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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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7
BG2015 · 16/05/2018 21:53

We're watching it via Kodi.

Praisebe · 16/05/2018 21:56

Its saying no streams are available on mine Confused will re load and try again

AcrossthePond55 · 16/05/2018 22:03

Just watched #5. I think at first June wanted to miscarry, not wanting her child to be raised in Gilead and seeing no way out in her despairing and 'brainwashed' state. But after her suicide attempt she got 'herself' back and is now determined to get herself and her child out.

As far as the colonies, I agree that a pick and a shovel isn't going to do much good against radiation contaminated soil. I think it's a place of punishment, and also serves as a good 'threat' to those women who might step out of line.

Serena Joy is trying to shove than rebellious spirit down and is finding it more and more difficult. You could see it in her reaction to Aunt Lydia saying that being able to write 'was a burden to bear' and when she was trying to counsel the child bride about sex being pleasurable for women.

My wildest fantasy is Serena Joy, June, and the new child bride making a run for Canada together. But as with most of the episodes there are so many things that could happen that you can't figure out in which direction it will go.

I wish they'd give more back story to the 'Aunts'; how they came into being and how a woman 'qualified' to be one. It appears to be a position of some 'status' and even a bit of 'power'. Even the Cmdr and Serena Joy don't want to piss Aunt Lydia off. (Obvs I haven't read the book)

Praisebe · 16/05/2018 22:09

I reckon Aunt Lydia used to be a woman of power before maybe she was a spy for them inside congress or something or a judge. Whatever it was she's used to having power

MynameisJune · 16/05/2018 22:12

@acrossthepond I agree about Serena Joy, you could see it when she got pissed at June being subservient on their walk. She actually wants the old June back, and yes I think is struggling to keep her true self hidden. I hope she finds Fed feminist side and they do make a break for it, or even better bring Gilead down between them.

HamAndTomato · 17/05/2018 12:20

She was certainly losing a lot of blood for somebody who didn’t miscarry. I liked it when she said to the bump - “you’re tough, aren’t you”. Even in that hospital room she had to hide under the blanket to escape the look of the guard.

BlessedBeTheFruitCake · 17/05/2018 13:02

Just watched the 5th episode now. Honestly thought she'd lost the baby, she seemed resigned to the fact she had too.

How old are the New brides? They looked young maybe early teens.

TheBadgersMadeMeDoIt · 17/05/2018 14:16

I wouldn't be surprised if Aunt Lydia came from a rather ordinary role in pre-Gilead times. She reminds me of someone I used to work with, who always thought rather a lot of herself and was frustrated at not commanding the respect and adulation she felt she was due. When she finally managed to reach a position of responsibility it went right to her head and she became an insufferable battleaxe.

I reckon Aunt Lydia was a midwife or school teacher, but always felt she was destined for something greater. There is something of the bossy hospital matron/ Miss Trunchbull about her.

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Aridane · 17/05/2018 14:50

I thought she was losing the baby and was keeping it quiet as basically that would be a death sentence for her.

As regards the young bridges, I think in the book the mass weddings were for 13 - 14 year olds. It's something that's alluded to in passing

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Aridane · 17/05/2018 14:50

Young brides, not bridges

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MynameisJune · 17/05/2018 15:04

I took it that she thought she was losing the baby and knew that it would mean either punishment or back to the whole rape ritual so she was keeping it quiet. And then when she realised that she had lost Nick to his bride it was too much and it wasn’t worth living through. Hence the suicide attempt.

SerenaOverjoyed · 17/05/2018 18:16

I found the 'miscarrige' a bit frustrating. I thought a piece of media would finally portray miscarriage, but I feel they chickened out. I love handmaids tale but this felt a bit off

Praisebe · 17/05/2018 18:51

I wonder what they do to handmaids who miscarry ? Is it deemed murder or there fault because they wanted it or some other bollocks

MayLeaveADentInYourSofa · 17/05/2018 20:21

Is the Commander now suspicious of Nick? Does he know that Nick is the father and suspects him to have helped June escape?

