The Handmaid's Tale Season 2 (UK Pace) - thread 4

[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

Someone on the last thread asked for a link to the previous threads:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/telly_addicts/3216737-The-Handmaid-s-Tale-Season-2

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/telly_addicts/3269725-The-Handmaids-Tale-Season-2-UK-Pace-thread-2

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/telly_addicts/3290403-The-Handmaids-Tale-Season-2-UK-Pace-thread-3?pg=38

But at this point, he hasn't done anything 'wrong' in Gilead terms - he was just following orders.

Yes, but if it came to his word & June's against Fred's, could he prove that?

I found both rape scenes grim watching. I almost found the ritualised one of Emily worse, as it was 'condoned'. Waterford's really angry rape of June was barbaric and Serena knew it was too. They are the worst kind of human beings ever - just disgusting

This^^

Someone has just told me of a website which has all episodes available to watch I guess that's illegal?

Aaaargh. Haven't watched since episode 5 for various reasons. Spent the day in bed, injured, so thought I'd watch on my iPad. Not available. Manage to get downstairs to tv and episode 6 did not download properly and using available on catch up. What is going on? How can I watch episode 6?

Sorry for thread hijack but don't want to read any spoilers.

What will annoy me more than anything is if the series ends on a cliffhanger, to make us watch a third series. We need some kind of resolution. I feel there is no way June will be able to have a totally happy ending, so I would settle for her being with Nick and their baby, away from Gilead. Or in Canada with Luke and Hannah, less likely.

I won't mind a cliffhanger (of sorts) too much but I think there can only really be one more series to get things resolved.

They risk spoiling it if they try to go for any more than three series because so much happens in every episode that there just can't be anything left to do.

Fall of gilead? Over throw..

I think making a run for it would be mad. June is going into labour any time in a high risk pregnancy, and I doubt Nick knows how to deliver a baby even in a straightforward birth!
They have no food or other supplies, maybe no money, maybe not enough petrol, the border will be hard to negotiate even if they get that far, it's winter so freezing cold and they would leave tracks in the snow.
I wouldn't!

Refugees do all sorts of insane things to escape though, because they're so desperate. They take any slim chance.

The opportunity to escape with both my children would be overwhelming for me. I would definitely try/want Nick to have tried in June's situation.

It's not really clear if Nick does want to leave though. He loves June and wants her to be free but other than that we don't know what he thinks. If they leave together, she will want to be with Luke. Maybe he has realised that they can never be a family.

The situation with Eden has made things uncomfortable for him in Gilead but maybe he's hoping to become a Commander himself at some point.

I don’t think for one minute that nick would rather stay in gilead. I think he’s just surviving. The flashback to him finding the previous handmaid I think confirms that for me. No one can witness that and all the other things that have happened, still break the rules and believe in the regime when he actually has no power. I can understand those in power turning a blind eye even if they don’t agree because really, it doesn’t affect them too much. I’d hope that most are just scared and it’s the few that truly belive. Although, this show has surprised me before and I’m sure it will again. Every episode is shocking really.

Nick must hate Gilead . He has to accept that the love of his life is being raped routinely by his boss and he is forced to have sex with a child or else he'll be shot in the head . As soon as he had the opportunity to expose Gilead he did by passing on the letters of those women .

It was definitely Nick who was dragged into the van... I'm not sure he was actually shot though, I think they missed and then knocked him out. I couldn't see any blood which surely would stand out against the snow?

I thought June was on dangerous territory when she goaded Fred about whether he was powerful enough to move her to Hannah's district. I reckon his "treat" for her to see Hannah is partly to assauge his small guilt over raping her, but also to demonstrate his power.

This is the first episode where I have gone online to look for the next one to watch straight away, but then I changed my mind. I actually think I need a week inbetween to process each episode. No way could I binge watch this series like I do with everything else!!

Marking place

Just watched. That episode was one of the most traumatic things I've ever watched on TV I think...

I would be really unhappy if they planned to make more than 3 series. I don't want it to drift away from the original story. I also wouldn't want endless escape / capture scenarios.

I love all the subtle nuances in THT. It's really interesting to read how everyone interprets them.

Beyond harrowing.

I agree re Emily somehow to blame for killing her commander. Let's hope she gets sent to Fred next
No idea where Eden will go with her emotions next, I do feel sorry for her even though I think she will inadvertently be the downfall of someone (herself? Nick? June?)

Who else cheered when Emily stamped on the commander's crotch.
The way he was grunting like a pig was sickening.

I cheered! I loved how detached she was when he dropped down groaning... that was great.

Is Joy Serena's middle name or her maiden name?

In the book it was revealed her real name was Pam, they decided Offred had made the name Serena Joy up.

But it's her real name in the series and now I've thought of it it's annoying me.

In the book, Serena Joy was a “TV personality” - so I suppose it was a stage name.

How do you think this ends overall? I like to think that June gets out and ends up with both her children. However a more realistic ending may be with her on the Wall.

I agree re Emily somehow to blame for killing her commander. Let's hope she gets sent to Fred next 

Lets hope she doesn't 'get sent ' to Fred next

I don't think she will end up on the Wall, in the Colonies perhaps, or as a Martha. They will use her to reproduce for as long as they can. She could well be broken by the loss of the children and Nick.

I've just read in Vanity Fair that originally Fred was supposed to rape Serena in Canada and Joseph Fiennes thought it a bridge too far and successfully argued against it with the producers