Are there any bad men in the Handmaid's Tale

The OPs viewpoint might have been more pronounced earlier in the series definately. There were a lot of men hero’s at the start

I've not even started the second series and I get where the OP was coming from even on the basis of the first series alone. It's a whole lot less nuanced than the book (for obvious reasons, not least not being in the protagonist's head ) and then after it I saw men calling Rad Fems who didn't agree with them on the trans issue "Aunt Lydia" and posting gifs of the stoning scene.

This is the impression they were walking with from the 1st series, never having read the book.

loopsdefruit There is another thread that is with American timing.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/telly_addicts/3239228-Handmaids-Tale-Season-2-SPOILERS-VIEWING-AHEAD-OF-UK-SREENING

Slanetylor That’s where I’m watching it. On RTE. I’m in the north though.

Episode 8 on in Ireland tonight!! I’ve just realised that we’re ahead so things might be a bit clearer to me too. Sorry.
The OPs viewpoint might have been more pronounced earlier in the series definately. There were a lot of men hero’s at the start.

I almost want a thread for this show running at the American time, cause it's just so intense!

Battle No worries, I'm always very wary of accidentally spoiling so I'm weirdly overcautious

Battleax I do know, but not sure if that's aired in the UK yet.

Ah, sorry, I assumed that’s what was being referenced with “child rapist”.

I found the book to be an awful lot about how big the role of collaborators was rather than those in power. It annoyed me, though I on reflection I do think that it is seriously important to consider the role of collaborators in historical events.

That's what I like most about the book.

No evil dictatorship can survive without collaborators, the Mitläufer.

That's why some of the most striking and shocking political moments on film, are the fall of dictators: Ceaucescu, Saddam, Gadafi - the shock, the disbelief as it dawns on them that their power is gone. They've always been able to rely on the collaborators and suddenly they're not there anymore. Their power is revealed to be completely and totally dependent on everyone else around them. When everyone else decides to withdraw their compliance, they're finished, as though the power was never really there. It's an awesome sight to witness, in the true sense of the word.

It's a mystery as to how we can fix it, so that everyone else doesn't comply in the first place. I think that's a large part of what the book is examining. We don't yet know how we can raise a population that can be trusted not to comply with wicked dictatorships. It's well worth obsessing on.

See I’m confused at times because I’m in the uk, watching on sky and only a day behind America.

If Nick didn't sleep with his wife, he'd be strung up as a homosexual. His wife would have seen to it, because she wants to be pregnant.

Pratchet Shit, was my comment a spoiler? If it is I can have it removed.

ThisisSparta Don’t be sorry, it’s no ones fault except slightly my own for being trusting and the guy who did it. Thank
You though.

differentnameforthis I think that’s a bit harsh really. Given the whole basis of the show and his life being on the line, he had to do it and she seemed more than willing. Due to being brainwashed obviously but still willing and each basically doing their role. He clearly didn’t want to though.

I don't want to spoil anything for anyone who isn't watching on the US schedule (episode 8 just aired there), but things do get much more complicated as the series goes on.

I even felt myself growing to feel sorry for Serena, and the commander has become a lot worse.

Battleax I do know, but not sure if that's aired in the UK yet.

Battleax Yes, she is 15.

Do we know how old the young bride is yet?

It's showing up how collaborators go along with a regime - such as the holocaust; I'm sure there were many many folk who didn't embrace the nazi regime but went along with it, did the jobs they were assigned to do because the alternative wasn't really an alternative at all.

I've read the book and followed the series and it's clear to me that the women - even those in positions of some influence and power are basically puppets for the faceless (and I think that's deliberate) powers-that-be.

Nick: lovely rescuer child rapist

I must admit I don't find any of the main male characters particularly heroic or even likeable. In particular, I took Fred's discomfort during the ritual rape scene to be because his wife was there, not because he disliked raping June. But he has to put up with his wife to an extent because without collaborators the regime wouldn't survive.

I must admit I read the book years ago and didn't really like it that much. I found the book to be an awful lot about how big the role of collaborators was rather than those in power. It annoyed me, though I on reflection I do think that it is seriously important to consider the role of collaborators in historical events.

So I guess what I'm saying is that although the series may cause some people to focus on the violence and cruelty of the women, so might the book.

Interesting point op, but I have to disagree.

I have to agree with anyfucker if you don't get it, you probably never will.

I really hate it when people say it's all fantasy, would never happen bla bla.

Just because all of these things aren't happening right now to white American women.

They are happening in the world now.

S2 E8
And there you go, Fred shows his true colours.

Mic drop

*handmaidens

My sister said the show is brilliant, very thought provoking. I'm going to start watching later, it's been on my to do to list for ages, (so has reading the book).

I think when we watch a show, our own knowledge and views change how we percieve the plot, and how we relate to the characters. Look at the pp whose 30 year old son, didn't think parts that have actually happened irl are believable.

Abortion campaigners in Northern Ireland, have taken to dressing as haindmaidens when they protest.