I think the ladies in the colonies are on the brink of fighting back. They will probably all end up dead, but they are dying anyway.

I am enjoying this season more than season 1. Season 1 was shocking as it set the scene for how things work in Gilead. This time it is more gripping because we know the bubble is going to burst, somehow.

Praisebe · 17/05/2018 20:24

Serena told Fred he wasn't the father so Fred will have known she went to Nick as the only other male in the house she could speak to. The Wives aren't allowed to consort with other men outside the home AFAIK. I think i know what happens to Nick but don't want to spoil it if i turn out to be right or wrong

Praisebe · 17/05/2018 23:46

Finally managed to watch episode 5 online since Kodi is down on my tv for some reason. Wow i can't believe nicks bride is so young i knew he was getting married off but i didn't realise they did it that young she's like 15 Shock if the promos are anything to go by it won't end well for them

HamAndTomato · 18/05/2018 01:32

There is a bit in the book about the child brides. I think they are meant to be early teens. Basically as soon as their periods start they would be seen as suitable to marry off and get pregnant as soon as possible, with the declining levels of fertility in the story.

Child brides - yet another Handmaids Tale detail that is a current and ongoing problem in our world. Not an invention of Gilead, not by a long shot.

Praisebe · 18/05/2018 04:01

I found it sad how she couldn't talk to Serena she just recited what she had been taught to say I think it got to Serena too. Where did she come from ? She mentioned a mother and coming from a small town could she be a stolen child of a handmaid or have her parents farmed her out to be married off ? So bizarre

Battleax · 18/05/2018 09:29

She said her mother had brought her down from the family farm four miles north and then had to rush to catch the return bus. Who knows how much of that is belief and how much is coercion.

QuackPorridgeBacon · 18/05/2018 22:42

I thought the bride was very young. I’m hoping at least sixteen. Any younger (and I know it happens) and I will feel sick. They lived in the modern world and have modern sciences, they will know about the pelvis not being strong enough or fully developed until on average, sixteen years of age. I really hope nick doesn’t do anything with her, I know he has to keep up appearances but I hope he holds off. Serena seems like she is really annoyed at the way things are and I agree she is way too intelligent for all of this. Another thing that really pisses me off is the woman who has Janines baby, is so cold towards her and clearly doesn’t seem like she can parent. I know everyone has to learn but she doesn’t seem to be coping ok with it all. And Serena is picking up on it. It’s a very good show and I hate having to wait a week between episodes. Plenty of time to reflect and analyse though. My partner watched this episode with me and I asked him what did he think? His response, “not my cup of tea.” I get it though but I said he’s not meant to enjoy it as such but it’s meant to open his eyes lol He’s a good guy and listens to me rant and isn’t sexist at all, I think maybe starting to watch it so far into the show hasn’t helped.

TheBadgersMadeMeDoIt · 20/05/2018 10:03

I very nearly was sick when the veils were lifted and I saw those little girls' faces. I'd be surprised if any of them were over 14.

And you're right about Serena picking up on Naomi's failure to bond with Janine's baby. She can see everything that's wrong with the society she helped to create, including the fact that no woman can adjust to motherhood when she was present at (and complicit in) the child's conception through rape. She will not be able to bond with June's child. She wants to be a mother, but she's so conflicted because of her own suppressed values.

carol1234568 · 21/05/2018 20:03

I was a bit lost last episode - what happened to June and why was she in hospital? She was bleeding but didn't miscarry did she?

BG2015 · 21/05/2018 20:10

No she was talking to the baby at the end.

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Aridane · 22/05/2018 00:08

She tried to kill herself after Praygavanza bulk wedding and was taken to hospital

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Praisebe · 22/05/2018 04:21

No she didn't Hmm she started to suffer a bleed but because she has been so abused her mind just shut down and she accepted what was happening until the bleed got so bad she collapsed where Nick found her. I think she was delirious or something to have ended up in the garden like that she must have been trying to find Nick to get him to help her.