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

[OriginofSpecies]

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.

I think he was angry because he and others had risked their own lives to get her away and she came back. He didn't stay angry though - the look and few words they exchanged before she was taken away .

I honestly thought Serena was going to throw herself onto one blazing marital bed

I think it's awful. Boring story, its become utterly ridiculous now. The last series was bad enough after episode 4 and this one looks like its going the same way.

I honestly thought Serena was going to throw herself onto one blazing marital bed

So did I. Perhaps she would have if June hadn't come in.

Can I just ask. Have any of the babies born in Gillead been boys?! I was thinking about Hannah and the fact she wears pink and then couldn't think about a boy child...

I don't think so. That occurred to me last series.

I'm going to the Evening with Margaret Atwood. I'll raise it. 🤔

So gutted that Fred's not dead! Wondering what will happen to Serena, and found myself shouting "Emily take your cap off!" when she was in the river. Then cried when realised she'd made it to the other side. It's gone a bit bonkers but still love it.

I’m sure that there were some boys during that evening with the Mexican ambassador.

I can see why Serena did as she did but it was a shame all the same - it was a nice house. Someone could have made good use of it.

found myself shouting "Emily take your cap off!"
Me too! It was a target.

And me! Great minds...

Hmmm. I’m not too impressed unfortunately.

This Gilead is a totally different one to the first series. Where the handmaids had to attend salvagings (I can see this June refusing to take part), walk out every day with their partner, not look at or talk to anyone, even each other.

And there is NO WAY that June or the Waterfords would have been allowed to get away with so much. Gilead has always been completely zero tolerance. June breaking into the Mackenzie’s home and just getting her feet whipped and having to sweep the floor?

I used to love THT but it’s all got a bit silly, it’s like they think we’re daft.

This Gilead is a totally different one to the first series.
Because the system is beginning to break down. Even Serena and Commander Lawrence, who were among the instigators, have turned against it.

Is the war still running? I would imagine with the loss of all those handmaidens and commanders in the bomb and with people being lost to the colonies, the wall, stonings, fleeing north etc and plus losses to war then they are really struggling to carry on normal practice like having two handmaidens to walk to the shop etc. It would be good if they referenced that though.

I was also shouting at the TV for Emily to take off the bloody white hat. FFS! I presume the reason she didn't was because none of us would have been able to see her otherwise, because the filming is bloody dark.

I felt things moved fast in this episode, without me properly understanding everything. I can't work out what's going on with Nick and Mr Waterford. What is the dynamic there? Don't really understand who the "eyes" report to now, as the original boss was killed when the bomb went off.

The Waterfords must be on some kind of "watch" list now, as they've had so many disasters befall their household. Other than the successful birth of a baby, that's about all I can see is going in their favour.

Also, I get that June is desperate and she wants her daughter back, I really, really do - but going to the Mackenzie's house that night was fucking madness. I didn't think she was that stupid.

It was stupid of her not to take off the hat but given the desperate terror of her situation and the fact that she is already on the edge emotionally after so much trauma, it also seemed plausible that she wouldn't think of doing it.

I felt something similar about June going to the Mackenzies': it might not have been so clear to her that it would fail as it was to us. Given that she had gone rapidly from a no hope situation to being on the verge of escape with Nicole, it might not have seemed impossible to her that Commander Lawrence could make this happen for her too.

Did anyone else love the symbolism of June pulling Serena out of the fire? It seemed to me like the big dramatic set piece we needed to see Serena switch sides. Anything less spectacular would have made the change feel unsure. I will be very disappointed now if she isn't definitely on the side of destroying Gilead (though I am prepared for her to have to hide it for a while).

I agree it’s changed. It’s breaking down.

I agree with WellErr. I rewatched the first series and it was menacing. No one seems terrified in this one. Perhaps Gilead will have a crack down.

TheCountess, I think it will be really interesting to see what they do with Serena. Gilead was her dream, even though it subsequently turned into a nightmare. She is faith driven and was a "believer", even more passionately than old Fred. I think the potential for her to go full psycho is high, as she has lost EVERYTHING.

I felt something similar about June going to the Mackenzies': it might not have been so clear to her that it would fail as it was to us.

I think she felt the chances of her survival, having decided to stay, were pretty low, so she might as well risk it all to see her daughter one more time. She had nothing to lose any more - even if Nicole wasn't safe, there was nothing at all that she could do about it any more, so her first daughter is all she has left in Gilead.

Gilead has changed. The guard took orders from Mrs Mackenzie, when previously the guards only took orders from the other men. The Marthas are working together, the numbers of Handmaids has been depleted and they are now aware of others escaping. Fred is close to the wall, Serena now has nothing to lose, and June is prepared to die in her quest to save Hannah from Gilead.

I agree Gilead is starting to look a bit like it is softening but I am conscious that previously they have made things look like they are going to be all too easy and just when our guard is down it all gets difficult again.
Which is one reason for the amazing dramatic tension - we never know if someone is 5 minutes away from escape or if it's all going to be snatched away at the last moment.
I wish I hadn't seen spoilers about Nicole surviving because otherwise it might really have looked possible she could have died in the river in the border crossing.

No one seems terrified in this one.

Waterford is (rightly) looking a bit nervous.

It's only just occurred to me that June's going from being Offred to being Ofjoseph.

I loved Waterford's helplessness in the face of the connection between June & Serena. And I really want to know what's going to happen next in Canada.

I am absolutely confident there will be terror in the coming episodes.
And that's not a spoiler, I just think they are softening us up so it hits harder.