Full Breakdown
Becka’s Patricide in *The Testaments* Episode 9: A Deep-Dive
5/21/2026, 1:13:12 PM
The Patricide Unfolds
The penultimate episode of Hulu’s *The Testaments* (season 1, episode 9, “Marat Sade”) follows Becka Grove (Mattea Conforti) as she learns that her father, Dr. Randal Grove (Randal Edwards), sexually assaulted her classmate Agnes MacKenzie (Chase Infiniti). After confronting him at dinner and receiving a denial, Becka later finds him alone in a bath. Armed with a pair of gardening shears, she repeatedly stabs him, killing him. Bloodied, she rushes to Agnes’s house, declares the murder a protective act, and seeks refuge.
Context: Abuse Allegations and Gilead’s Discipline
In Gilead, sexual abuse is hidden behind ritualized marriage and strict surveillance. Daisy (Lucy Halliday) publicly accuses Dr. Grove, shouting “He tried to touch me. Please protect me.” The Aunts, led by Lydia (Ann Dowd), initially plan to postpone punishment until after Grove’s daughter’s wedding.
Timeline of the Night
- Dinner: Becka confronts Dr. Grove; he denies the abuse.
- Later that night: Becka enters the bathroom with gardening shears and kills him.
- She flees to Agnes’s house, tells her “He can’t hurt you anymore.”
- Agnes calls her parents; the Eyes seize Becka.
Official Statements (Cast)
Mattea Conforti said Becka’s act is “a powerful, strong and powerful woman taking matters into her own hands” to serve justice. She described an “internal struggle” as Becka seeks “a world in which she’s doing the right thing, which may not exist in Gilead.” Conforti added she “truly did not expect” this turn.
Criticism of the Adaptation
Reviewers note the series diverges from Atwood’s novel: the book’s public Particicution of Dr. Grove is replaced by a private patricide, and Becka’s own abuse is omitted. The added romantic bond between Becka and Agnes reshapes the moral calculus of the episode.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on Dr. Grove’s conduct: Daisy claims assault, yet recaps state he did not touch her. The episode also leaves Becka’s fate after the Eyes’ capture unresolved.
Verbatim Quotes
- “He tried to touch me. Please protect me,” — Daisy
- “He can't hurt you anymore.” — Becka
- “You need help, Beck. I'm sorry. I had to tell them,” — Agnes
- “I think it shows Becka is a strong and powerful woman.” — Mattea Conforti
- “I truly did not expect Becka's character to go in the direction that she went.” — Mattea Conforti
- “I did God’s work,” — Becka
Impact and Future Developments
The scene underscores how personal vengeance can momentarily bypass Gilead’s institutional punishment, yet the rapid intervention of the Eyes reasserts state control. Becka’s capture sets up the series finale, where her fate and the broader resistance will be resolved. The outcome may also influence the series’ portrayal of resistance tactics.
