Warning: Contains SPOILERS for The Handmaid's Tale season 6, episode 8!

Aunt Lydia has undergone a major transformation in Aunt Lydia has always been an antagonistic force in The Handmaid's Tale, with her representing the establishment of Gilead every time she talks to the Handmaids. However, Aunt Lydia has been going through a redemption arc, and her odd choices at the end of The Handmaid's Tale season 6, episode 8 signal that her changes may be done.

The Handmaid's Tale season 6, episode 8 sees June put her plan from The Handmaid's Tale season 6, episode 7 in motion. During Serena Joy's wedding, the Commanders eat a drugged cake, with June giving the Handmaids knives and taking to the streets after the wedding. The Handmaids nearly get away with it, with them killing a good number of Commanders. However, they are caught by Aunt Lydia. When Aunt Lydia discovers Aunt Phoebe's deceit and the Handmaids' plan, she is forced to make a difficult choice.

Aunt Lydia's Initial Reaction Was At Odds With Her Handmaid's Tale Arc

It Seemed Like The Lydia From Earlier Seasons

Aunt Lydia has a major reaction after discovering the Handmaids' plan in season 6, episode 8, one that is at odds with her The Handmaid's Tale arc. Aunt Lydia points a gun at Moira, saying that she won't hesitate to shoot a traitor. Aunt Lydia acts righteous, quoting Bible verses and yelling at the Handmaids. This reaction seemed like it was coming from the Aunt Lydia of the early seasons, not the Aunt Lydia that viewers have seen grow.

Season 6 has especially seen Lydia grow, showing that she truly does care about the Handmaids.

In recent seasons of The Handmaid's Tale, the show has painted a more sympathetic version of Lydia. Season 6 has especially seen Lydia grow, showing that she truly does care about the Handmaids. Her love for Janine and advocacy for Commander Lawrence's New Bethlehem project shows that she believes that she has the Handmaids' best interests in mind. However, her Gileadean beliefs have caused her to continue hurting the Handmaids. Her initial reaction to the plan did not seem like it was coming from someone who cared about the Handmaids, with her instead falling back into her old ways.

Aunt Lydia's Entire World Has Now Been Changed

Thanks To June & Janine

While yelling at the Handmaids, June enters the room, followed by Janine. The duo tells Lydia that she is at fault for creating the Handmaids, with her willingly giving them over to the abusive Commanders. This shakes Aunt Lydia, with her seemingly realizing her wrongdoing. She decides to let the Handmaids go, with her staying behind. Once she is alone, Lydia falls to the floor and repeats the phrase "God help me," which could either mean that she is worried about the choice she has made, or that she is pleading for God to forgive her for her past actions.

Either way, Aunt Lydia is now taking active steps against Gilead rather than just reacting to the horrors of the country. The decision to let June continue killing Commanders is nothing like what the old Aunt Lydia would have done. This confirms that Lydia is fully changed, preparing her for what is next in the world of The Handmaid's Tale.

What Will Aunt Lydia Do Next?

She Is Now Ready For The Testaments

Now that Aunt Lydia has changed, she is ready for The Testaments. The Testaments is a sequel series that Hulu is developing, with it being based on Margaret Atwood's 2019 The Handmaid's Tale sequel novel. In the book, Aunt Lydia is an outspoken critic of Gilead, bringing her fame.

"Exodus" was rated 8.6 on IMDB.

However, she is also secretly an agent of Mayday, with her operating to take Gilead down from the inside. The Handmaid's Tale has changed Lydia into someone who hates Gilead, and now The Testaments will show a Lydia who acts on this hate.