Aunt Lydia's Handmaid's Tale Backstory Explained

[@Partypooperfanmade]

anne dowd is so amazing in this role.

[@courtneymangus6427]

She truly is!

[@freeaus3902]

She suits it sooo well. All these actors are amazing. They need more recognition.

[@hardyquinn9442]

She really is

[@FelixeTheCat]

She was able to "become" hated and we do with for her caracters horrible death but ultimately, that means the actress is OOOON POINT!! 👏👏

[@thedreamer121]

Anne Dowd was born to play this role , simply an amazing performance , love it when shes on screen

[@randyjax09]

Seriously, Aunt Lydia is my favorite character. Never a dull moment!

[@JM-mr6pz]

Shes amazing in The Leftovers too

[@OneDrunkenLizard]

Moss had the same stare in every scene to where it got annoying. If I wasn't a fan of the book I would not have continued S1. But my main focus was Aunt Lydia because she's one of the evil likeable persons. However, when S3 introduced her background, everything came together about her. Anne Dowd is an amazing actress.

[@ashleightompkins3200]

Lydia is a level of evil and insidious that I have only ever seen in Umbridge from Harry Potter. A manipulative, judgemental, jealous woman in a position of power she uses to abuse all those underneath her.

[@robsquared2]

She plays a great collaborator.

[@christinebailey9935]

The actors in this series are astoundingly talented. There are no weak links. Everyone is on their A game every single episode, every single season. I am a non violent person but I really want to see Serena Joy get hers and Aunt Lydia to be dealt with by the Handmaids. Sorry, they bring out the not so nice side of me.

[@xdSayCheesexd]

Well that's what Gilead does to people :p Brings out the worst ;)

[@oceansoflorewi]

Everyone is so on their A game that even Serena & Aunt Lydia are somehow redeemable when they show their humanity and can even make june look like the villan. Just a BRILLIANT show. Every scene is of concentrated masterful quality. Whats even more astonishing is how each season gets better as everything unravels. This show could easily go on for another 5 seasons as this show has been slow to show the big picture and state of the US. What are they thinking ending the series?!

[@KelsiKouture]

Absolutely 💯 grapey women are the worst 😫 even in fiction. No redeemable qualities unless some magic story line says they were just playing and helped most of the girl's escape 🙃🤭

[@Hilz28]

It's just so hard to imagine that a Pre Gilead Lydia was as normal as she appeared. I've always had trouble with that. She took in a young single mother. Aunt Lydia of today would have that mom on the wall.

[@favourssanyunabakooza5950]

Let's not forget she got the mother's son taken away from her......I was like, yep, that's the Aunt Lydia I know

[@abcdefg-dp2ls]

aunt lydia is cruel but she stands for her cause , she doesn't have 2 faces like most high people in gilead , especially the commanders

[@madelinedaigle7598]

Lydia was always psycho.

[@Isrjisoneavalable]

“Testament” gives more of the background on the forming of Gilead and how the original aunts were broken.

[@mirupacha]

Nothing that different than what your ‘typical elementary school teacher’ does on a daily basis to their students.

[@kathleenhartnellharper7234]

In the follow up book it’s revealed that Aunt Lydia was keeping a record of everything to do with the men in charge. She helped smuggle June’s daughter into Canada, and ultimately brings down Gilliad. Pretty amazing!

[@swampsprite9]

She's a realistic abuser. I've known many seriously abusive people in my immediate and extended family; all of them have a kind side. That kindness is what confuses their victims the most and gives them Stockholm Syndrome.

[@glowgirl8171]

Too little is said about the remarkable performances by Ann Dowd. I could never imagine anyone else playing "Aunt Lydia". She did it brilliantly.

[@margorosenberg6618]

This Aunt Lydia is different from the aunt Lydia of the books. Aunt Lydia in the books was a judge who secretly brought down the government in The Testaments (the sequel). Amazing character through and through!

[@poisonheartmona5601]

Came here just to say that! Book Aunt Lydia was such a good complex character!

