The Handmaids tale

[DumbledoresArmy]

Anyone else planning on watching this at 9pm on channel 4?

Yes it's flashback

Shows how moira got away

Shazam says perpetuum mobile by penguin cafe orchestra

Thanks deaddead.

Yes thanks it made more sense at the end

Orlatina - surely 'offering to rape' someone is an oxymoron? He offered to attempt to impregnate her and she declined.

I thought this episode was rather slow, but I was moved by the solidarity shown by the other Handmaids at the end. Selena Joy really is a seething mass of repressed intelligence and fury. I almost feel sorry for her although she is horribly cruel to Offred.

Margot I think it's a very blurry line here. She is in danger pretty much whatever she does and so consent wouldn't really be willing consent and I think the dr knows that.

I'm struggling to see who are the winners under this new regime. What do they win? I assume religious men are the winners because their ideals are being played out but other than that I don't see what would make it so appealing to have the entire country live as they command. I am guessing money somehow as that is usually the end goal of all the power mad maniacs throughout history. How do they get money under this regime? Is it just that the women no longer have it and the rest of the men are so restricted that they can't earn much? Who are the people in charge and how are they benefitting. The programme is just showing me a lot of victims.

Wrt to the 'doctor', he locked the door before he "offered to impregnate" offred. This suggests (to her) that her "no" might only be a no if he decides it is. If it was an offer where her answer was given freely, he would have waited for her yes answer before locking the door.

They think they are doing Gods will. For the lower ranking men this includes a bit of glory power and revolution. Camaraderie and all belonging to the one tribe. Men do seem to like that (don't rip me for the generalisation).
In the book -sorry- June was portrayed as an Everywoman who didn't feel feminism applied to her, was embarrassed about her mothers' second wave feminism,it was all rather abstract to her.

Getting really really frustrated at the quality of the sound. I can't hear what is being said. Is anyone else having this problem? Also can't get subtitles to work....argh!

Fair enough. I think I was just seeing the term 'offering to rape' in black and white terms. It was a sinister interlude that's for sure, and I was holding my breath waiting to see how he would react to her declining his offer (not read the book).

I understand what is in it for the lower ranking men. Firstly, they aren't women so theyre already covered in that lovely sensation of gloating and smugness that they aren't being raped, forced to serve food or watch their husbands rape another woman. They have little pockets of power over others. I get that. But the guys that instigated and pushed for the regime- the top people (I assume?) what's in it for them? I don't for a second believe that the knowledge they are doing gods will is enough to satisfy them, if they even believe they are doing that. There must be something else that is rewarding enough for them to have sought this and to maintain it. It must be money but I'm struggling to see how.

Are you watching on Sky ittooshallpass (re subtitles).

I watch all dramas with subtitles these days. Cuz of the naturalistic mumbling style.

Very slow but moving episode. So did her friend manage to escape successfully then?

What are the parallels to Iran & the revolution of the 70s? All so chilling.

I'm not sure what I would be. I'm married to a divorced man, so would be a wanton woman, have a child but am now infertile. Probably off to the colonies with me.

It's ages since I read the book so I may be well out on this.

But I think the regime arose as a total control on women's fertility - so many women infertile, and a massive reduction in the number of live births. The men want to control this precious thing. They do this by control over the fertile women, giving the babies to the powerful people.

I imagine that they, like the Nazis seized the wealth of the dissenters. All those people like June & Luke, all the doctors, all the Priests, businessmen, whoever ends up hung on the wall - all their belongings goes to them. The Nazis gained incredible riches by taking the belongings/money/jewellery of the Jews.

It's power, and having the society they want that drives the regime.

Ah ok yes that makes sense. Also, do the commanders pay someone for their handmaidens? Do they have to pay a fee?

Bandeau
Without doing spoilers, you have to wait and see who the winners are

Just to add to the above:

The Christian far right in America is a frightening thing.

They really do despise women's rights, they are anti abortion, anti contraception, anti-sex before marriage, anti-LGBT. Anti- sex as a pleasurable thing almost. Puritan. They have no 'live and let live' attitude. A good example being the Surrendered Wives mentioned upthread.

Some of those Republican Senators in the US are a hair's breadth away from the Handmaid's Tale, even now, I tell you. Ever read what some of them say about rape?

Ahh thank you assigned!

Well Mike Pence is a Dinosaur denier and a creationist.

Watched tonight with my DH after me telling him about the dystopia nightmare I am actually a bit concern about

After listening to often I said I'm glad I have more than one passport. Just need to sort the kids. Always have a way out my lovelies

What's a dinosaur denier?

not often ofglen