It's always been frustrating that 'Handmaid's Tale' never gave Aunt Lydia a backstory. With 'Unfit,' that all changes.
The main chunk of Lydia’s “Unfit” flashbacks also help illuminate this idea, albeit in a far more obvious way. The story centers around Lydia’s growing relationship with Noelle, a striving young single mom, and her smart son Ryan , one of Lydia’s students. One day, Noelle is three hours late to pick up Ryan from school. Lydia immediately judges Noelle, criticizing her lunch packing skills and tardiness.
As Lydia stares at herself, she sees makeup pouring down her face. It’s the makeup Noelle got Lydia for Christmas from her new retail job. In a show of mental gymnastics, Lydia blames Noelle for her romantic mortification. This is no longer just a sad twist of events — that really could have a nice ending. Jim is clearly into Lydia — it’s Noelle’s fault.
So, Lydia decides to punish her. In the next scene, we see Lydia in a meeting with the latest version of Child Protective Services. While the investigatorinterested in whether Noelle is properly feeding and clothing her son, there is another layer she is judged on: morality. Lydia is asked if Noelle takes her son to church. The answer is no, no matter how much Lydia tries.
The investigator confirms Lydia is right in the eyes of the law, Ryan has already been taken from his mother, and he is now in foster care. “There is a long list of wonderful couples who are desperate to adopt,” he continues. This system of taking lower-income women’s children away and giving them to “wonderful” couples amid the backdrop of piety sounds like a prototype for the handmaid system. Lydia is elated by it.
The flashback ends with Noelle confronting Lydia in the school hallway. Her son has been taken from her and she won’t even have a trial for six weeks. Lydia claims she’s protecting Ryan, but it’s clear she is being spiteful. Noelle is dragged away screaming and Jim walks away from Lydia with disappointment in his eyes. Lydia Clements is, as always, alone.
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