Handmaid's Tale. EPISODE 11 (season 3). Channel 4, 18/08/19. UK pace. NO SPOILERS!

[OriginofSpecies]

We're heading for the final countdown, only three more episodes to go, folks...

This is the thread for Episode 11 (season 3) of The Handmaid's Tale.

We are watching on Channel 4, UK pace and have only seen episodes 1 - 10 so far.

Please, NO SPOILERS.

I loved that June waited, almost unsure about the final blow, until the commander said 'my children...' and the blow almost shouted out 'they are NOT your children!'

(And I said exactly the same about the carpet cleaner! Apparently if the blood is wet, and you use cold water, it comes out easily enough. )

Not sure that a furnace like that would totally destroy a body though - too wet, surely?

Serena - what a dark horse! Cards totally kept close to her (Blue!
Def Blue!) chest! She will def be offered sanctuary out of Gilead (Unless they decide to use her, like they were suggesting Nicole could be sent back?)

I think the next 2 episode will be hard to watch.

I hope Serena doesn't just swan off to Canada and get given custody of Nicole. She was party to everything that Gilead has done and should be in prison. I'll be a bit annoyed if she has a lovely new life with her swishy hair and tailored coats.

That was fab! Although partly disappointed nothing came from the big cheese's seeming gay overtones with Fred. Imagine if Fred had to have sex against his will, and with a man. I wish Serena had smiled at Fred as they led him away, so he would know it was her.

Serena said this episode to Fred "you'd leave me for a fertile woman" so she's definitely infertile

I saw this differently.

She said that because the official line in Gelead is that is just women that are infertile. However, we know from the doctor that offered to 'help' June get prgnant that the men are as well.

Fred then replied "you'd leave me for someone who could give you a child". This was his admission that the problem might be him - something Serena already knows because she had Nick stand in for him with June. However, him saying it might be him is against the party line and so a small act contradictory to Gilead.

That's why Serena replied "you're just saying that here, in this place" - meaning you wouldn't be honest like that back home, you'd go along with the official line that it's only the women to blame, it's only here that you're half normal, honest, encouraging me to drive etc.

Thinking about June/Jezabels/Big Cheese. He was the only person who recognised her there, she either had to go along with what he wanted (and be forever in his debt because she should not have been there in the first place and who knows how all that would've turned out, she could have been sent to the wall)
OR
killed him.

She was fighting for her life and fighting for her plan of getting the children out.

Also... does CL know he has to give away all his Picassos and artwork?

I imagine that CL won't care d about giving up his artwork. He's lost everything anyway. His wife needs more care than he can provide for her in Gilead. He has perhaps realised what a big old mess the new regime is.

I also love that Serena cast up that Fred took away her passion, which was writing.

She appeared calm to me at Freds arrest, so I think she knew it was going to happen, didn't make it easy for her to watch though. I can see any circumstances where she would be handed Nichole though. Immunity yes, a stolen baby No.

I can see any circumstances where she would be handed Nichole though

Me neither.

"Ah, Mrs Waterford. He're a child that neither you nor your husband are related to in any way. Your only connection to her is that you held her mother down while your husband raped her. We think you'd be best to raise her."

It's not like it's Lawrence's personal art collection built up over years, he just swiped what he could from the museums when he got the chance.

I too was intrigued by Fred's line about his infertility.

I couldn’t sleep after watching that episode. Serena so set him up. I hope Fred doesn’t get away with all his crimes in return for cooperating with the Canadians and informing on others in Gilead.

Serena isn't going to get Nichole but perhaps she reckons this line of action gives her the best chance of some kind of a relationship with her. June might backtrack on everything positive she has implied about Serena, bearing in mind how viciously Serena abused her power over June when she had the chance, but equally there is a bond between them and it was her action that allowed June to get Nichole out of Gilead. It's potentially a very interesting relationship if and when June gets out.

Does Serena's deal include a new identity? I am sure there are a lot of refugees who would love to take out their anger and grief on her.

Well done those Martha's. and Serena. She deffo planned for that.good stuff.
Also where can I get such an effective carpet cleaner? That thing was the nuts!

The Handmaid before June hanged herself. While this doesn’t automatically damn Serena (could be because of Fred or the regime), it wouldn’t look good for her. However, perhaps they won’t find out about that.

'Also where can I get such an effective carpet cleaner? That thing was the nuts!'

God has blessed Gilead with an effective carpet cleaner as a sign of approval for the regime's attempts to stamp out sin. We can't have it because we're too sinful. Under His Eye.

I think Serena was sincere with June in Washington. She wanted Nichole back. I think it was the shock of seeing June so destroyed at the hospital which reminded her of what Nichole's future could be in Gilead. She thought June was strong so Nichole would be too. Until that point Serena had seen June as a survivor & convinced herself that Nichole could survive Gilead so it was ok to bring her back. Having seen June she realised that she couldn't drag Nichole back so came up with the only alternative that might allow her some sort of access.

I hope that Serena is granted asylum in Canada & tries to see Nichole. She'd be shunned by all the refugees there & I doubt Luke would be overly pleased at the idea of letting her see Nichole. Maybe she could go some way to redeeming herself by joining the resistance on the Canadian side & putting herself in harm's way to help rescue people/bring down Gilead.

Having seen June she realised that she couldn't drag Nichole back so came up with the only alternative that might allow her some sort of access

I think that part of it, but I saw Serena's turning point when Fred approached June to say how he was hoping to get her back. Serena saw all of it and was reminded Fred was still playing the game.

On a quieter note, I wonder if Serena felt about knowing she would never be able to read a bedtime story to Nichole.

Excellent episode! The Marthas rock.

WOW.

The last two episodes have been the best so far. I wonder how long it will take Fred to start promising them everything he can think of to get himself off the hook?

I always thought Jezebel’s was “illegal” as such.

So the murder there, doesn’t exist

He just goes missing

Serena definitely stitched Fred up

@TheCountessofFitzdotterel
That explains why the super-duper carpet cleaner is unavailable in Argos.

Wow what an episode

Love THT ... wonderful acting

BRILLIANT