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.

Cmdr Lawrence - June is fertile though admittedly a handful! So why would she be given to him? Did he have a wife?

GrimDamn I think I remember a reference of a mad wife somewhere in Commander Lawrence's household. She was moaning or weeping in her room and the Martha was shooing her gently or something like that. Can't remember it all in detail now - but I'm sure there will be a sub-plot there!

I really thought Serena was going to immolate herself, Suti style, on the flaming bed. And I also thought Fred was in the house - he said 'I'm going to the office' which I thought was his office in the house. The flaming books and furnishing - really thought he was in there. Very glad no one was killed like that!

And I am amazed that June only got away with whipped feet - after Janine lost an eye for swearing! MAybe it's because Aunt Lydia was the instigator and she is the worst? The other Aunts don't look as 'evil'.

Commander Lawrence does have a wife but we saw her being treated badly by him.

And I am amazed that June only got away with whipped feet - after Janine lost an eye for swearing!

Exactly!!

And it can’t have softened that much, Serena only lost a finger two days ago for reading a bible verse.

June would have been shot by now. I hate it when these shows lose their internal logic so they can spin it out forever

They can't bump off fertile handmaids now, as quite a few were killed in the bomb. They even brought Emily and Janine back from the colonies to up the fertile numbers.

What were the Waterfords saying about Joseph Lawrence towards the end? I couldn't hear it. And we saw Mrs L again in this episode. He was speaking to her kindly . I reckon he's only still there to protect her.

They can't bump off fertile handmaids now, as quite a few were killed in the bomb. They even brought Emily and Janine back from the colonies to up the fertile numbers.

June was the only handmaid left at the centre before she was reassigned.

And we saw Mrs L again in this episode. He was speaking to her kindly . I reckon he's only still there to protect her.

I wonder what is going with them. Is he protective because she is emotionally fragile or something more sinister?

I think he's a goody, but am prepared to change my mind several times before the end of the series. I think she's fragile in some way.

June was the only handmaid left at the centre before she was reassigned.

No she wasn't - there were a few others there, including the one who brought her a bucket of water and told her Emily and Nicole were safe.

I think he’s a goody.

No she wasn't - there were a few others there, including the one who brought her a bucket of water and told her Emily and Nicole were safe.

I forgot about her. Now that I think about it, I was focussing on June's case and cloak being on her bed, the only colour in the room, but I assume that was because she was being reassigned.

Oh, so it's not just me with the subtitles?

Great opener, I was cheering Emily on. I doubt there'll be an equal to my favourite episode where June gave birth to Nicole all alone in that house. What a warrior ❤️

They can't bump off fertile handmaids now, as quite a few were killed in the bomb. They even brought Emily and Janine back from the colonies to up the fertile numbers.

Yes but then they’d just keep her at the red centre?

It’s just lost it’s integrity for me I’m afraid!

then they’d just keep her at the red centre?

What use is her fertility there?

What use is her fertility there?

They keep the ‘naughty’ ones chained up pregnant underground don’t they?

I definitely think commander Lawrence is a good guy.

He's hiding his wife and passing her off as mentally unwell because she is actively and vocally resisting the regime and he can't risk that going public.

I didn't like this episode as much as I thought. Some of it seemed a bit too...easy almost?
Surely if June had gone to the McKenzies (again) they would have just dispatched her by now? By the season 1 & 2 standards.

Plus Nick had a gun trained on commander Waterford at one point-the next he was back to chauffeuring. I don't think that seemed realistic, although perhaps there is worse in store for him and I guess Waterford couldn't condemn Nick without condemning himself and Serena too to some degree.

Loved the scenes in Canada however and had a little cry as Emily was wrapped in her safe foil blanket...

It was the bit when Emily realised she was in Canada...she was saying "no, no" because she thought it was men coming to drag her back and then they asked her about asylum and she sobbed "yes!". That was it. I was in bits!

Yes I cried at that bit too. And when she got the round of applause. Implausible but it got me!

I cried at the applause. It was powerful.
I also cried at several other scenes😊
It a fabulous adaptation, the music, the cinematography, the actresses! I love it all.

It leaves me very creeped out.

I was also screaming take off the bonnet!

I don't cry much at films or TV any more (used to be more of a softie). But the scene that really got me was last season when June had her reunion with Hannah and then had to say goodbye. I was sobbing hard. I think being a parent made that very hard indeed to watch.

Room (the film and book) had a similar effect on me.

Did anyone notice that the actress playing Mrs Mackenzie is Amy Landecker from Transparent. Surely she wouldn't be in it to play a very minor role? Will she help June to get her daughter out in the end?