The handmaids tale-thread 6

[SisterNotCisTerf]

Let’s get June out of there!

Ann Dowd is a fantastic actress - has anyone seen Compliance?

I just want to say thanks all for this thread. It has brought so much insight to what is happening in the show, most of which I never would have saw. I've enjoyed it immensely. I already feel lost now it is over and can't wait for S3!

In Ep13, did anyone spot the map Commander Waterford was leaning over/looking at on his desk? Do you think the red parts (2 red strips along the top and bottom of USA) were Gilead territory? The rest were differently coloured states. I just wonder what size of area Gilead is... apologies if already discussed!

P.s. me too, Tink

Also just wanting to say thanks for his thread. It has really made me think, and you brought me round from being disappointed in the series ending (I couldn't accept that she wouldn't leave) to realising her motivation did actually make sense given the evident powerlessness of those who do manage to get to freedom.

I agree would prefer it doesn't become too French Resistance but another series of the simmering tensions Chez Waterford also wouldn't work. It will be interesting to see June in covert action: will she focus only on Hannah or on more general overthrow of the regime? Did she know enough about CL to go to him? I didn't think so, so where will she go now? Back to the bulrushes?

Look forward to catching up with you all again next year whenever S3 appears!

CommonFishDiseases someone online posted a large version of the map and it shows that large areas are held by 'rebels'. Those are all the red bits. Including a large area along the Canadian border. If I remember correctly the Chicago area was red too. Boston is very close to the Canadian border, just a few hours drive. If large areas along the border are rebel held, they wouldn't actually need to travel too far to be in a 'safe' zone. Although you don't know if the rebels are any better than Gilead. Could be any number of smaller groups who took advantage of the American army's departure to take control, not necessarily those behind Mayday.

This map was on the wall at the finale party for the cast and crew. Have put it as a link rather than pasting it, in case anyone doesn't want to see it.

goo.gl/images/hbgSrk

Thanks for that Blessed. Can anyone make out what they key says? (Especially for the green bits.) Am away and only have my phone.

Thanks for posting that FruitLoop - really interesting to be able to look at it properly!

Scooby Green bit says Atomic Wasteland then the lines around it indicate Hazardous Risk Zone.

I wonder if June will take refuge with CL and his Martha?

Thanks

As far as I can see green is Atomic Wasteland, black stripes are Hazardous Risk Zone, red with black spots is Rebel Occupied Area & grey is Conflict Borders.

In S1 the maps you see in Fred's office show Chicago being rebel held, and it's mentioned that the americans were still fighting to hold onto what remains of Chicago (or something along those lines). But the map Fred's desk in the finale and the map in my link both show Chicago as blue Gilead territory, so the rebels must have lost it. Maybe that's mentioned at some point but I can't remember it. On the finale maps it looks like most of the west coast is rebel held, which will be why Nick was saying they could run away with the baby and go west. Michigan also looks to be rebel held and wasn't that where Nick was from? I wonder if that will feature at all.

Here's a photo of my map from a similar angle if anyone's having trouble working out where's where. Although I now want a Gilead map.....

It's about a 5 hour drive from Boston to Canada. So that's going to take longer when you're on the run. Not easy with a HM and crying baby in the back...

I noticed that where June met Emily there was a train running above them, June had glanced at the train earlier.

Unlikely but I wondered if that had any significance.

I thought that was a nod to the underground railway that slaves used in the US.

Ah right, I've watched it twice now, I find you noticed different things each time.

How long does everyone think from Boston to the rebel area? Boston is circled in red. Doesn't seem far at all. I hope it's Mayday type rebels and not some other kind who'll make it harder for Emily to escape through to Canada. Could be out of the frying pan and into the fire

I wonder if June will take refuge with CL and his Martha? - ooh, maybe! I wonder if only Aunt Lydia knows who is allocated to whom? With AL out of the way, it might be assumed that Comm. Lawrence's handmaid is Emily, when it's June?

When they talk about the 'war' and the rebels, is it an actual war now, do you think? How did the Atomic wasteland come about? Or was that a result of an actual war, which the resultant fallout made people infertile? And gave rise to Gilead? Is it the same war being fought now - or just a war against Gilead?

June has one advantage to being missing this time, the authorities will be expecting her to be leaving with a baby. She isn't in possession of the baby and presumably isn't aiming to leave so less likely to be at points associated with escapees. This puts Emily + baby at a higher risk of being intercepted compared to June. The optomist in me and trust in a good plot helps me think that Emily will suceed. It would be too depressing for both if they don't given that June has been captured twice and Emily's previous ordeals.

It would be interesting if the attack on AL/ Emily's departure gives June the opportunity to hide. The practice of being regularly renamed and lack of formal association with your pre-Gilead name could help. We've seen less of other aunts in the community to be able to keep up with matching names and faces.

Emily will escape. We saw Luke escape, and Moira escape. We’ve seen June recaptured and Eden and Isaac caught. Another escape is due, especially with the baby.

I really don't see how Nick can possibly get away with obstructing Fred and all but pulling his gun on him.

He's for the wall if he doesn't get away fast.

At this point though, whose word is more likely to be accepted - Fred's or Nick's?