Aunt Lydia's Handmaid's Tale Backstory Explained 

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

anne dowd is so amazing in this role.

Lydia could have had June killed at any time. Regardless of her fertility, June was more trouble than she was valuable. Lydia kept her alive because Lydia is nothing more than a sadist and she wanted to dominate June. Lydia has no higher calling. Her words are meaningless. This is a woman who suffered humiliation pre-Gilead and her motives are basic: power and domination. She can make all the lofty speeches she wants but this woman is nothing more than a sadist.

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.

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.

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.

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

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!

Aunt Lydia reminds me of Ms. Trunchbull

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)

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!

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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 !!

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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...

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.

This video was very well narrated.

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.

I hope June can bring her daughter home

Aunt Lydia is such a great character to study.

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.

Anne Dowd: Wow. Just Wow

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

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

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

I thought that was professor Snape

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

....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

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.

Ann Dowde is so amazing one of my favorite characters ❤

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.

Thanks for fucking spoiling the second book without warning!

So excited for new series!

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

She's my favorite character.

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

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

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

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.

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

Have ya'll read THE TESTAMENTS?

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

my favourite character 🥰

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

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.

Aunt Lydia is my favorite character

I hate the character but I love her voice

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.

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

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.

Too many ads

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

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

She's giving Trunchbull 😭

Anne Dowd is brilliant!

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

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

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

Is aunt Lydia a villain or victim?!

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

She Mrs Trenchbolt's Mom

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

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

Sad

I love Aunt Lydia, we need many Aunt Lydias!

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

Call spoiler alert.

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.

Lawd she was an incel 😂

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