[@avedic]

Aunt Lydia is a great villain and such a great character.... In part, because I WANT her to be redeemed....to redeem herself. I want to see whatever tiny bit of good might be in her. And yet....she never EVER delivers that. If she hints at her humanity...it's always revealed to be yet another sociopathic con. And yet, I keep waiting for her to prove her humanity in a genuine way. Knowing all the while....that this will almost surely never happen. It's frustrating....but makes for excellent drama. I think at the end of the day, Aunt Lydia is quite literally a sociopath, if not a full on psychopath, who is adept at pretending to be moral....as a tool of manipulation. But that's it. People like that are terrifying. As dangerous and awful as they are....I also feel genuine sadness and empathy for them. I'm grateful I wasn't born into such an ill mind. Just imagine being born a sociopath...and being able to do nothing about it. By no fault of your own, you inhabit the psychology of a sociopath. What a truly horrible fate....both for that person, and for anyone who comes in contact with them.

[@chad3232132]

Not going to spoil things but there is a prequel/sequel book, with a planned successor TV series based on that material. I'll just say this... there is a *lot* more to Aunt Lydia than we've been told in this series. She is far more complex and not the unabashedly evil character we've come to know.

[@randyjax09]

That’s why I hope they don’t kill her character off. That hope that maybe, just maybe she can be redeemed is what keeps me coming back for more.

[@dawnriddler]

I don't understand why everyone is wishing for redemption of every character. Like this is the reality they live in, she did everything to keep herself safe and alive, she did what was best for her, as did every other character. She just had way more power than others, and she used it to her advantage. Also, sick of people throwing the words "sociopath, narcissist, psychopath", just because someone doesn't share your values or ideals doesn't make them a medical case.

[@randyjax09]

@@dawnriddler Religion & cultist groupthink can mislead decent people into committing terrible atrocities because they believe it’s “righteous”. It doesn’t mean they’re irredeemable. They’re the sort of people who often become the most outspoken opponents against those organizations. Aunt Lydia started out as someone we all hated. But the show-runners have been carefully humanizing her bit-by-bit each season (especially this season) and I think it’s meant to serve a purpose. I haven’t read the books, but my guess it she’s ultimately going to be the one to bring down Gilead from the inside. Probably at the cost of her own life.

[@riverbank7347]

I hope in S5 Aunt Lydia's backstory is delved into in more detail, especially how she became an Aunt (which is in the Testaments and very interesting)

[@kaysmith8992]

I've always wanted the show to explore the tension between Lydia and Serena.

[@Askforada]

Aunt Lydia reminds me of Ms. Trunchbull

[@deborahfrazao2880]

😂 that’s so true

[@dearyvettetn4489]

Lydia’s arc in The Testaments is IMO the best part of the book. It’s also a fascinating look into the world of Gilead’s Aunts who are the most powerful women in Gilead society. Even over the wives.

[@Neithie]

I've always thought maybe Lydia is playing the long game here. June is fighting via the short game... she likes action and explosions right now. Lydia seems far more patient.

[@freeaus3902]

She’s done a few things that I’m like aww she does care and then others I’m like nope she doesn’t. She’s been cruel even when she didn’t need to be and was frowned on.

[@alili9568]

I think in a sequel to the books this is the case

[@dawnriddler]

it's definitely the case in the book, but the portrayal of the characters is totally different, so not sure if they'll go in that direction in the show.

[@randyjax09]

Is it wrong that Aunt Lydia is my favorite character? Never a dull moment when Ann Dowd hits the screen.

[@annieoops6243]

Shes one of mine as well

[@annieoops6243]

Along with commander Lawrence

[@fajrstrong]

“Aunt Lydia” is quite convincing. I cannot stand her.

[@chad3232132]

I'd recommend reading the sequel book called The Testaments. Aunt Lydia is a much more complex character than this series has presented her as. This will be covered when that book is made into a prequel/sequel show to this show, where Lydia is the central character.

[@II-gg5my]

@@chad3232132 is the first one similar to the show or should I read that too??

[@amandakaras356]

I highly recommend checking out The Testaments because there is more to Aunt Lydia that what is told in The Handmade Tale. She is a very complex character. Ann Dowd reprises her role in the audio book that is available on Overdrive.

[@susanv.7540]

I really appreciate this backstory on Aunt Lydia , as I learned a few things that I had missed. Can't wait to see what she does in Season 5 !!

[@AI-hx3fx]

Lydia was so soft but this softness is then twisted in Gilead. It makes it so heartbreaking and Dowd brilliant.

