Handmaids Tale, Season 2: SPOILERS / VIEWING AHEAD OF UK SREENING

[Aridane]

I'm starting a thread for those of us watching Season 2 and who want to discuss ahead of its screening in the UK.

So far I've watched the first 3 episodes.

God the 1st episode was grim.

Anyone else dreading next episode?

Yes me. I want to see it but it makes me so angry.

I am. But I'm holding out hoping that things aren't as bad as the preview makes them appear.

I was assuming that June's commencing labour or the birth of the baby would be the last episode, but we have three to go.

I have no idea who the people in the pool are. I know the scene will happen, but no one has said that those poor people are major characters. It could be some random people in a scene to further show the monstrosity of Gilead. Perhaps a 'public execution' to terrify the public at large (or the Waterford household) that is witnessed by some of the major characters.

I can't see the picture large enough to judge the legs of the woman as I can't find it online, just the picture of it posted to the thread. But remember that publicity pictures are often staged using models rather than actual cast members.

Turning into a demented person here lol. Been trying to find any mention of Nick in series 3 and can't find any. There's an article speculating and they name the ones they're assuming are in it - the Waterford's, June, The Martha, aunt Lydia etc etc...,but no mention of Nick. As another poster said, the scene Max mentions in the last episode could be just a flashback 😔. Crumbs I hope not!

I have to say it: I think they'll be making a huge mistake if they kill off Nick. The romance between him and June is the only thing that's kept me watching sometimes - in the midst of all the horror it helps to have something human and real - and some hope that they can survive it. Without that it's just another horror story of doom and grim emptiness. I couldn't watch June endure that.

I'm just hoping they haven't and we can keep hoping that June and Nick will get their baby in the end and be together. What are apocalypses for if not to show that humanity can overcome brutality? That love is ultimately a stronger force for good than selfishness.

Otherwise, watching this show cut so close to modern women's bones over and over again will just make me bitter and suspicious of politics, and men, and the world. I need some hope that things will get better, not a nightmare vision of where we might be heading.

God, this show gets under your skin, doesn't it?

Am I the only one who hopes that June and Luke end up together (with Hannah of course)??

I don’t think June will end up with Luke or Nick. Both will hold too many bad memories for various reasons. I think she’ll have the kids (hopefully) and be friends with them both but that’s it.

I don’t know how you would choose between the two. Luke she will always love and they are tied together with Hannah but Nick was there in such hard times and have her something to be happy about and enjoy and again, they too will have a child together. I think if you couldn’t choose you would be with neither.

I think, if they all escape of course, that it would be extremely difficult for June to have a relationship with either. Luke could never understand the trauma she’s endured whereas her and Nick have a unique bond over their time in Gilead but it would be hard to sustain a ‘normal’ relationship.

Saying that, I think June’s heart currently lies with Luke. She is with Nick because he’s the only source of affection in Gilead, her only, the only option of you like. She hasn’t replied when he’s said I love you.

June told nick she loved him and needed him when she told him to slept with Eden.

I think they're going to kill him off so there won't be a conflict of love interests.

Nice and neat.

But I don't think she'll end up with Luke, either. I think they'll end up as friends. Or he'll get executed, too.

I'm hoping June, Hannah, the baby and Serena make it to Canada once they've had the Commander done in.

Does anyone think we'll have a scene with June reuniting with Hannah this season?

After the clip with Serena holding June as they raped her she won’t be helping June get away. She wants that baby. Her priority is herself.

Ophelia I hope she ends up with Luke, too. I think that's who she truly loves and that what she feels for Nick is based on her position as a captive. She is clinging to him as her lone source of 'security' and comfort. Almost like Stockholm Syndrome, but the object is a fellow 'captive' rather than the captor.

And I think Nick knows this. The way she wept and thanked him for bringing him the news that Luke was alive and well showed him that she still loves Luke.

IIRC, didn't June seduce Nick in order to become pregnant at the 'suggestion' of Serena Joy?

Nah not seduced. Nick was told to impregnate her and June had no choice... They tried, awkwardly, then got to know eachother in secret.

I think Serena's clinging to the idea of a baby, and that's the only thing keeping her compliant. I wonder if something happens to shatter that delusion and wake her up?

The man in the pool photo has high soles on his shoes, and I read that Nick's actor wears raised soles as he is short.

I read that water technicians are credited in episode 11 and 12 and Nick has a scene with June in 13 (although could be a flashback obv)

Eden's dad and brother are on the cast list in episode 12 I think, one of the later episodes. Come to plead for her??

The Bible quote suggests drowning is a punishment for harming children so I wondered if the violent rape was exposed the Waterfords might be punished?

I'm assuming that Serena will stay alive though as her actress said she is in season 3, and they would be daft to lose such a riveting character.

The pair are descending in the video clip though so they might be pulled out before dying??

I like Nick's character and I hope he survives.

I hope it doesn't lead to a Love Triangle though as I think that would be diminishing the series. If June escapes I think neither of her relationships would work in the real world tbh. Too much has happened for her to resume with Luke as before.

I still think Nick and Eden in that pool is too obvious. This show likes to keep each episode open ended so that it can go anyway and it likes to take the viewer in one direction before abruptly changing to another, an example being the early escape episodes when it seemed like she would escape and then suddenly wasn’t. I don’t think they would release this image if it gave anything of the plot away.

There is no romance between Nick and June ! He raped her on the command of Serena then decided he liked it and went back for more!! Im sure he does have some sympathy and pity for June and some connection to the baby which is why he helped her escape but to me he is no better than the other men in Gilead

And after being Incarcerated in Gilead for 6-8 years i don't think June even knows what love is anymore she probably has some form os Stockholm Syndrome towards Nick and Fred but that's about it

Is it as long as 6-8 years? I am lost on the timeline.

I didn't think it was as many as 8 years?

But I do keep forgetting that she was another Commander's handmaid before being places with the Waterfords. It's never mentioned. I wonder if they'll delve into that at some point.

On the last epsiode the doctor in the hospital said he knew the Martha from a convention in 2012 if Gilead was formed right after that it makes it 6 yrs old but the principles of Gilead were in practice well before they over threw the government and killed them all

I don't think it can be as long as 6-8 years maybe more like 4?
Hannah was in school when the government was overthrown so she can't have been you get than 4 and when June sees her from the car she doesn't looks much older than 8 maybe 9.

The pair are descending in the video clip though so

Is there a link to this video? I’ve only seen the still and the preview for next week on hot vod.

Praisebe Was it not June who went to nick? I’ll be honest I think I’ve slightly forgotten how them two happened. I remebe the passionate scene and actually enjoying sex rather than being raped, but I can’t quite remeber how it came about. I thought June went to him.