Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Telly addicts

Related: Film discussion forum.

Original poster

Handmaid's Tale s3ep1. Channel 4. 9pm 9/6/19 UK pace. NO SPOILERS. *edited by MNHQ as per OP's request*

377 replies

OriginofSpecies · 09/06/2019 19:23

I thought I'd start a thread for discussing series 3 episode one of The Handmaid's Tale to be shown on Channel 4 at 9pm on 9th June 2019.

Please NO SPOILERS for those who have already watched it.

OP posts:
AnotherEmma · 13/06/2019 07:58

"I saw an interview with the current writer who is male and says he doesn't understand about women and feminism and so has "experts" who guide him."

Shock Sad Angry

ILoveMaxiBondi · 13/06/2019 09:57

I saw an interview with the current writer who is male and says he doesn't understand about women and feminism

Then he applied for the wrong job! FFS. Male entitlement in action. How’s fucking depressing that it didn’t give anyone pause for thought as to whether someone else would be a better choice than a man who knows fuck all about the whole thing he’s writing for. Angry

TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 13/06/2019 10:09

'I saw an interview with the current writer who is male and says he doesn't understand about women and feminism'

It's a team of writers, mostly women.
I took his statement more positively, as him admitting what he didn't know and being prepared to listen and learn.

PurplePoppies · 13/06/2019 19:15

In series 2 I listened to a podcast called "eyes on gilead" and really like the analysis and discussion of each episode. I noticed that this is continuing for series 3, but beware, it is Australian and they are a few episodes ahead of UK and episode 1 and 2 aired together so the first podcast covers both episodes. I have downloaded but won't listen until Monday. One of the podcasts is a recap of series 2 in case that's helpful for anyone.

CurbsideProphet · 13/06/2019 22:31

I listened to that podcast at the end of the series! I really enjoyed it, especially the interview with Aunt Lydia Smile

Chinks123 · 14/06/2019 12:26

Emily is definitely the birth mother, google confirms it. Their marriage was voided by the government, and when asked she said she did give birth. He was asking if it was her egg to prove she was fertile.

Looking forward to the next episode. I’m so torn though, I know June has a husband waiting for her but I love her and nick together.

EachandEveryone · 14/06/2019 13:37

Well, i was talking with my neighbour this morning and we both agree, its not the same. Its too tame not a patch on the first series. I hope they dont drag it on for much longer.

ILoveMaxiBondi · 14/06/2019 13:45

I love her and nick together.

Me too.

I’ve just realised I wont see episode 2 on Sunday night! I’m going to a concert. Forgot all about THT.

TheLoneWolfDies · 14/06/2019 13:52

Shes much better suited to Nick, I'm not a fan of Luke but I'm not really sure why, never really liked him.

AnotherEmma · 14/06/2019 13:53

Well he cheated on his first wife with June.
And he didn't seem too concerned about the early restrictions to women's rights.

TheLoneWolfDies · 14/06/2019 13:56

True, I have a feeling she'll either end up with Nick or neither of them. I can't really see her and Luke ever getting back together if she ever does get out.

ILoveMaxiBondi · 14/06/2019 14:19

I'm not a fan of Luke but I'm not really sure why, never really liked him.

Yes, same. I can’t warm to him. In season 1, particularly, he was really indifferent to what was happening to women, because it wasn’t happening to him. But even since then, he’s been trying to find out about June and Hannah and we’ve seen him struggle but I still don’t like him. There’s just something about him. Maybe he should deliberately written that way for some reason.

ILoveMaxiBondi · 14/06/2019 14:20

Should= was

Chinks123 · 14/06/2019 14:27

I'm not a fan of Luke but I'm not really sure why, never really liked him

Same here, and I also wondered if he was written that way, or if I just don’t like his character. We’ve obviously seen a lot more of their characters, but I just feel June and Nick really love each other. Good acting because when they whisper I love you I believe them. I am a sap though.

TheLoneWolfDies · 14/06/2019 15:00

Yeah I think he must have been written like that, maybe because if we liked him we wouldn't support June and Nick as much? I also find him really dull and a bit emotionless.

