Season One Episode Two – Perfect Teeth
This episode goes into more details of how the Plums are celebrated once they “come of age” as they call it. This is a shorter episode but shows all the important details needed to understand the role of a Plums.
After discovering she had her menstrual cycle, Agnes contemplates on what she should do next. She goes downstairs to look for Rosa but runs into Paula instead. Agnes goes on the recite the verse all the girls have to say when they become a woman. Ridiculous right? Paula tries not to look excited but you know she is since she has been waiting on this moment for a while. Paula goes to get a kit for Agnes to start using. Paula also brings back a package and gives it to Agnes. It’s from the mother she had before Paula. Agnes then has a memory of her first mother. Paula goes on the explain to Agnes what she needs to do.
Agnes leaves for school and when she gets there she is greeted by Daisy. Agnes completely ignores Daisy and she goes up the stairs. When Agnes gets upstairs she goes to a room that has a giant bell. Agnes starts to ring the bell over and over. The Aunts hear the bell ringing and instruct all the Plums to go outside. They form some sort of symbol and out walks Agnes. Everyone is cheering and happy for her. I don’t think her friend Becka is happy for her, but she tries her best to smile. A creepy celebration of a teenage girl getting her period.
Agnes is at a doctor’s office with Paula. It turns out to be a dentist office and Becka’s father, Dr. Grove, who is the dentist. He examines her and says she has perfect teeth. He has to take x-rays and Dr. Grove puts the vest cover over her chest. As he is putting the vest on, his hand brushes against her breast. Agnes freezes. What a pervert. And he’s her best friends father.
Later that night, Agnes is waken by Aunt Lydia and escorted to the school where she is baptized in water by one of the Aunts. Aunt Lydia leads the ceremony. Agnes thinks the Aunt is trying to drown her at first but soon relaxes. Afterwards, she is greeted by all the Plums that have also come of age. Becka tells Agnes she does not want to get married. Agnes ask her what did she want to do but she does not answer. After Agnes talks about them pushes stroller together, Becka agrees with her. This is ashamed that all these girls have to look forward to is getting married and having babies. They can’t choose what they want to do with their lives.
Daisy is in the bathroom drawing a picture. Why is she doing this. She finishes and goes back to her bed to lay down. When she looks over another girl is staring at her. Daisy turns over and panics. Will the girl tell on her. We will see.
Agnes leaves the ceremony and is taken home. She is told to go to her father’s office. When she gets there, it’s a bunch of old men looking at her. She goes in and recites the coming of age speech and her father is pleased. All the men congratulate her father and she just stands in the front of the room just looking at them. Not sure if Agnes is proud our just sad.
Episode was short but it gives an insight on how the Plums are valued and are only praised when they come of age. To Gilead, the Plums are not worthy at all until they can produce children. All their lives, this is what the girls of Gilead have to look forward to. And this is all they know. June would have a fit if she had to see this happening. Looking forward to the next episode.
TV Mom 