants to believe her father, but she also knows something isn’t adding up.
That night, Becka goes into the bathroom while her father is taking a bath and stabs him. She then puts on one of the Marthas’ coats and takes the bus to Agnes’s house. Agnes is awakened by her Martha and is shocked to see Becka standing there covered in blood. Becka tells Agnes that her father will never hurt her again. When Agnes asks what she did, Becka simply says, “He’s gone now.” Becka tells Agnes that she would do anything for her and then asks Agnes to run away with her. Agnes agrees and asks her Martha to prepare a bath for Becka. Her Martha’s expression says it all; that she clearly does not want to be involved in this mess! This is such a shocking turn for Becka. She has gone from being jealous and angry with Daisy to taking matters into her own hands to protect Agnes.
When Becka is finished cleaning up, she and Agnes go downstairs, only to find Commander Mackenzie waiting for them. The situation immediately becomes tense. Commander Mackenzie tells Becka that Garth is taking her to see a doctor, and Becka agrees to go with him. Agnes seems relieved that Becka is going to get some help. After everything that has happened, Agnes probably believes Becka is finally going somewhere safe; but in Gilead, you never really know what is waiting around the corner.
Garth takes Becka outside, but instead of taking her to a doctor, she is immediately taken by people dressed in black. As they force her into a van, Becka realizes what is happening and begins screaming Agnes’s name. Agnes tries to run outside, but her father stops her. Agnes turns to him and says she thought he was taking Becka to a real doctor. In that moment, Agnes realizes that her father has deceived her. Oh no, Agnes! She trusted her father, and now she has to face the horrible reality of what just happened to Becka. This is such a sad moment because Agnes was relieved thinking Becka was finally getting help, when instead she was being taken away.
What a great and intense episode! So much happened, and the tension kept building from beginning to end. Daisy’s risky plan, Agnes questioning everything she has been taught, Becka taking matters into her own hands, and that shocking ending with Becka being taken away gave us so much to process. After doing some research, I found that the title Marat/Sade is more than just a reference to a historical play. The connection to Dr. Grove’s bathtub scene is especially interesting since Marat was famously murdered in his bathtub. The title also fits the themes of oppression, resistance, and what happens when people are pushed to their breaking point. Becka, Agnes, and Daisy are each finding their own ways to resist Gilead, while Grove represents another side of its power and control. This episode definitely left me with a lot of questions about what happens next!
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