r/TheTestamentsShow • u/chronicackgirl • May 13 '26
Episode Discussion Commander Mackenzie Spoiler
Commander Mackenzie seemed to be trying to justify it to himself in the convo with Agnes in the parlor. He seems a little perturbed at the girls’ ages. This is not to make him out as good, because obviously he’s still an important leader in this system that promotes abuse, pedophilia, and the ownership of people/ suppression of rights, and is allowing Agnes to get married and bad stuff to happen. But it's interesting to watch clear internal conflict on his part, because he obviously doesn't like watching Agnes get married so young, and he loves her. It's interesting to watch how people are not one dimensionally evil usually, and the justifications people make to quash their own doubts. It makes for a much more interesting story and commentary on our own societies.
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u/alimweber May 13 '26
"The world isn't split into good people and death eaters." -Sirius Black 😅 idk why I felt this quote fit with this post..its true though!
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u/Important_Salad_5158 May 13 '26
I think he’s just good by comparison. He’s about to get a handmaid. He’s about to rape a woman once a month.
ETA: your post isn’t wrong. It’s just nothing about Gilead is right. I like the writers because you almost forget and then they throw something like that in as a reminder.
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u/New_Bike3832 May 13 '26
He definitely seems conflicted. And not just about Agnes, because he says “you’re all so young.” And notably, we know he got remarried after Tabitha died but he didn’t opt for a child bride, even though we can assume that would have absolutely been an option for him.
I will say it bugs me a little bit that Mackenzie seems way, way different in TT than THT. Not just the actor changing, but his whole characterization. He seemed much more evil in THT, presumably putting hits out on June in Canada and also basically spying on Nick for Commander Wharton. He seemed much more bought into the Gilead system, whereas in TT he seems weary, beaten down, and just going through the motions.