Handmaid’s Tale Season 3 US PACE! ##Spoilers for UK viewers##

[AcrossthePond55]

We had a similar thread for season 2. This is specifically for those watching on Hulu in the US/elsewhere or UK streaming at the US pace so there be spoilers ahead for those watching at UK pace.

Please no spoilers if anyone has ‘advance knowledge’ of season 3 beyond the current episodes.

I’ve watched 2 of the 3 episodes dropped today. I’m pretty satisfied with things so far..I admit I got a bit emotional when it was clear that Emily and Nichole made it to Canada.

My only niggle right now is Mrs Lawrence. It’s pretty obvious she’s suffering from some type of MH condition. Yet everyone (pro Gilead)seems to buy Cdr Lawrence’s ‘she’s just tired’ or whatever excuses. Seems to me they’d be on the lookout for people outside the acceptable norm and anxious to ‘deal with them’.

I’ll be watching Ep 3 later tonight.

Across - I thought the same about Rita, the Martha and the toiletries, and the way Serena was with her, almost affectionate. Just assumed the Waterfords were off to do something they had to keep secret but of course it was more than that. She was saying goodbye. Hope nothing bad happens to Rita when the Waterfords turn out to be missing.

We didn't see much of their interaction did we? Remember though when Serena was looking for alcohol once and they talked in the kitchen but that was rather awkward. Can't remember though if Serena knew of Rita's involvement when Nichole was taken. Which may have been a bond of sorts.

The children, if they do get out of Gilead, are going to have a hard time being reunited with parents/a mother/family they've either forgotten or never had any contact with.

Am also tempted to watch again, not just looking for clues but to re-hear the talk in the woods which I think explained Serena's state of mind but mainly for the arrest!

Rita!!! Thanks, Fiderer, I couldn't for the life of me remember her name! I think (hope) she'll be OK. All she'll have to say is that the Waterfords told her they were going away for the weekend and that she 'didn't think it was her place' to ask them where or how long they'd be gone. I think TPTB in Gilead would buy the subservient, head bowed act.

The children getting out is a bit of a 'loose end' to me plot wise. How would it possibly work? How are they going to get to the airstrip? I can't think that doing it in the daylight would be feasible. 52 Marthas moving 52 children at the same time would be too obvious and the parents would notice. Now, stop and think....if someone, even a familiar Martha woke your children up in the middle of the night and said 'Come with me' do you think your children would go quietly? And wouldn't they start kicking and screaming when they were put on a plane by themselves? There's been no mention of the Marthas or Handmaid-mothers going with them. How are you going to 'corral' 52 upset children on a plane and keep them calm? It sounds as if the only adults on the plane with be Cdr and Mrs L (& the pilot). I can't see either of them being able to take charge of that many upset children. And what happens when 52 upset children deplane saying "I want to go home"? And what's going to happen to the Marthas who are surely going to be suspected after the mass disappearance of 52 children.

Across they are all very good points!

Also what happens if the children's mothers are still in Gilead working as Handmaids? How will they reunite them with the fathers? Will be interesting to say the least! June has gone rogue from wanting to save Hannah to wanting to save 52 children, but I'm excited to see what happens!

June is going to get those kids out and back to their rightful parents

She gets them out and then what - adoption in Canada?

If she gets any out - the logistics of moving so many. Remember the chain of Marthas during the last escape attempt, moving from place to place in the shadows. Surely they could only take older children who probably would do as a Martha said having been brought up to be obedient but babies and young children, sedate them?

Which makes me wonder what the Marthas get in Billy's shipments, he brings in alcohol and other non-Gilead things for Jezebels.

Plus the enormous risk of not only being discovered - "parent" goes to check on child, one of the Marthas betrays them, someone goes looking for a Martha e.g. being ill in the night. Even if Billy's shipment brings in enough drugs to sedate all the families, the Marthas made it clear June's on her own. The backlash against the Marthas in the families involved would also be immense and ruthless.

Was also wondering about the legalities in Canada. Some of the children will be biologically (however repulsively) the Gilead fathers. Wasn't the demo Emily and Moira were at about someone high up in the Canadian govt appeasing Gilead?

I was wondering about Billy's 'shipment' for the Marthas too. They said they've been expecting it and it predates June's plan so I don't think the it's drugs or the 'luxury goods' destined for Jezebel's. So, my guess is explosives & bomb-making materiel. Remember, June saved a bomb-making woman from Chicago when she chose the five women to become Marthas.

