The Handmaid's Tale Season 2 (UK Pace) - thread 3

[CruCru]

Hi all

Here is the next thread for those who are watching The Handmaid's Tale Season 2 on Channel 4. Please don't put any spoilers on this - the other thread (for those in other countries who are watching ahead of the UK) is:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/telly_addicts/3239228-Handmaids-Tale-Season-2-SPOILERS-VIEWING-AHEAD-OF-UK-SREENING

Would that be Canada getting the wrong information, or are they being given names of those already dead on purpose to hide those they still have?
I've just caught up. When they were giving out the names I assumed they were made up or completely random - why would Gilead bother to tell Canada the correct names if they didn't even use their real names at the funeral?

I also think Luke will have an affair with Almost Mute Former Handmaid. I think I said so upthread but that might have been on another forum.

glamorousgrandmother there are informers within Gilead passing info to Canada. We don't know who they are yet.

here are informers within Gilead passing info to Canada. We don't know who they are yet.

Ah, OK. I sometimes miss chunks of conversation because it's so whispery. I might try the subtitles.

Much better with subtitles on!

Curbside.. How do we know there are informers?

The woman from the embassy spoke about "our people within Gilead". It isn't clear whether that is MayDay or not.

I am just watching now and just heard that bit...

Just checking in. I love Samira Wiley! Just watched Sundays episode and sobbed for Moira. She mentioned Odette once back in season one and I never really clocked who that could be. She's been grieving for a long time

What I find fascinating is how June and Serena despite all odds are finding they have things in common. This was apparent at June's little gathering with the handmaids that Serena had arranged . June had nothing to say to the handmaids but her and Serena found themselves reminiscing about a cafe they used to go to . Again, they're both intellectuals and into writing - Serena was a writer , June an editor . And they're both strong willed and are victims of the commander.

To be fair, the actor who plays Nick is 32. He is a proper adult - it’s just that he is younger than the Commanders.

Nicks 32, I’m 32. It’s fucking fate I tell ya!

Because of the letters etc that were to be passed on by June and the Martha. Also people escape, and those escapees can name some of the pictures.

Sorry that was to jellybean

June and Moira's friendship seems so much stronger and healthier than anything Luke and June had.

Awoman I know Max Minghella's aunt...

Set it up flighty!

I had wondered how Moira's fertility had been established so that at least sorts that out for me.

his absence that has introduced a more equal dynamic and the possibility of an alliance. It feels very fragile, but holds promise.

And it's going to be to both Serena and June's advantage to make it work. Either one of them could easily drop the other in it, but it would be much harder to do it without bringing themselves down at the same time. They're going to have to be so careful around Eden, though.

I wonder just how untouchable Nick is?

I wonder if Eden is her real name, or if all the brides were given new biblical names just before the marriage ceremony...? Although as someone said up thread, it appears she has been brought up in a very conservative Christian household, so maybe that is her name.

Well, Serena kept her name. Eden hasn’t been found guilty of any of the transgressions - so it probably is her real name. Particularly as her mother came to the marriage ceremony - she would know her by her name.

"I wonder just how untouchable Nick is?"

I think Nick is probably more touchable (so to speak and not in the way some on this thread would like ) now his Commander is dead.

From what Serena managed to get away with, Fred seems to be the highest Commander in Gilead now.

She's set Commander Creepy up with papers signed by "Fred" so if Fred has the power to do that, he's got to be very high up, especially now so many other Commanders are also dead who might have been higher than Fred in status already or had they survived.

Nick can hardly start reporting to Fred when he's been reporting on him, so unless there's someone else who he already knows is high up and trustworthy, I think he's more vulnerable now.

Eden obviously is going to say something about the handmaids sharing their names. I think it shows the next generation with youth and blind niavity are really dangerous. However, June knows her alliance so the grocery scene seemed silly especially as she was the only wife there. Where are the others?

I don't blame Luke. He lives in a microcosm of constant reminders of greif and trauma. It is a place only consisting of victims and mourners. He didn't move on to someone else. I think he's had to focus on what he can help with ie holding Moira's hand and getting her food rather than lamenting. When everyone's upset there has to be distached ones or who would comfort who.

Ps. Also think Nick is boyish. Is this to make him seem less threatening.

I think the storyline of Luke's affair and how he treated his ex wife and his nonchalance for the bomb news is just the start of unraveling him, particularly sexist elements of his character.

I just feel Luke's closest friend is a lesbian. He genuinely cares about a woman and sex is off the table.

I can't sleep so I watched the bit again with the news of the bombing:

....Moira says, 'luke hey, where you going?'
Luke, 'Home, I'll get dinner'
Moira, 'you don't wanna know she's ok'
Luke, 'she's not ok'. -Long pause-. ' she's alive. Have faith she's alive.'
Moira, 'That's not knowing.'
Luke, -look of sadness- 'See you at home'....

Clearly he lives in limbo and the bombing could finally end that.

At this point both don't know their partners are alive or dead so a bit of hypocrisy?

When Moira says, what will I do if she's not dead. He says, welcome to my world. Is this the impetus for her decision to track down her partner.

Luke seemingly wanting to keep faith seems caring. Being dramatic at this point would make her pain his. Rather he quietly acknowledges his struggles.

It shows the contrast of not knowing because you cannot choose and not knowing because you choose. Moira is now grieving but Luke is still in the same position. Him going to get dinner shows the banality of every day interminable hope/dispair?