[@abcdefg-dp2ls]

so aunt lydia the monster was created just because a man broke her heart and asked her to slow down in their relationship ? it's disapointing , i was expecting something more intresting to cause this huge change because she seemed like a really loving person at first

[@flameprincess7313]

Is your entire personality defined by one experience in your life? No??? Then why are you simplifying her character so much? The show is far from over

[@abcdefg-dp2ls]

@@flameprincess7313 that's the point , they made her life look like it was defined by that one experience only and that's why i said what i said

[@kanikagaral7637]

I think it shows her religious upbringing and strong beliefs and what she saw during her time practicing family law. She saw famies breaking and maybe that's all led to all that.

[@jamiehershon]

her backstory was not done well.

[@noradosmith]

Agreed, I thought that was a letdown. I was hoping for a lot more.

[@laurenj432]

It’s hard to hate her as much as the other villains because it’s not like she has much of a choice in how she acts. It was either follow the rules of gilead, or be killed. But I think they also brainwashed her into being a believer

[@CeeBee781]

Handmaids tale creates sympathetic villains like no other show. Which is an indicator of what an amazing show it is. All humans, even the “baddies”, are HUMAN. Almost no one (maybe no one) is a pure villain. There’s nothing more unbelievable or unsympathetic than an unambiguous bad guy.

[@mwoods4608]

do we have sympathy for Fred?

[@legally_ellecee]

@@mwoods4608 well no, but I definitely think some viewers may have at some points when June was his handmaid. I questioned, even wondered why I felt so joyful when he got killed. I was elated lolz. Some of the other commanders likely have zero redeeming qualities, like Putnam and McKenzie. Wheeler is a total POS too from what we’ve seen in S5.

[@captainjefferies9047]

There are dozens of pure villains in this show.

[@CeeBee781]

@mwoods4608 Sympathy? No. But he is still a complex, real character. He’s not a monster but a product of patriarchal values and male insecurity. He’s not just “evil”. He desperately wants to be liked by June, he wants her to see him as one of the hood ones. He’s interesting, like all the villains

[@greenwoods798]

I adore Ann Dowd since i saw her in the show for the first time! And i love her character, Ant Lydia. Her speaches are brilliant, especially when it's time to execute someone. Well, it's quite weird cause she's so cruel and ruthless though really mysterious and complex. I can't agree that she's absolutely a villian. In "The testaments" we learned so much new about her. Now we have to understand that Aunts did not voluntarily become them. They were given the opportunity to choose life or death, and they chose life, as most people would do. Of course, they do terrifying, inhuman things, but it's not only their fault. Everyone allow Gilead exist.

[@MRSlade-hh7xr]

Reading The Commandments. Got to her origin story at the start of Gilead and had to give the book a rest. It's a lot. She goes through a lot to become the person she is.

[@AndreaMoonMusic]

I think Ann Dowd is one of the best living actresses living today. However, the episode of her back story, in my opinion was extremely weak. Her transition reminded me of the one in Wicked (which I also thought was weak). I wish they would re-shoot that episode, it just doesn't work for me.

[@shetlandbudgie2611]

I agree, the backstory was a total let down.

[@danielamspaugh7519]

This is not a backstory. She literally explained the entire season.

[@zensoundsarah9209]

the way my mom who acts similarly to aunt lydia also has an eerily similar name to lydia is something I could have gone my whole life not knowing...

[@andrewmanning3639]

Well now I am DEFEINATELY going to have to watch this series. I loved her in the Leftovers!

[@KP-ov3mg]

I get the feeling Lydia is a very conflicted, angry person. But I feel like she does feel love and concern for the girls, even though it's in a twisted way. She also has rage issues and takes it out on the girls and enjoys it. But she doesn't seem like a one-sided sadist to me.

[@L_Takes]

Y’all I recommend reading “The testaments” it goes into DETAIL about Aunt Lydia no spoilers but it was so juicy

[@guntherfurlong]

How about the first book ? Will it spoil much of the current show?

[@LadyRose2023]

I often wonder if the author changed her story about aunt Lydia for her second novel testament because of how popular Aunt Lydia became.

[@Isrjisoneavalable]

In “Testament” her back story was that she was a judge, and they go into how the original aunts were selected and broken into being the weapons of the new system. She later becomes an important part of bringing down Gilead.

