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.

I was a bit surprised how quickly OFM snapped and went on the attack. Seemed a bit unlikely for an otherwise very devout handmaid.

I also thought that was sexual tension for AL in that make-up scene. Maybe she's so angry because of her repressed sexuality? And maybe she turns the lady's son over the authorities because she's angry that her feelings aren't requited?

They certainly didn't give OfM any 'back story' to explain why she snapped the way she did. If they'd hinted that she was mentally unstable or had been harassed/bullied in 'the before' at least we might understand.

It appears that she had 3 babies (or is it 2?) in a relatively short period of time & is now pregnant again, but I think it's insensitive to portray that as being responsible. I know it happens (rapid pregnancies and births leading to stress/MH issues ) but I don't think it's necessarily 'helpful' to portray it on a series unless there's actual resolution or a balanced portrayal as it's pretty rare.

So basically aunt Lydia is the way she is either because she’s a repressed lesbian, or because she was rejected by a man?

Wow.

I think I see where you're coming from furry. Why should the writers have made her sexuality the reason she is the way she is. And would they write the same story line for a man? I doubt it.

Food for thought!

Very true! We NEED more AL back story, there must be more to this!

Looking forward to tonight's episode...although I enjoyed last weeks, I did miss the Waterfords!

I have so many questions

First of all-wouldn't they keep ofmathew under 24 hour observation?
And why would they keep June in there with aunt Lydia knowing of the hostility between them.
Janine standing up to June was good,but I don't understand how Serena joy didn't take her opportunity to get rid of June once and for all.

First of all-wouldn't they keep ofmathew under 24 hour observation? And why would they keep June in there with aunt Lydia knowing of the hostility between them.

I think they don't know that June was the instigator. If they did, she'd already be on the wall. AL obviously didn't 'rat her out'. And her 'punishment' was probably called something else by AL ('devotion' to her walking partner or the baby?), although she and June knew exactly what it really was. But this glosses over the fight on the bridge. That's a thread that's still dangling (unless I missed something) in that it hasn't been addressed as to how June got away with it.

Janine standing up to June was good, but I don't understand how Serena joy didn't take her opportunity to get rid of June once and for all.

I still think that Serena admires June and wishes she had her courage. But she also resents her for the same reason. Love/hate?

At the end of the episode, after her 'talk' with Ofmatthew, my first thought was 'Underground Railroad'. She knows she's 'lost' Hannah as she doesn't know where she is. If she goes back to the Lawrences, this could get very interesting.

When it started, I said to myself, I hope to God it’s not just June in a hospital room for an hour.

I think I’m being really optimistic here, but when Serena said she thought June was stronger, I really want to believe that was an underhanded way of telling her she needs the keep fighting against Gilead. Serena wants Nicole back obviously, but maybe she wants rid of the regime.

Interesting episode. I'm also struggling to believe that June would be left alone with OFM given the tension between them, and that OFM wouldn't have a guard or at least a nurse with her at all times.

However it's set the groundwork now for how the last few episodes of this season are going to pan out. June is obviously going to attempt some sort of 'Schindlers List' type escapade, which will be interesting. Although given how 'brainwashed' these children are (for want of a better word) I'm wondering if they are going to want to be saved or stay and do 'God's work'.

My heart did break a bit when June spoke of realising she was never going to see either of her daughters again. She's lost hope now though for the only things she really cares about, and that makes her really dangerous.

Does anyone know how the next generation of hand maids are chosen? Surely the wives won’t want their children to be handmaids?

I wondered if June might try and find her Mum, if she's s doctor she's probably still alive somewhere and she might be able to help. Maybe the doctor June spoke to will help track her down.

I agree I don't think they would have left June alone with OffM. I think Serena is swinging between hating June and feeling guilty about everything the Gilliad she has helped create. She knows deep down that it's wrong, that's why she let June take the baby.

Don't know about the next generation of handmaids, maybe they think they will all be wives and will be able to have heathy babies as they came from handmaids who could conceive?

That's what I'm thinking Stormy. IF the 'second generation' of females is able to bear children then the Handmaids wouldn't really be needed, other than for the random infertile couple. But who knows? I think there's just as much 'ego' involved for the Cdrs in having a 'concubine' as well as a wife, so they may want to keep the program going. It's status. After all, the Econo-class men don't get handmaids, do they? Just the Commanders.

There was something earlier about the men in Gilead also being infertile but blaming it solely on the females. Fred was obviously infertile which is why Serena enlisted Nick. And there was a doctor in the first season who IIRC offered his 'services' to Offred before she got pregnant so she wouldn't suffer the fate of a 'failed Handmaid'.

I think they will continue to have handmaids because when June was talking (either to herself or to serena I cant remember who) about what opportunities there was for the female children she said they would become handmaids, Martha’s or wives.
Also it’s not really about the fertility, the regime has used the fear around fertility to garner mainstream support but it’s about control.
The handmaids act as a symbol of the regimes ultimate power and as a guy for the other women to show what a woman’s worth is.
If it was really about fertility they would get the men tested too and use ivf etc

That was a pretty boring episode. Filler. Nothing really happened....

Wasn't June's mothers sent to the colonies? She was seen on a video. Or was that in the book?

I seem to remember a quick 'flash' of June's mum being herded into a truck but I can't remember the context of it. I've not read the book so it would have been on the show.

Yes I was about to say the same about June's mother. I remember there was video of her in the colonies, was she sent there because she was a women's rights activist or something?

I think so, June and Moira saw a clip of her when they were at the red centre I think

Can someone tell me why janine is suddenly so ashamed by her 'no eye'? Or was it the bruising?

Does anyone have that song stuck in their head now? 🎶 heaven is a place on earth🎶

Recurring infections.

I liked this episode. It brought June back to focus on what's important for ALL, who the enemy really is and to reserve judgement on individuals until they prove their personal stance.

The Dr was on her hit list. Yet when he.mended her cut he told her that he spoke his disapproval of June's proposed solitary confinement, as he was thinking of her well being. She automatically wrote him off
I think June in the past number of episodes has been driven by her own selfishness, been extremely blinkered, taking the view that everyone with a level of status and authority automatically makes them her enemy.

Janine told June that OfM is "one of us".

It helped June to refocus, I think, and I saw her revert back to how she used to be in the previous seasons - remembering that Gilead is the enemy and not to assume all it's citizens are pro gilead, just because they may walk, talk and act the part (much like the Dr and OfM), but to remember they are surviving and are victims, too. They must play their respective roles within the system in order to survive, even though many have it worse than others, they are all doing as they must to keep their heads above water and preserve their lives.

June is resolved to save as many as she can so I look forward to see how she goes about this.

How many episodes do we have left? I look forward to seeing June back to fighting Gilead and not individuals as @usernamedeletedshortly had said

13 episodes xiona, and we've just seen #9. With 4 more to go, not much time for resolution, so I have a feeling we're going to be left with a big cliffhanger.

I like your 'take' on this week's episode username. I think it was about bringing June back into 'herself'.

I loved the "oh you horrid, horrid girl!" In response to June's, "..if we're lucky, we'll see her shit herself.." I really LOL'd! Aunt Lydia's reaction and her face reminded me of my Nan, and I'm sure I've been told off like that once before. June said it so matter of fact, like she was commenting on a cooking program.