I believe that the mothers of the 52 children are all Handmaids. The children are either products of 'ceremonies' or are like Hannah, taken from the women before they were made Handmaids. IF the Handmaid-mothers are in on this, they'd be able to supply the name of the fathers who are hopefully safe in Canada to give to Cdr L and/or the pilot. Or maybe the files for all those children are in Cdr L's house and they're going to take the files with them. Those children could be reunited and, through DNA testing, be fine. But the children who are the product of 'ceremonies' (like Nichole) would have no bio family in Canada. Their fate would be more uncertain.

Anyway, for me the next episode drops in a little less than 8 hours (9 pm PDT, USA). I can't wait!!

Oh good guess Across. Think you're right about the shipment. The head Marthas esp were always involved with Mayday weren't they?

I usually watch it Weds morning here - good thing I'm still on holiday.

Just watched last weeks episode for the second time and picked up on so many things I didn't notice the first time. I love how the producers put clues into the episode, especially Selena driving the car whilst The Twist is playing in the radio. Inspired !

I still need to watch ep12 so just marking my place, but I've come across from the UK pace thread. Got to ep9 and gave up waiting for the ch4 showing - watched ep10 and ep11 one after the other last night!!

Poor Eleanor. I understand the fear June had that she'd blab and that June was so exhilarated by getting away with Winslow's murder and hearing about the Waterfords that she was focussing on the escape plan but she could have shown her Eleanor some kindness after the scene in the hall. If only (albeit in her own interest) to calm Eleanor down and reassure her they only had a short time to wait to escape with the children.

Plus won't it backfire on her as she can't be left a handmaid in a house without a wife? Cmdr Lawrence's look at the end doesn't bode well either.

I know it matched Waterford saying to Luke that Gilead & he had changed June.

Enjoyed Moira's exchange with Serena and the social worker telling her she can't call herself her mum. Also the look on Fred's face when he realised Serena had set him up. Odious fucker. Why is he in some sort of VIP suite and not a cell? They surely can't think he'd appreciate the gesture of comfort?

Anyone else notice the shot of Serena's finger before she was given the papers to read?

Okay I've seen ep12 now.

Won't comment on it til everyone's caught up though :)

Ah x post, lovely :)

I saw suicide coming when she was stopped from going out the door. Didn't think it would be quite so soon after I picked up on it though!! Was surprised it didn't occur to June that cmdr Lawrence might pull out of the plan entirely without his wife to save though. Very curious about that look of his at the end...

Also don't know if it's intentional on his part to make her cooperate, but I definitely pick up on an attraction between serena and Canadian guy whose name I can't remember.

I have to admit that I didn't see the suicide coming AT ALL. I felt so sad as I think Mrs L knew in her heart that she was a danger to the plan and took her own life to save the children. Broke my heart. And June letting it happen! I suppose I understand why she did, but it does show that she is becoming as bad as the Cdrs, doing bad things for what she believes is a good purpose. The old question: Does the end truly justify the means?

I don't think June realizes that Cdr L has no incentive now to keep with the plan. She's so focused on getting the children out that she can't see the forest for the trees. And I think that Cdr L blames June. I think he's thinking 'if it weren't for you and your fucking plan!!!'. I thought his look at the end was pure but poorly disguised fury. I don't think June knows that she's in danger from him.

And I agree about June having to go back to the Red Center. In fact, I expected AL to say 'Let's go' to June right there at the cemetery. But again, Cdr L is supposedly still powerful in Gilead, and apparently even more so with Fred and Winslow out of the picture. So perhaps he'd have the influence to keep her, if he chooses. But I can certainly see why he'd want her out of his house. The only reason I can see for him to keep to the plan now is if he, himself, wants to get out of Gilead. But with Mrs L gone, I think he just doesn't care anymore.

The scene in the detention centre went about as I thought it would. Fred's dawning realization and Serena's begging him to understand. I'd still rather she'd thrown it in his face that she threw him under the bus for Nichole, but I guess she still loves him, fool that she is. I also liked the way she put her hair in it's usual bun then took it down, that small moment of realization that she can do what she likes with her hair. Same with the newspapers, her small hesitation to take them then the realization that she is 'allowed' to read now.

I think in the scene w/Mrs L in the parlor that Mrs Cdr Putnam realizes that something is going on. I just don't know if it's that she realized that Mrs L wasn't 'all there' or that she suspects some kind of plot involving children.

