The Handmaid's Tale

[CoolCarrie]

Is on tonight, Sunday 9.00 - 10.15 Channel 4 ! Part 1 of 10 parts

Yes, MA said everything in that book actually happened somewhere at some point. She just put it all together.

America today, with Trump and his equally stupid and misogynistic cronies, would probably welcome this kind of thing. Controlling women and putting them in their place.

Maybe it is explored later on in the series but, is there a "purpose" for this new kind of society? Is that explained why they have re-arranged society in this way?

Because pollution, amongst other things, has led to a decline in the birth of healthy children. And also because right-wing, religious fruit loops (controlling men) decide that their twisted version of the bible is better for society (women) than the way things were.

Ah ok. I was wondering what that woman was talking about in the classroom when she was talking about poisons and showing slides of babies. I wasn't sure what had happened.

I was really impressed by tonight's episode. Horrible to watch obviously but it's my favourite book ever - if that's the right way to describe it. I was a bit nervous about watching in case it was a let down but it really wasn't. Offred was perfectly portrayed I thought.

The woman who is playing offred, I don't know her name but I saw her in top of the lake and a couple of other things. She is an amazing actress. I was really pleased to see she was playing this part because even without knowing the story I knew she would do it justice.

Just googled, Elizabeth Moss.

Watched this with OH tonight after much anticipation. So glad it's on C4 as was worried it wouldn't be available in UK as no Hulu. One of the best books I've ever read and that feeling of apprehension and fear that this type of regime is not entirely fictional has never left me. Found the first episode to be an excellent adaptation and can't wait for the rest. The only minor thing is (and it's merely an observation not a grumble) that The Commander and Serena Joy are much younger and prettier than I envisaged from the book. I had imagined a late middle-aged couple who had been attractive in their youth but that SJ was baron due to age more than anything else. I also imagined the Commander to be greyhaired and to wear a military style uniform. I think in my head that made it all the more sinister somehow. Roll on next week...

Totally get the idea that everything that's happening has or is actually happening in some parts of the world but not the impregnating handmaidens bit?

Well, the impregnating handmaidens bit is from the bible. But the USA allows paid surrogates, which are effectively the same thing.

That is, a rich couple take a poor woman without many options in life, and pay her to have a baby for them.

Yes ok but that's for adoptions. They don't actually rape them. See what you mean though.

Margaret Atwood said she also got material from Mormonism and the polygamist Mormons currently living in Arizona. Although I doubt a young girl would be held down by the first wife while raped by her elderly but powerful "husband", certainly the dynamic is there.

I thought it was a great first episode, it really made me think.

I wondered though, why not use artificial insemination? Do they explain that later? Is it just that they hate women that much?

why not use artificial insemination

Because it's about more than reproduction. The men also want power and control over the women.

Ah Lostgarden that makes sense. I've never read the book, and now I never can because I watched the tv show first.

Ah Lostgarden that makes sense. I've never read the book, and now I never can because I watched the tv show first.

It's also because they're going back to 'traditional' ways, like in the Bible, and artificial insemination is 'science', which they're trying to get away from.

They also use birthing stools and no pain relief. The twats.

Not read the book (I think!) though I'm aware of what it's all about - great acting in this series.

If you google watch a handmaids tale you can find 7 episodes on a site with solar in the web address