Handmaid's Tale. EPISODE 6 (season 3). Channel 4, 14/07/19. UK pace. NO SPOILERS!

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Thread for Episode 6 (season 3) of The Handmaid's Tale.

We are watching on Channel 4, UK pace and have only seen episodes 1 - 5 so far.

Please, NO SPOILERS.

They've obviously had more than one handmaid too @Roussette, given the different ethnicities of the children also.

It struck me how empty all the places were. We're used to seeing foyers of big buildings, and monuments like Lincoln memorial etc FULL of people, but they're empty.

So everyone's been killed in the war or colonies / not replaced with the population crisis.

Tonight, it felt more connected with the previous series. It was that sense of having to conform to roles of Gilead society that's been less evident.

I think AL does care about her handmaids in her own "spare the rod, spoil the child" way. The scene in the bedroom seemed sincere and she generally acts on her beliefs rather than motivation for her status like the commanders.

I'm not quite sure how June's discretely got away with a rather echoey shouting match with Serena with thousands of people assembling in the background. A bit of artistic license there...
But the thousands of handmaids silently unable to respond to prayers was haunting. I wonder if it will give Serena food for thought...

Has Gilead even been around long enough for the older children to come from handmaids?

I agree re the unlikeliness of different customs and not knowing about the other areas. Serena seemed surprised by how many children there were - surely they would know this on the grapevine.

Has Gilead even been around long enough for the older children to come from handmaids?

Some of the children might have been taken from their parents, like Hannah. That would explain the different ethnicities.

Presumably there isn’t much to see at the Lincoln memorial now - and people don’t really get “leisure” time now so can’t go sightseeing even if they wanted to.

wasn't it part of the law of Gilead that a commander got a handmaid and once if the had a baby they handmaid is moved on and it was one baby per house hold, unless the commander and thier wife were fertile then they had as many as they could.

seem a bit animal farm, with the top commander having so many.

How many more episodes are there in this series?

I hope they don't drag it all out forever. It's already starting to lose its power.

I think this was a really powerful episode - the visuals were stunning. I will admit to having had that gnawing fear all the way through the episode again, which for me proves it was a good one! Interested to see how things pan out for C. Waterford with regards to the other Commander, it sounds so wrong but I’d love him to get a taste of his own medicine!

The number of children is a symbol of how powerful the host commander was in the pecking order. It was a power move showing them off.

Completely agree @GileadWivesAreFashionIcons - I felt the same through the episode and would also love Fred to get a taste of his own medicine.

Good point @CalmConfident

There was a nice shot of June getting a good look at one of the girls who reminded her of Hannah.

Presumably George is a particularly high ranking Commander, even compared to the Waterfords, he's probably been allowed to adopt more children plus any luck from the handmaids.

Maybe they're more experimental with the regime in Washington then roll out to the provinces. Or social control is easier to enforce in areas of closer communities via the likes of Aunt Lydia.

This episode was incredible imo!

I find it so slow moving in comparison to the previous series.

no that was him going to the front.

I only saw a few seconds of the scene before my recording cut out. Now watching on +1

The whole rally thing frankly was ridiculous. The whole world knows these women are sex slaves, now with their mouths covered up. Why would any decent nation think this is a good place to send a child.
Why doesn’t June’s husband go and talk on TV about how Gilead have stolen his biological child and are keeping her captive.

DH were talking about how the population levels must be getting so low they would be unable to sustain society.

Re the wired mouths - I could believe that Handmaids have to be silent in “official” buildings (like train stations) but the wired mouths is completely unrealistic. It would put the men off during the Ceremony, particularly if (like Waterford) they like to think the women are quietly enjoying themselves.

I think all the handmaids at the rally was a show of strength. Similar to the big rallies in North Korea. After all, the reason Canada are considering returning Nichole is because they're scared Gilead will invade, not because it's the right thing to do. Gilead are showing how powerful they are.

It did seem odd that June was walking round with the Waterfords and standing on the balcony with them. She wouldn't have been considered that important,surely.

I don't think the wired mouths would necessarily put the Commanders off. (Some) Men appreciate a silent woman. It'll remind them how powerful they are.

Things are hotting up.

And Max Minghella - beautiful 😍

June had to be on the balcony with the Waterfords to prove that she's quite happy being a handmaid and wants the child returned to them.
Remember in S1, they were trying to convince the Mexicans that the handmaids were happy being handmaids.

Remember in S1, they were trying to convince the Mexicans that the handmaids were happy being handmaids.

And even when June managed to tell the ambassador the truth, she refused to help because Mexico needed Gilead.

That's true @EmpressLesbianInChair