Great episode! Felt really touched when Rita said how proud she was of June.

I'm so excited to see how they pull this mass escape off - if it even happens. If Cmd L does get out with the kids he will have lots of negotiating power to do a deal with the Canadians/US. His insider information will go a long way.

Can't wait for next week.

Yeah, next week is the final episode and I have a feeling that it's going to be a REAL cliffhanger!!!

Here's the promo for the season finale

m.youtube.com/watch?v=d0vZLRWRyFo

And an analysis of the trailer

www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/1162942/The-Handmaids-Tale-season-3-episode-13-promo-series-3x13-s03e13-trailer-hulu

Interesting episode. I wasn't sure if June let Eleanor die just because she was a threat to 'the plan' or because she knew Eleanor was a tortured soul and that she was never going to be able to move on from everything that had happened, and genuinely felt it was kinder to let Eleanor go.

I also have a lot of questions about 'the plan'. Okay so they take back the 'stolen children of Gilead' to be what, refugees in Canada? Many will still never be able to get back to their real biological parents as presumably many of their real parents are dead / handmaids / in the colonies. A lot of those children also probably view the commanders / wives as their parents now and will be pretty brain-washed into Gilead culture, so whether they would want to be 'saved' is a question in itself. Also how do you move 52 children without anyone noticing? It's a bit of a batshit plan.

I don't think June let Eleanor die for any other reason than that she was a risk to the (agree - batshit) plan. Also agree re Canada & any children they do get out.

June's so fixated on the escape plan I think it was v short-sighted of her not to realise now Cmdr Lawrence is back in the Council and in a position of influence and Eleanor is dead, he doesn't have the same incentive to help June. Esp if he realises June had a hand in her death in some way.

Just watched it and I was tense the entire time.

My thoughts:
Love the actress who plays moira. I have been watching orange is the new black and she does emotional speeches so well.
I.love her line "you held down june while your husband raped her, you are the gender traitor".

I agree with AcrossthePond55 - June has really risked the plan. Commander Lawrence doesnt have the incentive to go through with the plan now. But the preview for next week seems interesting and has the answer to that!

Those thoughts also crossed my mind KitKat1985. I imagine a lot of the children may only know thier Gilead parents as their real parents, so this plan may be quite emotionally damaging to them. But maybe Gilead is so awful, that even children will see the benefit of escaping?

I just rewatched it. During the scene in the market when June spoke to the other Handmaid (can't remember her name) about the flight out, the Handmaid said "Amherst is too far" to which June replied "Get a message to Martha". Do you think this implies that these 52 children are the Handmaids' children from 'before' AND that the Handmaid-mother's are going to be getting them, or having a hand in getting them, to the plane? This would take care of the issue of the children balking at going, assuming they remember their mothers.

I haven't watched the trailer yet. I usually give myself a few days to digest the week's episode before I get involved in thinking about the next. lol

I'm really struggling in believing in the Gilead universe. Last week June was able to show up at Jezebel's with makeup, heels and a stretchy lycra velveteen dress, from where? This week AL steps back and allows June to have private time with CL at the graveside, as if?? June should be back on the red bus to the centre for reallocation . Luke gets a private appointment with Fred ( in return for allowing Serena a visitation with NIchole?). None of it seems creditable to me anymore. Bit of mess, still watching though

I'm away on holiday next week. I hope that I can get a decent enough signal to stream the season finale. I'm now listening to THT in audible (I'm dyslexic or reading takes ages) and Elisabeth Moss narrates it. I hope that they end THT on this season, as there is not too much more they can do.

I figured that the Martha network has access to such clothes and got the outfit and makeup for her visit to Jezebel's.

As far as the moments at the graveside I think AL has a bit of a 'soft spot' for June, as well as thinking that her 'punishment' during Ofmatthew's hospitalization has broken her. And the episode ended there. She may still be packed away in the red bus! I also think that Cdr L retains enough 'power' in Gilead that maybe AL didn't want to take a chance of crossing him.

I don't get the visit between Fred and Luke either, frankly. But it looks as if Luke wanted it and Fred agreed to it. I don't know what Luke expected to accomplish, though.

I assume Serena seeing Nichole is part of the 'deal' in exchange for her giving them Fred. You can tell that Moira didn't want it, but neither Luke nor Moira have strong legal standing to keep Nichole so they may have had no choice. As far as the world knows, Nichole is Fred's bio child. At best, Luke is Nichole's step-father.