The Handmaid's Tale season two, episode two: making a murderer - Gilead style

*Spoilers for The Handmaid's Tale season 2, episode 2*

Following on from the bruising, harrowing yet somewhat hopeful intrigue of season two's opener, new instalment 'Unwomen' broadens The Handmaid's Tale's scope considerably.

We get a different point-of-view, and travel to a whole new terrifying setting, with a secondary protagonist who is certainly not afraid to fight back.

It's a welcome return for one of season one's most sympathetic and engaging characters, in the shape of Emily. But her actions betray an increasingly dark and troubled edge. In short, Gilead has created a ruthless avenger.

Simmering, murderous vengeance

Finally, we get to see the much whispered-of, long feared surroundings of The Colonies. And they truly are a hellish place.

Amid an irradiated wasteland - seemingly the leftover remnants of a nuclear or dirty bomb attack - the titular 'unwomen' labour all day; hacking the smoking, sulphurous ground with bleeding hands. And it is here that Alexis Bledel's Emily, formerly known as Ofglen, has fallen - and become an embodiment of simmering vengeance.

When a Commander's wife arrives as a new prisoner she is shunned by the others, for obvious reasons. Emily, however, befriends the woman. Speaking with her, offering her advice and words of comfort, swapping histories. Even aiding her with medical supplies. But it all turns out to be a deceitful ruse.

Emily poisons her - having only pretended to be her ally - and leaves her to die a long, lingering death on the floor. Ultimately, it is an act of a cold calculating nature. And there's an additional cruel twist too; Emily refusing to stay with the panicked, sobbing woman as she reaches out to her for solace - instead hissing that she deserves to die alone.

When Emily crushed a guard to death with a car back in season one, it was a strange mix of both satisfying and horrifying; our emotions torn between cheering and recoiling in disgust.

Here, there is a similar complexity to her actions. The Handmaid's Tale wants us to feel uncomfortable about all violence. Even when it's a sympathetic character dealing it out.

Sympathetic, but tragic

The suffering Emily has been through is immense. Unthinkable. Gilead has stolen everything from her: her wife and son, a career she loved, her freedom, and even her ability to feel sexual pleasure.