Handmaid's Tale. EPISODE 5 (season 3). Channel 4, 07/07/19. UK pace. NO SPOILERS!

[OriginofSpecies]

Nice early thread to start the discussion for Episode 5 tonight.

We are watching Channel 4, UK Pace.

We have only seen episodes 1 - 4 so far.

Please, NO SPOILERS.

Urgh. Had to mute the end. I fucking hate that U2 song.

Anyway. Doing a worldwide appeal to ask for Nichole back- with the subdued handmaid in the background? Err no. Wouldn’t happen. Gilead is smarter than that. They would want to portray the image of a couple in mourning. Their handmaid wouldn’t even feature. They know how’s the world perceives their use of handmaids. They wouldn’t want to advertise that Nicole was a handmaids baby. No way.

getting seriously switched off by this series.

If this series basically undoes all the gains of the last I am going to feel cheated...

5 episodes and almost Nothing has happened

This is turning into a completely different drama from the one it began as.

That's my main issue with it too. Now that they've left Atwood's books behind, they're struggling to know what to do.

Or was the trip because Serena wants her to stay in Canada and wants Luke to know that. Whereas the TV appeal is what Gilead central want.

Aside from everything else that went on in that episode, I really liked the inclusion of the cassette tapes as a nod to the Historical Notes in the novel as to how they found Ofred's story.

Do they have to be seen still trying to get Nichole back though? Rather than be found out and risk the wall?

Surely Canada would take no notice of this. There's nothing in it for them and don't they want every woman to be free of Gilead so they're hardly going to hand back a baby girl

Can’t help but think the writers are losing it a bit. Like PP said, they’ve forgotten key elements of Gilead and it’s extremeness. I enjoyed the tension at the airport, which was much more on par with season 1 but the rest of it lacks. Bit disappointed really but of course will watch all the way to the end

I liked that too @OriginofSpecies

Anyway. Doing a worldwide appeal to ask for Nichole back- with the subdued handmaid in the background? Err no. Wouldn’t happen. Gilead is smarter than that. They would want to portray the image of a couple in mourning. Their handmaid wouldn’t even feature. They know how’s the world perceives their use of handmaids. They wouldn’t want to advertise that Nicole was a handmaids baby. No way.

^ That's what crossed my mind too. They would put out the broadcast of just the Waterford's.

I'm guessing they want Luke to be hunted down. He's a fugitive again now.

I thought this season was supposed to be about the resistance. Instead, it's deja vu with the Waterfords and Nicole all over again. Commander Lawrence was the main focus of the first few episodes but now barely features. It's all a bit disjointed.

Me too, @OriginofSpecies

Do they have to be seen still trying to get Nichole back though? Rather than be found out and risk the wall?

No they’re actually trying to get Nichole back. Fred said to Serena when she got off the plane and said “it’s over” he said “it doesn’t have to be over”. This is what he meant, he meant they could still try to get her, and now they are. Whether Serena is on board or not, isn’t clear yet.

I thought this season was supposed to be about the resistance. Instead, it's deja vu with the Waterfords and Nicole all over again. Commander Lawrence was the main focus of the first few episodes but now barely features. It's all a bit disjointed.

Agree. It’s all very confused.

Overall a much better episode, I thought.

I don't know what to think about re: Serena. It looks as though she whispered something to Fred when she got off the plane, which we didn't hear (no subtitles either). She said "it's over" (?? I think), then embraced him.

I wonder what she was referring to re the "it's over/I just want it to be over" comments in the episode.

I'm sooo confused
About why any of them did any of that
And I agree about the script flaws

The tape scene was very moving and the airport scene was quite good but apart from that... meh.

Does anyone know how many episodes there will be in this series?
I hope something happens soon as I’m starting to feel quite disappointed with this series.

I loved the tape recording tie in to the novel.

Has Serena been coerced into this? I'm confused now, as Canada was outraged by the release of the letters and learning about the systematic rape of women. Surely they won't just roll over Unless Gilead are planning an invasion and are causing a distraction

When she was preparing for the trip, it looked as though she was preparing a bundle of photos of herself (as a child? Old family photos?) to pass onto Nichole. Did they get handed over?? She obviously left the tape for Luke bundled up with her Canada clothes.

I knew it. Knew they’d try to get her extradited. This means that Emily will get called in for questioning surely?

If there is any prospect at all of Canada taking any notice of their appeal that effectively backtracks on the progress of the first series where the handmaids' stories were smuggled out and June talked to the Mexican ambassador, both of which made it clear the handmaids were under duress and thus being raped. In the light of that, Waterford is effectively standing up and saying he's a rapist.
As a previous poster said, no way would you do the appeal with the handmaid in the background!

The guy in Canada who is trying to help Serena... who do Gilead think he is? Why do they think they can trust him? I know Serena dismissed the guard who accompanied her, but he went very swiftly after she told him to go.

@opinionatedfreak Or was the trip because Serena wants her to stay in Canada and wants Luke to know that. Whereas the TV appeal is what Gilead central want.

Yes I think so.