The Handmaid’s Tale Season 2

[CruCru]

I’ve just heard that this will start in the US at the end of this month but Channel 4 haven’t said when they’ll start showing it yet.

I don’t think there will be a happy ending for June, Luke and Hannah as a family. It’s been a few years, so Hannah is probably indoctrined by now. Who knows if she even remembers her parents?

Also in the latest episode, June seemed to reminisce about Luke less and the relationship between her and Nick seemed more intense in the brief few minutes.

Luke mentioned that there may be an invasion (I assume he meant into Gilead). I imagine this will be June’s escape.

One thing that I don’t understand is how June’s current baby is considered legitimate? How can Serena accept the baby, knowing it wasn’t conceived during a proper ceremony? Sex between a Handmaid and anyone else (including the Commanders if not during ceremony) is illegal isn’t it?

I found the sex scene very sad, Moira was very much in Jezebel's mode, performing a function.

I think Serena is desperately broody and will therefore do whatever it takes to get a baby.

Even if that means an illegitimate one.

I think I would be an enconowive.

It's first marriage, I've got two children with my marriage and I'm married to a man. Only thing against me would be the religion but I suppose I'd have to fake it

That's what I couldn't understand. Did she go out looking for sex but only wanted to give not receive.

Serena just wants a baby. Whether this is out of maternal drive or to shore up her position I am not sure. She wanted the baby so badly she engineered nick fathering it.
If you recall the really sad scene in series 1 when Serena tries to instigate sex for just pleasure with the commander and he is angry with her.. I thought how dreadful it must be to be devoid of all human touch or comfort. No wonder she craves a baby to hold, love, cuddle.

Plus the Wives that have babies have greater status

There is a really good video on Screen Prism on YouTube at the moment about how the Handmaids Tale is the present.

Spoiler Free I checked

Did she go out looking for sex but only wanted to give not receive.

I’m guessing she went out to have sex but when it came to it she couldn’t open herself up to receiving. She has spent the last few years being brutally punished for her sexuality and what she finds pleasurable. She has been forced to pleasure others with nothing in return. I imagine she mentally shut down that aspect of herself in order to survive what she was going through. It will take time for her to feel safe enough to allow that side of her to resurface.

I am glad a pp gave the advice to watch with subtitles. What a difference it made to following the plot with the hushed voices and mumbling.

I wondered if I would be a handmaiden given I had my first ds with ex before he left me and now married with my dc. I wonder how clear cut would it be, everyone circumstances are completely unique to each but it does make you think.

I found June quite reckless during this episode. When that guy from MayDay came to collect her, she mentioned Nick - presumably they aren’t told the names of the other people so they can’t be given up under torture. She’s put Nick at risk.

She looked out the window in the Econo flat - this put the child at risk. Plus she was flirting (a bit) with the guy - this won’t encourage the wife to protect her. She already views the Handmaids with some disgust.

When she had dressed up as an Econowife, June had her hair loose under her hat. No one else did and June’s blonde hair stood right out (a bit of a theme in Margaret Atwood). It’s proba a really small thing but it’s the sort of thing that people would notice.

@Dancingmonkey87 I think you would be a handmaid. It sounds like only first marriage is valid. Divorce is not recognised so second marriages are considered adultery and children outside of marriage = fallen woman.

Where were all the women on the train going? To work? If so, where are their children while they work? Can’t be school as girls aren’t allowed to read. So only boys at school? And men teaching them?

I love the MN pointed and detailed analysis. Nothing is safe, no stone is left unturned, not even groundbreaking telly.

I figured the women on the train were a mix of 'approved' workers, women visiting family/friends, shopping, and possibly Gilead approved activities for econowomen (prayer meetings, charity societies, etc).

In many bygone societies women of a lower social rank had much more freedom than the women of the 'aristocratic' classes. Probably because the lives of the lower women were considered of less importance.

I'm twice married and post menopausal, so I guess it would have been to the colonies with me unless they let my DH 'keep me' as an econowife. I just realized, you don't see many (if any) older women among the wives class, do you? But there are a few older Cmdrs. Hmm, I wonder if that's where they're getting the Aunts. The cast-off older wives.

I'd be an econowife - married to a man, only marriage for both of us, DCs within marriage & still fertile (technically, although getting older!). I am also Christian, although obviously not the fucked up shit in THT but I could see myself adapting & doing anything to survive & protect the DCs as much as possible.

Fucking horrendous!

When did June leave the house? She said it was after 5 when they were due back at 2. Did she stay the night or leave in the early evening?

In which case if it was the same day it’s unlikely that the econowives would be going to work or shopping (especially on a Sunday!)

Oh Noble, you are so right!

I did like blessed be the fruit loops.

Moira is obviously struggling. I wonder if she will have a breakdown.

I was quite annoyed with June. Looking out the window, looking at the map on the train, surely she could have waited until she was in the forest.

I did like the flashbacks with her and her mum. Showing how tricky mother/daughter relationships can be, but they still loved each other.

I wonder how much pressure will be put on June to reveal her mayday contacts. It will be obvious she wasn't acting alone as she wouldn't have known about the plane. I know they won't harm her as she is pregnant but they could threaten Hannah or one of the other handmaids. I suspect June is off to the colonies after the baby is born now.

I loved MA on the radio 4 programme. When he mentioned about the handmade being named as property of the commanders and she pointed out that women have been renamed after their husband's for hundreds of years.

Was it Sunday though? Or are they expected to attend church every morning before work/school?

I'm of the same thoughts as Susan. I don't think it was a Sunday. I think there are obligatory services during the week. Gotta keep up that indoctrination!

I wonder if public transport, shops etc are even open on Sundays in Gilead?

Perhaps June assumed it was Sunday as they were off to church and that was why she was worried they were so late back whereas in reality that was normal.

Oh my goodness, this is the best thing on TV for such a long time. And it just gets better and better!

Moira is traumatised about the people left behind in Gilead. That's why she can't bring herself to fully participate in the sex.

Absolutely love this, the book is my favourite, read at uni and this second series does not disappoint, Sunday can't come round quick enough

I thought June was going to escape to Canada and then they were all going to go back to Gilead to rescue Hannah. Obviously not!

I've lost sympathy with Moira now, not sure why. Perhaps because she's safe and June isn't.