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

219 replies

OriginofSpecies · 07/07/2019 19:08

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.

OP posts:
TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 08/07/2019 12:12

Would June want to condemn Nick to certain death by saying he raped her though?
If she was forced to choose between him and her child she would choose her child, but unless forced into that situation I don't think she would.

BeyondOverTheMoon · 08/07/2019 12:21

Whether consensual or not, I'm fairly sure that another man having sex with a handmaid breaks Gilead law - she is the property of the Commander.

I imagine she'd face the same punishment that Emily did. They wouldn't want her dead, she still has use.

Plonkysaurus · 08/07/2019 12:41

Yes Beyond, this is what I think.

She's accepts that she'll probably die in Gilead so she's going down fighting.

PancakesAndMapleSyrup · 08/07/2019 12:59

Agrhh I was on the edge of my seat catching up last night, especially when Luke let serena hold nichole. I do think that its Gilead HQ with the live broadcast though and not Serena, however I do think we will start to see a particularly nasty side to serena as she starts to gain some power within the relationship. Cant wait for the next episode!

BrienneofTarthILoveYou · 08/07/2019 13:17

June can be honest though and say that Serena made her have sex with Nick as Fred is infertile and Serena was desperate for a child. No need to go further than that and she was unable to say no. Likely she would be punished but surely it's a bigger risk and therefore punishment for the Waterfords so doubt they would want to go there.

MotherOfSoupDragons · 08/07/2019 13:50

Luke could say he will return Nicole once paternity is confirmed via DNA. The Waterfords would then have to find an excuse not to go through with it.

BesselVanDerKolk · 08/07/2019 14:08

Is there any chance Nichole could be Fred's?!? 😱

EmpressLesbianInChair · 08/07/2019 14:17

Is there any chance Nichole could be Fred's?!?

I can’t believe the Waterfords would think it was worth the risk of doing the test.

BeyondOverTheMoon · 08/07/2019 14:18

That'd be interesting - Luke agrees to DNA as he believes Nick is the father, but then results show Fred actually is. But then surely Canada still wouldn't return her...?

BeyondOverTheMoon · 08/07/2019 14:18

Would the Waterfords have a say in it though, if Gilead agreed to the test being done?

BeyondOverTheMoon · 08/07/2019 14:19

Gilead believe she is Fred's - nothing to lose
Luke believes she is Nick's - nothing to lose

stumbledin · 08/07/2019 15:22

I said after earlier episodes in this series that the writers dont have Margaret Atwood's concept of the politics - the women's politics - are are just resorting to sub standard revenge movie plot lines. And having June do angry face is making it closer to horror - next thing you know she'll be growing blades at the end of her fingers!

So okay, I lost some due to the impossibley bad sound recording where voices are all mute by sound effects blast you off your seat. I was hoping for an interesting development with Mrs Lawrence.)

Serena went to Canada to tell Luke Nicole / Holly deserved a better future in Canada. But warned Luke not to say anything because she, Serena, had helped save June when she should have been tried / excuted. That why she took the pendent.

But what I dont understand is at which point did she hand Luke the tape which she only took because Fred arrived as she was trying to had it back to (sorry cant remember her name) the Martha.

At no time did she give Luke anything nor have the time to drop it in his pocket or whatever. Or did I blink when it happened?

I suppose we wont know until the next episode whether Serena went along with the broadcast as the price for being allowed to go to Canada, which I think the Canadians allowed for PR reasons. Aren't we nice and reasonable letting her visit "her" daughter. (I thought Serence had known for a long time that Fred was infertile).

I was hoping for more how the women, Martha's and Handmaids are actually working together. Its just shown as something that sort of happens.

I'm just watching it out of habit now, as there is very little else.

TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 08/07/2019 16:10

I think the tape was left with her clothes, rather than her handing it to him personally.

Burpsandrustles · 08/07/2019 16:38

I don't think Serena cares for June at all. She throws crumbs at her that's all.

After everything she's been thru Serena still hasn't turned. What else has to happen for this...

June constant pent up scowling is irritating.

Nothing seems to be happening. I really thought we would be knee deep in good resistance network by now.

Why doesn't Lawrence wife leave...

If Serena didn't want the baby back she could have said so. Fred has enough on his plate he doesn't want to push Serena, if she had Said leave it he would have.

She's a hard hard bitch, she's been hideous throughout and that's it.

EBearhug · 08/07/2019 16:45

I think the tape was left with her clothes, rather than her handing it to him personally.

This. We saw it fall out of her bag when she went into the room to change back into her Gilead clothes, just before she swept everything onto the floor and cried. I'm not sure if she was even aware it fell out, or if she remembered it at all, but I think it's probably best for her and definitely June that it did stay in Canada. I think she had probably forgotten about it entirely.

Quite impressed with how quickly Luke managed to get his hands on a personal stereo to play the cassette. Not many people have them these days.

Burpsandrustles · 08/07/2019 16:56

The only reason Canada would allow the appeal to even play would be to keep revulsion of gilead alive, as pp said... Subdued handmaid ie mother of the child standing there like the raped slave she is ShockAngry.

The hypocrisy of them asking for baby back. Maybe this is the kick-start to give more help to those trapped? Maybe this will prove the end...

AnotherEmma · 08/07/2019 16:59

"I don't think Serena will do anything to bring down Gilead at all and June is foolish to trust her in any way whatsoever."

Sadly I think you're probably right.
When Serena lost her power - when she was beaten down by the regime and by Fred - that's when she softened towards June.
Now June has (weirdly, implausibly) facilitated a reconciliation of sorts between Serena and Fred, and encouraged him to give her a voice, Serena might go back to her old self ie a cold-hearted bitch.
It would make sense.

HJWT · 08/07/2019 17:30

If baby Nicole comes back I am not watching anymore!

TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 08/07/2019 17:55

'If baby Nicole comes back I am not watching anymore!'

Too right. Also if Emily comes back.
I think they needed to let some characters have happy endings and get us involved with some new ones.

Burpsandrustles · 08/07/2019 19:07

There's no way baby comes back unless kidnapped back...

thatone · 08/07/2019 19:39

I was thinking that they might do a swap with Luke - Hannah, his real daughter, for Nicole. But with the declining birthrate they will not give away any children.

I thought Serena turned when Luke told her that he would tell Nicole the truth about her birth. She realised that she would have no meaning for Nicole, and she couldn't bear that.

Her love for Nicole is really warped - and she can't even see that.

cushioncovers · 08/07/2019 20:10

I wonder if Serena is playing the long game and seems to go a long with Fred's appeal but will continue to secretly become part of the uprising I haven't read the books.

MotherOfSoupDragons · 08/07/2019 20:15

The acting is brilliant, but I have no sympathy for Serena. How dare she 'love' the child of her house sex slave and the driver she pimped her out to.

hopeishere · 08/07/2019 21:19

I couldn't bear it if Emily came back.

What was the significance of Mrs Lawrence doing her hair - sign she's getting better? And the bit with them listening to music.

Burpsandrustles · 08/07/2019 21:28

What have I missed re enuky7, why are people even thinking Emily could go back?