I think I remember there being a scene of him shouting at his ex wife down the phone to leave June alone but I'm not sure.

I feel like him and June was more of a lust than love. God I hope they don't get back together.

SittingontheSidelines · 14/06/2019 15:04

Been lurking on this thread but just came on to say I've just realised that Margaret Atwood has written a sequel, due out in September. So excited.

endofthelinefinally · 14/06/2019 15:05

I think Luke is typical of many men who have no interest or awareness of women's rights until it affects them personally. I wonder if he really gets the big picture, or if he is focused on his wife and his child. Of course we have seen very little of his personality or his life generally so far. There may be an opportunity to flesh out his character in this series, if we see more about Canada.

ILoveMaxiBondi · 14/06/2019 15:08

I think I remember there being a scene of him shouting at his ex wife down the phone to leave June alone but I'm not sure.

Yes there was! I remember he was particularly harsh with his ex wife during the call and there was discussion about it on a MN thread at the time.

TheLoneWolfDies · 14/06/2019 15:18

I think Luke is typical of many men who have no interest or awareness of women's rights until it affects them personally

Spot on, he comes across as a very self absorbed man to me.

ILoveMaxiBondi
Good I wasn't imagining things. Then I'd definatly say you're right about him being written that way. I can't imagine anyone really liking a character who cheats on their wife and then treats them so horribly after.

What on earth does June see in him? Apart from his looks obviously 😂

EmpressLesbianInChair · 14/06/2019 16:13

Been lurking on this thread but just came on to say I've just realised that Margaret Atwood has written a sequel, due out in September. So excited.

Nervous. So far it's been ALL about women as a sex. Apparently the new book has three female narrators so I just hope that means she's sticking with us being a sex.

RightOnTheEdge · 15/06/2019 00:09

I don't think that the "burn motherfucker" was out of character for June. The narration in her head has always been a bit sweary.

I also have never liked Luke. I just find him boring and he there's not much fight or passion there. When he's supposed to be I just don't feel it. I don't know if it's the character or the actor

I love Nick.

EBearhug · 15/06/2019 02:22

Apparently the new book has three female narrators so I just hope that means she's sticking with us being a sex.

I think I read somewhere that it's following the evidence given by escaped handmaids. The original book starts by talking about Gilead as a thing of the past, being discussed at an academic conference, and June's info from one of the letters smuggled out or something - certainly they don't know if she survived. So I think this will be getting different perspectives from different women.

It's possible I imagined it, though.

AGnu · 15/06/2019 03:59

I've been trying to get a chance to watch all week. Last night I sat down at 11.30pm, determined to watch no matter how late I had to stay up... Then 5 minutes in my toddler threw up all over DH who was trying to get her to sleep. Once we sorted her & all the things she vomitted on, I finally managed to watch & have now caught up with the thread! I'm going to be exhausted tomorrow but it was so worth it!

Just one thing I noticed that doesn't seem to have been mentioned, apologies if I missed it... Emily's white cap may have been obvious while she was crossing but what I particularly noticed was that it fell off when she hit the river bank - that's when I knew she'd made it! Twas v symbolic - her oppression gone in a moment.

I love that we all pick up on different things. I wonder how much of the things we notice were deliberate or coincidental.

So glad she's with Josh he'll always be Josh to me now - he's such a great character! I'd hoped that's where she was headed when they said she was being reassigned but I got worried when I didn't recognise the room she was waiting in.

Tinkhasflown · 15/06/2019 08:36

Wow but I loved the first episode, I only managed to watch it last night on All4 so have been avoid these threads. I'm all caught up now.

A few mentioned upthread they think Aunt Lydia is still alive, but Serena screamed at June for giving her baby to a murderer. Wouldn't that indicate that Emily had indeed killed her?

Emily was definitely the birth mother for their son, I hope they are all reunited.

EBearhug · 15/06/2019 09:31

A few mentioned upthread they think Aunt Lydia is still alive, but Serena screamed at June for giving her baby to a murderer. Wouldn't that indicate that Emily had indeed killed her?

It was just after the event - probably all they know is Lydia was taken to hospital, presumed dead or expected not to survive. And whether or not Lydia survived, they recognised the intention to kill.