[@Isrjisoneavalable]

@Daniel Diaz the book is framed in such a way that makes is clear that Gilead is eventually brought down because the “tales of the hand maid is present as a historical document/artefact from a particular point in history. I don’t think that’s a spoiler.

[@dianeridley9804]

Anne Dowd: Wow. Just Wow

[@WuhanBatSoup_]

Shes soo awesome, love hee

[@Dr.Beetlejuice110]

Aunt Lydia is such a great character to study.

[@lauragadille3384]

I hope June can bring her daughter home

[@Dontaskmia]

Such an amazing actress if you think she is an adorable soft spoken lady in real life!

[@pouyabagheri9587]

Aunt Lydia is very similar to Assadollah Lajevardi, the torturer and butcher of Evin prison in Tehran, and Saeed Mortazavi and Sardar Naqdi. Of course, Aunt Lydia is really much, much better than Lajevardi.

[@Aussiegirlforhope]

The Testament is focused more on Lydia and Junes daughter great read.

[@Neo.Picard]

This video was very well narrated.

[@WolfandButterfly]

One of the greatest things about this series is the complexities of all characters, at times we start feeling some empathy for antagonists and sometimes anger or disappointment at the protagonists we have come to love. I believe the most genius, and extremely difficult accomplishments of this adaptation, is how the writing , directing and acting coordinated extremely believable and multilayered characters. The villains and the “ good characters “ are clear. Burt much like reality, we sometimes begin to sense a glimmer of humanity. Also their are a few main characters to whom we may feel “meh” the whole time. I feel we get the experience of having some the real life type “gut feelings” which can tug against the character’s behavior over and over. The greatest example of me here has been Nick. This character teeters between likable and unlikeable within moments at times. Again, so much like humankind and it’s nuanced nature

[@WolfandButterfly]

I wonder if the one person who actually read and liked my thesis length comment was doing something similar to what I was doing when I wrote it: procrastinating doing something for work....

[@iamthewizardwhoknocks2845]

Good take, many of the fans miss the complexity

[@Adrian-cn5rk]

I thought that was professor Snape

[@jeremyredandblueify]

Ann Dowde is so amazing one of my favorite characters ❤

[@JM-mr6pz]

Aunt Lydia is my favorite character

[@chloejacobs7780]

Thanks for fucking spoiling the second book without warning!

[@Dana_inc]

This woman is a phenomenal actress! I hate her character.

[@Dontaskmia]

Totally! And out of her character she is such an adorable lady!

[@tru3293]

She's my favorite character.

[@lauraMacKinnon321]

You Love and hate here at the same time.That means she played here roll very very good! Love her!

[@Lilianamarie999]

Lydia's pathology is a clear indication of what she thinks "good girls" should act like. For some repression is refuge. This is a straightforward morality she can cling to, albeit abusive and horrific. She's not good, but she does get confused and angry when her "good intentions" have terrible outcomes. I'm not sure she believes wholeheartedly but she acts as though if the women would just submit to will of Gilead they will have fulfillment. It's pretty sick to watch because the actress plays her so well. Just hateful enough, but human and insecure also. She abused in part at least due to fear. She knows she too can be killed or maimed without consequences by those above her.

[@Fiat_justitia_ruat_caelum]

Aunt Lydia is my favorite character! I love her!!!

[@OzmaOfOzz]

She's giving Trunchbull 😭

[@jerrtbwrs]

Have ya'll read THE TESTAMENTS?

[@stephanieroberts105]

....4th grade teacher? Read the testaments.... she was a judge.... she had an end game plan from the jump.. when they rounded her and other coworkers. This is what I hate about TV adaptations

[@shroom8511]

my favourite character 🥰

[@honeybadger1810]

Lydia is not as despicable as people make her out to be.

[@oneandzero6251]

Even as bad as Lydia was, she holds nothing to the death count caused by June. It is even hinted several times in the series the dangers of stupidity. :-D

[@billbombshiggy9254]

Finally someone gets it. June is an idiot. Can't stand her and Emily.

