The handmaids tale-thread 6

[SisterNotCisTerf]

Let’s get June out of there!

Just marking my place here. Glad there's a thread to catch up with you all. Last night's thread was really spoiled by the spoilers trolls.

Can't wait until the next series now!

I wonder what's going to happen with Fred and Nick, now that Nick has finally 'risen' up against him. The Waterford household doesn't have an y allies for Fred any more! Serena and Rita and now Nick all against him.

Couple of thought I was musing over in bed. Firstly on how methods of control lead to radicalisation. Serena I think is now going to mirror the arcs of both Emily and Ofglen 2. Emily was already mayday, but ramped things up after the fgm with the car jacking, murder in the colonies, possible murder of the new commander when she returned and stabbing of AL. Ofglen 2 had her tongue cut out and bombed the Rachael and Leah centre. Serena has lost her finger and already allowed Offred and the baby to escape. Where next for her?

The other thing I thought was the fine line between terrorism and freedom fighters. How many innocent people will have been hurt or killed in last night's unrest? There certainly seemed to be a lot of fires. And how many Marthas will be sent to the wall as a result. All to save two/three lives. It's fascinating.

I meant to add, obviously it's about the bigger picture as well. But still interesting I think.

The dialogue and acting in this series has been sublime

I woke up a bit tearful this mornong

I noticed the map too - and really wanted a proper look at it. It's on the link above but you can't read what's what.

When the Waterfords went to Canada, Serena was offered an escape - was it Hawaii? And he said that the US "still exists".

... and the direction, AnyFucker. Amazing television

All of it really

Best thing I have seen on TV for AGES. Not many programmes get me so angry or invested in the characters. Will miss it hugely.

Well, it was ruined for me by the totally unrealistic ending. I do not buy for a second that June wouldn't get in the van and turn into a Terminator-type figure. Blatant set up for series 3 and really disappointing.

Might well have Game of Thrones season 8 and THT season 3 running at the same time next year. Not sure I can handle so much tension! I might not sleep on a Sunday or a Monday...

Great threads, thank you everyone. I would've missed half the significance without them

I get your point, Eglantine - I saw it coming and was shouting at the TV. God I would love to see season 3 showing the invasion and dismantling of Gilead and the comeuppance of all the fragile little men within! :D

I know what you mean Anyfucker
I probably shouldn't watch it right before bed. I lay awake for what seemed like hours mulling it all over. I feel quite emotional today.

Does anyone else feel quite angry towards those that refuse to watch it? I feel like it's required viewing to show what can happen and also could happen pretty much anywhere....
DM refuses as it's horrific. She doesn't do unpleasant in her life bubble.
Ignorance isn't good enough. She's in denial.
Or is that just my issue with her. I don't know. I'm just musing

If June does get out and they show what happens to her then it really becomes a different programme as the premise changes completely.

Agree. They did this with homeland when Brody died. It took a huge part away from the show IMO.

I agree theblacklist

I have so enjoyed this thread - last night was the first time I haven't watched the episode a few days later, couldn't risk spoilers in the press for the last ep. Was on the edge of my seat and watching through fingers.

I've been wondering though - does everyone spend much time lying on a bed singing softly to their DC and tweaking their noses in dappled light? I feel I should make more of an effort in case something bad and huge happens politically and we get separated for a few years...

I entirely understand her decision to stay in Gilead.
CL emotional detachment to Emily was merely plot device. So we were kept guessing to the end about whether he would help her or not.
I still find it hard that Nick had sex with Eden. She was 15

JuneOsborn I thought Commander Lawrence's comment was more ambiguous than that - 'I'm not doing that with you' - in hindsight it was his decency which prevented him but at the time his reasoning wasn't clear.

SisternotCisTerf I totally agree that Homeland lost its way somewhat . It was the first series that really gripped and then it became quite unfocussed.

I was quite annoyed with June for interacting at all with Fred. I think she should just leave the room when she sees him but I think she realise that she does have some sway with him.

I was thinking that June does have quite a lot of 'power' - her comments caused Eden to die, Serena to lose a finger, baby Angela to survive. There may be more examples.

It was incredible. I'm not sure Emily was the first Handmaid Commander L has helped to escape. His wife tried to say goodbye to Emily and she said something like "I didn't get to know this one".

But saying that, his Martha knew about the plan to help June and Holly. When she saw Aunt Lydia she was angry with Emily, as presumably it could derail that plan. I'm not sure if Emily was intentionally part of the planned escape (perhaps hers was planned for another night), or his Commander L and his Martha added her on because they knew Emily was in the shit.

June's face at the end. Wow. I didn't think she would be happy to just go off to safety without Hannah. June wants to end Gilead for all women and children, not just herself. Her kindness to Serena, in spite of everything, showed that.

There’s the contrast to the ending of the first series. In that, June was bundled into a van hoping that it would be a rescue but not being sure. In the second, she had the choice to get in the van, knowing that it was a rescue, and decided not to, even though it meant giving away her baby.
It shows the strength of character development through series 2.

Excellent point noble

I agree with a PP, I think C. L. said "stay away from God " , not drugs.
I did think that with all the Marthas planning the escape that there'd have been formula for the baby included until PP's suggestions that June and Holly/ Nicole piggy backed onto Emily's escape.
I'm impressed by people posting on here during the show, I struggle with subtitles as I can't watch the action AND read the script. I definitely can't read this thread and post on it whilst watching TV!
I did dip in and out of the American pace thread, so read plenty of spoilers, but TBH it didn't really spoil anything for me personally.
Also a PP mentioned Homeland, I gave up after Brody died, so agree that if June is killed it will probably ruin it for me.
Series 3 seems like a lifetime away!

I agree CurbsideProphet it's more than just about what happens to June. And I was thinking the same about her being nice to Serena - life is too short for revenge and pettiness.

Good point Noble & love the Moses angle.

CL definitely said stay away from drugs - I watched it again on plus 1 & paid attention to that in particular after reading the comment here re stay away from God.

The previous June rescuers were all men, weren’t they? The old guy who took her to the newspaper office, Nick, the econohusband. The econowife didn’t want to help her.

This episode was about women supporting June. A whole team of women passing her and her baby along to safety - even Serena.

I enjoyed that episode and was so proud of the Marthas. Cool bunch of women, keeping under the radar and getting people out! Love them.

It was interesting to watch Serena not be able to give up who she was. She was an orator, a planner, an architect of a regime - but now she is powerless and she can't accept it. I'd say the penny finally dropped there and maybe her allowing baby Nichole to escape was actually a power grab, as it was a decision she could actually make.

"Go fuck yourself Fred" - best line ever!!!!! What an absolute arsehole that man is. No redeeming features at all - as far as I can tell.

I thought Rory Gilmore was superb. Haunted, destroyed Emily. You could just feel that she was a woman on the edge. The spiteful comment by Aunt Lydia tipped her over.

There is clearly a significant underground movement - but it won't be enough. In all the totalitarian regimes of modern times, there has always been an underground movement but to the best of my knowledge it has never brought a regime down - although if someone wanted to contradict me, I'd actually be pleased!

Praise be bitches - I have loved discussing this programme with you all.