Handmaid's Tale. EPISODE 4 (season 3). Channel 4, 30/6/19. UK pace. NO SPOILERS!

[AnotherEmma]

New thread for tonight's episode. 15 minutes to go!

Jealous? Seriously?! Now I know we all interpret things in our own way but that's just wrong, sadly

Sadly? It's a fictional story about fictional people. I can interpret it as I see fit. I'd never feel 'sad' about anyone disagreeing with me, but each to their own.

And I know that June has always done a lot of sneaking around, but in previous series, there was a real sense that she might get caught at any time. Now it seems she can go anywhere she wants/have a cosy chat with her previous Commander/generally loiter with no fear of repercussion at all.

I meant to type "sorry" not sadly
And you're still wrong

Watching on +1, will read thread after.

And you're still wrong

I'm not going to get into an argument with you about people who don't exist.

Too late, you're already arguing with me

Gilead however is becoming a bit, I don't know, tedious? Not the right word but I can't think of another.

I think it is the right word. We've already seen so many of the interactions and plotlines so many times already.

And I agree that they seem to have lost sight of what a very harsh and rigid place Gilead is. No way would Janine have been allowed near Angela. No way would June be strolling around the house alone, getting into private chats with Waterford.

Gilead doesn't actually seem that bad of a place this series! The claustrophobia and grimness of the earlier seasons has been lost.

Gilead becoming more slack makes sense to me, it's showing a society breaking down. It's going to be overthrown by a slow realisation, not by one singular pivotal event. It's a creeping realisation.

I agree Madge. It's implausible but does sort of make sense in the context of cracks showing in the regime.

Previously, the cars the handmaidens were carried in were flash, like limousines.

That ws a red transit van with a bit of voile at the windows.

I think June has more freedom because things are breaking down. The system is struggling.

Also, I'm loving it all. Yes, there ar plot holes, but, I don't mind them.

Why wasn't Commander Lawrence (June's new Commander, is that his name?) at the service and reception at the Putnam's?

I think the reception was just for the commamders, wives and handmaidens who had actually given birth in the last year. Cmdr Lawrence wouldn't qualify. The ceremony was open to more but clearly optional.

The cinematography is still beautifully done, but the plot seems less tense and the characterisation seems less watertight.

I agree that things are breaking down. The husbands even looked upset that a woman was being beaten in front of them. I think a lot of them are realising that the things they’ve worked for haven’t actually made their lives better. And the wives must be under a lot of pressure to mother babies that they know in their heart of hearts aren’t actually their babies - they must see the handmaids and their wistful glances at events such as these. They must know that they’ve taken another woman’s child and that it’s wrong. Also, I wouldn’t be surprised if some of them aren’t feeling the love for their babies that they expected to feel and are actually now feeling trapped in their situation. Gradually, gradually, more and more people are starting to realise that their way of life is actually far from the ideal.

pmk

I think i've had enough of the full face dramatic emotion thing. It worked well in the earlier series when it was used when needed but its every other scene now a full face angry or sad.

I am getting pretty bored of it now too. I think I am still not getting what emotion June is meant to be showing. She just always looks the same to me. She also seems to get away with everything and it's just getting a bit stupid.

That ws a red transit van with a bit of voile at the windows.

They've always had that, like when they were all picked up to witness Janine giving birth.

I agree with PP this episode had nothing majorly of interest, besides the Emily story. There needs to be a bit more action to develop the story. And the June character is not making sense any more.

I'm not sure if this is "true" just throwing the idea out there to see if it resonates.

Is it the case that in the original book and in season 1, the character of June had so little opportunity for actual "agency" - merely doing and saying what seemed necessary to survive, that she was somewhat an "everywoman" - we could all identify with her. Now, the more they develop the storyline, the more opportunities June is being given to make decisions and each time she does so many of us say "I wouldn't have done that" so we are identifying with her less?

That makes a lot of sense yes.

I was hoping when Aunt Lydia had the breakdown we would get some of her backstory but it wasn't to be.

And how is june supposed to be able to get to see her daughter they don't let handmaids just wander around wherever they want. It's to the market in pairs or the red bus for special events.

That thing with the husband and the baby in canada why does it matter if they have a positive i.d canada won't extradite a little baby will it.

I seem to remember in one of the trailers for the series we saw Serena & Fred getting off a private jet and I bet that is to get Nicole.

Poor Emily. Great acting by Alexis Bledel. She seems so broken and fragile.

I've been thinking over how unrealistic it seemed that June got to input to both Fred and Serena's marriage issues, however, maybe she does have more power over them than originally thought? Other than Nick, they are the only 3 that know what really happened that night. Fred and Serena know that Junes knowledge could put them on the wall. Nick could too so he got a promotion to commander!

June wasn't the only handmaid wandering round the house Janine was too and brought tea to AL - I'm half clutching at straws on that one!

I cried loads at the scenes with Emily and her son. I really do think her wife is just treading carefully, definitely not jealous of Emily. I found that part very realistic.

^YYY

I thought the scenes with Emily & her family were so moving & cried lots! Agree with those who think her wife was treading carefully & trying to go at Emily's pace, rather then rushing her. All done out of love & certainly not cold. I liked how the wife looked so much older & haggard too, so clearly she's been through a lot also ( obviously not as extreme as Emily but still worried / stressed about Emily & it's taken its toll on her).

I hope they can't take Nicole back to Gilead. In the UK, if you're married, then your husband's name automatically goes on the birth certificate so hopefully Canada has a similar law that will mean Nicole is actually considered Luke's child, regardless of parentage. Or maybe he could demand a DNA test which will then prove that Nicole isn't Waterfords?

I thought it was a great episode overall.