[@dakotamabry1645]

Hiring actress , alright bring out your inner umbridge

[@Orius25]

I didn't find Lydia's backstory believable. She isn't just "conservative", she is psychopathic. I find it difficult to believe that Lydia as a teacher and family law worker - someone who appeared highly empathetic and caring - could later exhibit such sadism. Psychos are born, they are not made. Even though the writing tries to portray her psychopathy as a twisted form of "care for her girls", it's not believable. It's definitely impossible to believe when they start portraying her as compassionate with a strong conscience in later seasons. In season 1 she was plucking out eyes, stoning traitors and handmaids, chaining pregnant women to beds, whipping their feet, handcuffing hands to stove burners and turning them on, cattle prodding and beating handmaids for even looking at her the wrong way -- the list goes on. Not to mention, she appeared to be enjoying it, smiling half the time. An empath would not be able to do that. An empathetic, compassionate person, EVEN somebody with buried compassion, would not be able to do that. Atwood wrote her to be psycho. The changes to her character don't make much sense. You're either psycho or compassionate, you can't be both. The writers need to decide.

[@AndreaMoonMusic]

I totally agree. I was so looking forward to Aunt Lydia's backstory and thought it was probably the weakest episode of the series. Not Ann Dowd's fault, I love her- stupid story. Didn't make sense. at all.

[@JadeNut]

The stoning that didn't occur came before that event. Not after.

[@mickael486]

is this still going on? I stopped watching half way through season 2. I ready for the season where things change for the better . it's tragically insane to think how close we are, since after this aired, to this actually being a reality.

[@Ksavero777.]

You will have a long wait, Gilead in the books existed for at least 15 years

[@oliviajames2946]

I hate the character but I love her voice

[@Musika1321]

So excited for new series!

[@almosttogether1776]

The actress who plays aunt lydia is a testament and a icon and a ray of hope to the hollywoodland disposable attitude many of the actors are they are a most joyous of AGE DOSE NOT DICTATE ANYTHING and U CAN NOT BE PUT IN A BOX OR TYPE CAST the older actors display this the young actors who look like disney stars display this the diversity is beautiful yes even if not in the book. But what hits home and strikes fear as a women of mixed poc and over 30 with cancer I can feel as if this can happen and what would happen to me even if I am british and hav just seen the horrific loss of life in Colorado Springs in 2022 I am in disbelief the war in Ukraine the women and non bianary individuals fighting to have the choice of medical termination. I pray the world is better when my fight ends This show is a metaphor it feels bigger than just a show as a survivor and Trauma nurse it has been difficult yet healing and a suprise to myself allowed me to learn so much.

[@dannyshepard9382]

Just clarifying for anyone that doesn’t know, they did not do a “female circumcision” on Emily, they did a clitoridectomy… completely different things lol

[@jane-ellenweidanz9236]

This is not funny. The term is a disgusting attempt to underplay this brutality. This is female genital mutilation. It is used to control women, destroy their enjoyment of their body and exert control. It is not circumcision it is female castration.

[@OoooshetriesSs]

Anne Dowd is a GOAT

[@Ksavero777.]

she was always a small woman, deep down she always felt that way and always will be.

[@victorvvc1925]

I think that's the most horrible character! She must be a remarkable actress because I hate Lydia with all my heart

[@Tess-k4o]

Wow. She sounds like the nuns that I had in Catholic school

[@veronicaprovencal9811]

Anne Dowd is an awesome actress!! Love to hate her in this role!!

[@ms.ellenlevy5667]

Lydia is too self righteous for her own good. She’s completely convinced that she’s doing gods work, which in my opinion is nonsense. She’s going to reap what she sows at some point in this show. I look at her the same as all of the oppressors of Gilead.

[@mohammedmahmoud3375]

Anne Dowd is brilliant!

[@TheGloomyTuesday]

I wonder why it's so entirely different than the book...

[@veronicaleal1705]

I just finished the handmaiden tales and I’m reading the sequel right now but they are really different then the series. I mean I know that happens a lot when they make books into movies. But idk I find myself loving the sequel way more then the first book it was a bit dry for me

[@abcdefg-dp2ls]

@@veronicaleal1705 what are the main differences between the book and the series ?

