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.

I agree flamingo. I think the Serena breastfeeding scene was set up to be creepy, but she was just clutching at straws to comfort the baby.

I didn't find that creepy either, but have seen lots of others say they did. I saw her as desperate to comfort 'her' baby. She's a character who I struggle to have any sympathy for after the last ceremony, but it was desperation and pain that I saw in the scene.

Think Serena was hoping for a miracle (which never came) attempting to feed Holly. Interestingly, June’s feeding was not on camera, more private and intimate; dreadful scenario nonetheless.

I guess though I can’t help but wonder about adoption and the like - because the show is making it seem like birth Mum is the only way of being a mum?

I'm an adopted child and it never occurred to me that they were trying to actually say anything about adoption. The 'bio mum is best' shit is simply a way to move the story forward between June and Serena.

@bobbygentry I figured that was possibly down to the actress and comfort of showing/perceiving to show their breasts on TV. Not sure if Serenas was a fake or not, something looked off about it.

In a place that doesn't allow science to improve human existence, it makes sense they'd insist on breastmilk and pumping if the wife doesn't allow the bio mum to nurse.

In the real world we have formula, milk donation and wetnursing.

Mind you, wetnursing is as old as time.

Russian trailer is out...episode 13 looks exciting!
www.reddit.com/r/TheHandmaidsTale/comments/8wa5t5/spoiler_s2e13_russian_trailer_for_episode_13_is/

@acrossthepond55 it’s interesting to hear different opinions. This review is interesting: www.vox.com/culture/2018/7/4/17514056/the-handmaids-tale-season-2-episode-12-recap-postpartum-eden

The Russian trailer fits in with the description in the leaked episode 13 summary I linked above in Reddit, if anyone else can't wait.

Wow it looks like 13 will be an intense exhausting episode... And then a long wait for season 3. Anyone know when 3 will be ready?!

Anyone know when 3 will be ready?! Barring unforeseen circumstances season 3 is expected to be released in April 2019.

@Helloflamingogo Thanks for the linked review! You're right, people do have differing opinions. I was interested in what Todd says re bio motherhood (as he is also adopted). I would really enjoy being able to talk to him and other adoptees about HMT and 'only bio motherhood is 'real' motherhood' as a plot device. I think it would be interesting to know the number of adopted children who feel affected by this plot device.

As a plot device, I'm unaffected. I've seen it posted 'as wisdom' on MN threads and just think 'fuck off, ignorant cunt'. But if someone was to say it to me IRL, I'd be livid.

It’s an interesting one - I should probably say, I have no kids and won’t be able to have them which i think is why it gets my hackles up. It made me feel “better” that I wasn’t the only one who wasn’t quite sure about it when I read that review.

That’s almost a year away

I didn't see it as the bio mum is best - you'd have to be a few screws loose to believe that. I read it more as bio mum is a surrogate, legal mum is unable to feed but baby needs milk. Baby cries. Legal mum witnesses a traumatic experience involving a child and decides to put baby first instead of her feelings. Bio mum is permitted to feed.

Once it's filtered through the fucked up hierarchy in Gilead, Serena's choice makes perfect sense. I guess if you view it in tandem with Janine's story there's a (very weak) argument for saying bio mum is best, but only because Charlotte's legal mum couldn't bond with her.

Using the term legal here in the loosest sense, obvs.

I read the spoilers and now I really regret it.

Does anyone know why they won't use a wet nurse or formula milk?

Other than to move June back into the house for the purpose of the storyline?

I can't wait for next week. And season 3. This show could go in so many directions.

Well the handmaid would be the wetnurse, essentially. Gilead doesn't recognise handmaids as mother's - the wives become mothers.

Formula, like the pill, reading and consensual sex, is freedom. It's not "God's way". Plus all the female characters are supposed to have lots of time on their hands so they are free to perform their womanly duties. They're just baby makers and baby havers.

Aren’t wet nurses women who’ve had children recently themselves though? So there aren’t really that many around only other handmaids that gave birth.

*Does anyone know why they won't use a wet nurse or formula milk?

Other than to move June back into the house for the purpose of the storyline?*

Yes it does feel like a plot device to get her back to the Waterford's.
Although... I can see that in Gilead those in power wouldn't give a stuff about Serena feeling unhappy about June being there. Why make everyone's life difficult to please a Wife? Why should a woman have a preference that is about her own wellbeing rather than her baby's?
In a way I'm surprised Serena was indulged here.

Not using formula fits in with Gilead thinking women are there to produce and care for babies, unless there was zero breast milk available they would insist that a woman somewhere feeds that baby.

I guess with all the handmaid deaths recently other families will be reluctant to loan their lactating handmaid to wet nurse June's baby, esp when Fred is not that popular.

But I am bored of June escaping then returning to the Waterford's tbh. I would really like to see a shift and her live somewhere else.

Here is the Israeli trailer - a bit more spoilery than the Russian one. Oh Serena

m.youtube.com/watch?v=AURUSjKcz8g

Awesome trailer
Really satisfying
"Lock her up like an orchid" - great line

And they slo-mo’d the slaps

A bit spoilery - but glad to see Eden continues to surprise us next episode

Me too - praise be.

And you thought I was going to be a snitch, reporting Nick for the letters / gender traitorism / an affair with Offred, or telling on the handmaids for using their own names? How wrong you all were

Where can I see the development with Eden?

These commanders are so bloody arrogant aren't they? Expecting their wives to just stop and fall in line. The wives have the potential to be the undoing of Gilead.