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

999 replies

Aridane · 03/05/2018 12:09

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.

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Aridane · 09/05/2018 18:23

Episode 4 - who,is the hanged man June breaks down at seeing and used to drive a bakers van?

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AcrossthePond55 · 09/05/2018 19:15

It was the man who picked her up on her escape to take her to the safe house, then took her to his home instead when the safe house became unsafe. The place she stayed with the family. Remember they left for church and didn't come back so she took off for the airstrip.

He was hung, his wife was turned into a Handmaid, and their child was given away to another family.

I thought Episode 4 was good (although upsetting). It showed that although they couldn't break her spirit based on punishing her directly, they could break her spirit based on her guilt for what happened to the others who helped her or stood with her against punishing Janine.

I do think she's broken, I don't think it's a ruse on her behalf. Where is goes from here is anybody's guess.

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Aridane · 09/05/2018 19:19

Thank,you, across - can’t believe I missed that. Poor man.

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Fiderer · 09/05/2018 19:41

As we're posting ahead of the UK air dates - hope this is Ok to say. If you haven't watched episode 4 then, spoiler.

I'm pretty sure he was the man who took her in, then he and his family didn't come back so June left for the airfield herself. The family obviously got caught and that's why the airfield escape failed. Aunt Lydia said the wife had been made a handmaid (I think) and the boy taken away.

Fiderer · 09/05/2018 19:47

x-posts Grin

Although not much to grin at. Poor June. That last scene with her outside.

OohMavis · 09/05/2018 21:32

They broke her! Sad

MynameisJune · 09/05/2018 21:33

Just watched it. Agree that she is broken and it’s not a ruse. The reality of what is going to happen to her baby has set in as well. It’s easier to forget than think about it.

I’m not sure where they are going from here at all.

OohMavis · 09/05/2018 21:44

Me neither. What's going to happen?

I think there may be another rescue attempt that she'll refuse to cooperate with...

Or something happens to the Commander during a post to Canada (he was asking about a promotion or something during the clay shooting)

Maybe the Commander himself will do something or get involved somehow.

I have to say the actress who plays Serena is amazing. She's cold, calculated yet you completely believe her pain. This series has some brilliant actors.

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Aridane · 09/05/2018 21:50

Yes - would be interesting to learn more about Serena. But it is the handmaid’s tale...

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MynameisJune · 09/05/2018 22:15

There has been a preview on TV with what appears to be Serena’s backstory. So I think we find out more about her.

They’ve done brilliantly carrying on the storyline so far. Makes me wonder is Margaret Atwood has notes for a potential second book that never happened.

Praisebe · 10/05/2018 00:01

Im still waiting for Kodi to catch up with GMT time so i can watch episode 4 but enjoying reading this in the meantime

AcrossthePond55 · 10/05/2018 00:22

I agree. I have no idea where the storyline is going to go after this! There are so many possibilities.

Now I have a question....during the scene where June was sitting on the stairs and the various handmaids were walking by, did she or did she not say 'Ofglen?' to one as she walked by? The last we heard Ofglen she went to the Colony.

AcrossthePond55 · 10/05/2018 00:28

Never mind. Figured it out. She was speaking to Ofglen 2.

Praisebe · 10/05/2018 00:37

Was Ofglen Emily ? And Janine was Ofwarren and then Ofdaniel ? I get confused by their slave names

lexiewrites · 10/05/2018 01:11

Praisebe, yeah Ofglen was Emily and then there was a second one and Janine as you said was ofwarren and then ofdaniel

So pleased to have found this conversation as I'm streaming season two as well, looking forward to watching episode four in the morning.

lexiewrites · 10/05/2018 01:14

@MynameisJune I read that Margaret Atwood did have notes/ideas for a second book. Love that she is involved in the making of it despite quite major changes such as Luke and Emily's stories.

Battleax · 10/05/2018 13:17

Ive just watched the first four back to back. It’s draining isn’t it?

Praisebe · 10/05/2018 18:24

Have they actually broken her or is she faking it ? I find it repulsive how the commander wives fake pregnancy like that its so creepy to watch them talk about it as if its there pregnancy

Battleax · 10/05/2018 19:49

She’s in shock. She can’t remain docile for the rest of the series, can she? I don’t see how that would work for the plot.

Praisebe · 10/05/2018 19:51

Who knows she looked genuinely broken though like Aunt Lydia had actually gotten into her head with the June's fault not Offred's shite

Praisebe · 10/05/2018 19:53

I want to see more scenes involving Serena and the other wives its sad that Serena wrote a book when she is no longer allowed to read. Her beliefs have effectively made her a prisoner of her own doing

AcrossthePond55 · 10/05/2018 20:32

I think June is broken. To what degree, who knows? You can be truly and completely mentally broken and you can be mentally broken in a 'toeing the line and denying the truth because it's safer for your head right now' way (if that makes sense).

But I think that Nick may be significant in 'bringing her back'.

Praisebe · 10/05/2018 20:45

There should be something around the Childre of Gilead too like where is that place they keep Hannah and who adopts the children that are stolen since the commander wives all want babies born for them via handmaids they don't seem to adopt older children

BG2015 · 10/05/2018 22:16

Ive just watched the fourth episode. I can't believe how it affects me, I dream about it after each one.

I agree with the person who said you can't binge watch it. I was actually half dreading watching it after she very nearly escaped last week.

It's so traumatic but utterly watchable too.

OohMavis · 10/05/2018 22:23

There should be something around the Childre of Gilead too like where is that place they keep Hannah and who adopts the children that are stolen

I agree they should definitely show this!

If I remember correctly, in the book, the girls that are taken are married off to men of rank when they come of age. They're called Daughters.

There was a scene in the book where Offred attends a 'prayvaganza' (like a rally), and witnesses this. The girls being married off are crying and comforting eachother quietly.

I can't remember if they're separated by fertility status and some are made Handmaids and some are just econowives. There was something about it being hard for the 'first' Handmaids, but the ones who come after won't know anything different so it will be easier. Sad