[@veronicaleal1705]

@@abcdefg-dp2ls well in the first book it ends with nick helping ofred escape. Everything else that happen in the show for instance her giving birth or helping all those kids escape and even getting her second posting with that second commander didn’t happen in the book. None of the excitement from the show didn’t happen at all in the book. The book was a little dull to be honest. Now the sequel is better for sure. It’s in the view of aunt Lydia and both of ofreds daughters Agnes/Nicole

[@abcdefg-dp2ls]

@@veronicaleal1705 oh that's intresting , so the book was basically just season 1 right ? and in the end of the book did june make it to canada or was it an open end ?

[@veronicaleal1705]

@@abcdefg-dp2ls it ends with a cliff hanger like the eyes come to pick her up and nick tells her to trust them but, it doesn’t say why she’s getting picked up and if she got to escape to Canada. Then the next book is just from baby nicoles point of view and aunt and Agnes. Years later and what life was like for Agnes when she got older. But then Nicole basically went into hiding and was never around luke ever. But people from mayday who went into hiding with her and went undercover as her parents. She doesn’t find out the truth about her past until she’s probably around 14/15 years old

[@maclectic]

I love Aunt Lydia, we need many Aunt Lydias!

[@Emmyy.22777]

what😳

[@Carol120454]

Are you sick or what?

[@kimberlylewis7359]

The little boy, Ryan, could no way be a fourth grader. I'm an elementary teacher and that little boy is more like a first or second grader.

[@jasonmiles1151]

While she is a sadist isn’t she also part of the rebellion that wants to destroy Gilead?

[@yasuhiroyoshida]

Too many ads

[@trublu2312]

She Mrs Trenchbolt's Mom

[@rotzfrosch0970]

Did part four comes already 2021 on DVD or Netflix stream? Who knows it?

[@Lyrielonwind]

Inextricable link? They are obsessed with each other? It's trauma bond.

[@eleniphotos]

Ann Dowd is a great actress because I despise Aunt "Cockroache" (because she doesn't die.) Lydia!

[@tiffanyreavis3660]

Sad

[@johnmarcucci1719]

This series is very effective agitprop. The Soviet commisars of old would be impressed.

[@SilentKnight0011]

Is aunt Lydia a villain or victim?!

[@Lightner445555555555]

A villain! If you're so nonchalant about killing and maiming innocent people,you're a villain.

[@SilentKnight0011]

@@Lightner445555555555 it's not always so simple PTSD in combination with a strict religious background. A person who committed the crimes that she has should be punished Severely. However it doesn't adjudicate you of your crimes because of the things you did willingly to keep your self from being harmed further.

[@Lightner445555555555]

@@SilentKnight0011 wrong is wrong! There's no rationalization for it.

[@SilentKnight0011]

@@Lightner445555555555 If your child was kidnapped for years and had horrible things done to them which change them forever, do to no fault of their own and turned around and did similar things the things to other people. Shouldn't that at least be told So we as a people learn and get better as humans

[@Lightner445555555555]

@@SilentKnight0011 That's been happening for centuries now. And humans STILL haven't learnt from it 😕.

[@Redd-Rabbit]

This show sucked, it intrigued me enough to want to know why that chick was so twisted but it's not good enough. Shallow storyline after shallow storyline.

[@CJ-im2uu]

Call spoiler alert.

[@falesham.9981]

Soooo this video was a summary of her actions in the series but NOT an ACTUAL backstory 🤦🏿‍♀️🤦🏿‍♀️🤦🏿‍♀️

[@angellover02171]

There is one episode that shows her backstory and the video shows that.

[@danielamspaugh7519]

Yea, it was clickbait.

[@francesbernard2445]

Aunt Lydia character from "Handmaid's Tale" sounds like the kind of fictional character a whole lot of people around would just love to hate. Loving to hate only a fictional flat haracter only while reading the novel with the character in it is a whole lot healthier of a pastime recreational pursuit than for example going through somebodies garbage or when hoping to hear someone admit their vulnerabilites to them in hopes of finding the best tid bits of gossip dirt to share with like minded friends about 'only' handmaid. Making a whole video about only a flat character from a fictional novel sounds a bit like over doing that kind of emotion while dwelling on the same kind of unhealthy loving to hate. That sounds a bit like someone with symptoms of early stage dementia who would for example after watching a Disney show hoping to catch an actor who played the bad guy doing crime.

[@HUeducator2011]

Lawd she was an incel 😂

[@tpl608]

My God. That voice could peel paint. Get a better voice.