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.

There is a preview for the next episode online where Offred has to answer questions from a male character. Does anyone recognise him as I'm not sure who he is?

I wonder if commander Waterford is killed then- leaving Serena free to rebel perhaps. I’m hoping she will join forces with June to get them all out.

Amazing ending last night - didn’t see that coming! I’d actually thought the rest of the show was a bit mediocre compared with some of the others but that was great.

I'm not watching the previews.

If you're going to discuss future episode previews, it may be a good idea to start your post with "Next week's episode SPOILERS" so those doing likewise can skip the post.

I don’t think Serena will buddy up with June.

Curious as to the story arc as there will be a season 3.

Have no idea where it’s going- each episode has come as a surprise

@HopelesslydevotedtoGu he’s called Commander Cushing. We last saw him at the shooting party with Fred and the other more senior Gilead figures. Not sure what his role is but I’m getting some very sinister vibes if the promo for episode 7 is anything to go by

Acrossthepond No. This is the spoilers thread go somewhere else if you don't want to join in

I need to watch that trailer!

AcrossthePond55

There’s another thread to discuss episodes that are in the timeframe that be U.K. are releasing them. This thread clearly states it’s a spoiler thread.

The trailer doesn't give much away - it's a very small taster.

I still can't get over the ending. I watched it twice!

Inspired by Hopelessly, I googled the trailer for the next episode to see what she was referring to.

For those that interested - eastcoast - here is the link to the trailer but also some other teasers / hints / discssuion / speculation about that episode

www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/964052/The-Handmaids-Tale-season-2-episode-7-promo-After-trailer-what-will-happen-next-Cushing

Sorry - meant to say explicitly there are potential SPOILERS in the above link

Ooh - looks good!

I didn't mean EPISODE spoilers as I'm in the US. I'm just trying to avoid previews to avoid spoilers of the next week's episode.

But carry on. I'm clearly in the minority.

Thank you Ariadne.

I'm with you Acrossthepond I hate to see trailers of what's coming next episode, I'd rather just sit down and be shocked!

If Fred is dead they may try and re-assign Offred, and the threat of taking Serena's baby away may be what finally tips her over the edge and into rebellion? A pregnant Handmaid is too good a commodity to let a widow have.

I'm actually watching in the UK, so I've only seen episode 1 of season 2, I'm reading ahead

I find the tension watching an episode unbearable, if I know what's going to happen I can enjoy watching it (if enjoy is the correct word) without almost screaming in frustration.

I don't do this with any other shows, but i find the tension in this show like nothing else. It feels like you're in this awful life with these poor women.

Sorry haven't realised some people don't watch trailers, I'm used to them popping up straight after an episode.

@hopelesslydevotedtogu my motivation for watching next weeks trailer is exactly the same as yours! I often find this show to be so brutal, shocking and disturbing that the only way I can cope with watching it is if I can brace myself for the horrors that wait in store for us each week.

Emotional torture, child brides and mass murder? Oh, it’s all fine as long as I can prepare myself

Lol, hopelessly -not only are you on a US-paced thread while watching at UK pace, you are also looking at spoilers / previews!!

The ending was amazing. My only worry is the guy nick asked for protection from offred was in there? Now what. I kind of hope the commander is dead and that jump tarts something in serena because it seems she doesn’t like who he has become, although it seems she wanted him to be more ruthless. In the flashbacks it seems he was softer and her more tough? Now he is creepy and disgusting and she seems very pained. Seeing the sheet made my partner say what the fuck, it was weird and I’m glad he did it so quickly. But I’m so annoyed for the young girl and the way she views the world now. It’s so unsettling.

Interesting thought, Auntieflo. I'm sure that TPTB in Gilead believe that children should only be raised in two parent homes. So since the baby has no biological tie to Serena Joy, if she's a widow (i.e. would be a lone mother) they may very well move Offred to a two parent family as it would be deemed 'better for the child'. Following on with that, chances are if the infertile wife of a couple should die, they'd probably just give the widower a new wife to raise the child with him.

If your surmising is correct, I'd bet this will send June and Serena Joy (and possibly Nick) on the run. And Serena knows where Hannah is!

Yes! But could they ever trust Serena?

I suppose as much as one could trust anyone they were 'on the run' with, Auntieflo. June can't trust Serena because Serena would lose all rights to the child if they were to get to Canada. Serena would want them to hide until after the child is born. Serena can't trust June for the same reason. June would want to high-tail it to Canada before the child is born so Serena can't claim it.

Just out of curiosity as I've never read the book, I wonder what the Gileadian (is that a word?) attitude is to MEN who are infertile? Are they relegated to second class citizen status or is that fact simply ignored in the 'commander class' and they are given children from parents who are considered 'undesirable'? Would the wife (if she is fertile) be given IVF or is that a 'sin'? That would be a good storyline.

And since sex is solely for procreation and not to be engaged in out of 'lust', does that mean that Fred and Serena have a celibate marriage?

On the UK paced thread, someone posted a link to this article. It’s about how The Handsmaid’s Tale is based on real life events. Quite interesting though some comparisons a bit stret. Anyhow, here’s the link - www.stylist.co.uk/books/handmaids-tale-channel-4-tv-show-spoilers-books-real-life-true-events-margaret-atwood-elisabeth-moss/130001?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=KW&kwp_0=819742&kwp_4=2809416&kwp_1=1191985