THE ARTIST | Anne Dowd
THE SHOW | Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale
THE EPISODE | “Frontier” (September 21, 2022)
THE PERFORMANCE | An Aunt Lydia who has reached the end of her emotional attachment is an amazing Aunt Lydia – and one we don’t see often. So we were mesmerized when the relentless matron thought her favorite servant was about to die in this week’s episode. Soft went for it and turned in one of his most raw performances yet in the six-season series. We are still thinking about it.
The Emmy-winning actress had Lydia’s angst written all over her face as soon as she walked into Janine’s hospital room. When she expressed her grief, it naturally took the form of rambling prayer. Dowd put genuine desperation into Lydia’s plea for Janine’s survival, her words frequently getting stuck in her throat as the deep sadness and fear suffocated her. As Lydia negotiated with The Man Upstairs, Dowd cried in that total, painful, searing way that signifies someone at their limit. Goodness, we can’t imagine what it took to get there. And my God, we were captivated by every second.
Against all odds, and after six years filled with cattle prods, it seems that Aunt Lydia is approaching an epic crisis of conscience. And if Dowd’s performance in this week’s episode is any indicator of the emotional reckoning to come (and perhaps a series order for the Wills after)? Be pray!
HONORABLE MENTION | From the moment Bix Caleen slipped under the turbine she was tinkering with to see what Cassian Andor wanted from her this time, Adria Arjona created a specific character within the star wars universe. Arjona imbued Bix with a lot of guts – you instantly bought her as a scrappy mechanic not averse to making illicit money – and yet you also saw the (semi-) soft spot she has for Cass, qu ‘she agreed to hook him up with her “secret friend. Bix was a very cool cucumber, but Arjona’s best work came in episode 3, when Bix learned that corps were on Ferrix to hunt Cass… and Timm, a co-worker with benefits, tipped off the fuzz. As this realization crystallized, a ferocity spread across Arjona’s face, mingled with disgust. And yet, Bix retained enough affection that Timm would later howl when he was shot in front of her, trying to right a wrong.
HONORABLE MENTION | We can always count on Abbott Elementary SchoolJanine is relentlessly optimistic, but Quinta Brunson let a hint of sadness and doubt creep into her character’s sunny disposition in this week’s Season 2 premiere. Janine was thrilled to start a new school year, but a recent breakup and money troubles hovered over her preparations, with Brunson burying Janine’s worries under a smirk. She melted, however, when her car was started for unpaid tickets, and Brunson poured out all of Janine’s angst in a moving confession to her friends at school. Brunson always brought the funny – Janine makes an ideal straight man for all Abbott‘s crazy – but she also added a new vulnerability to Janine…and we were happy to hear all about it.
HONORABLE MENTION | On Industry, Ken Leung excels as a nervous manager whose intolerance for BS fuels the series’ anxieties. In the Season 2 finale, he delivered that and more, as Eric showcased his small team with unwavering bravado and a thirst for opportunity. But when Harper confessed she may have shared inside information with a client, the actor’s demeanor turned serious, showing his character’s ability to navigate the toughest obstacles. Later, as Eric and Harper were blackmailed into creating a new division, Leung fired on all cylinders, spitting snarky dialogue with aplomb. It pivoted once more, evoking a smoothness that caught us off guard as we approached that final shock. Eric may be a savage in the world of finance, but his efficiency is due to Leung’s many talents.
Which performance(s) hit your socks this week? Tell us in the comments!