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.

Was the gun for June rather than the people coming for them?

That was a fantastic episode, so tense!!! I feel like I've been holding my breath for the last half hour.

Yes Serena was definitely in on it!

Randommess

Oh yes, coming back to me now.

Fantastic episode. I couldn't tear my eyes off it to post!

Loved Fred's comeuppance; so obvious in hindsight!

And poor old (not) big rapey cheese.

June and the Ls have a very short window of time now, so the action will have to ratchet up even more.

Did the carpet cleaner miss a slim wedge of carpet? I hope there’s no blood left.

With Waterford and Mr Big gone, that makes things better.

How many do
We have left 2 or 3?

It will be interesting to see what happens now the Waterford's(Fred) is gone. Serena definitely had something to do with that she didn't seem as worried as Fred did when he said this isn't just "up there".

I'm so happy she finally took a stand for Nicole. Fred didn't want the baby back
It was more of loss of control/power when June got her out that he was upset about. He just wanted to get her back so he could assert his authority especially over June.

Lol viques I was just wondering where I can get a carpet cleaner that good - feeling sad right now.
On a more serious note this series has really stepped up- loving these past few episodes.

That was brilliant.
I am very grateful to the people who said 'stick with it, it gets better' while resisting the temptation to give spoilers!

Ok I'm back.
that last piece of cinematography and kate Bush sound track with the industrial cleaner noise over the top, was just fucking brilliant.

I imagine there's a lot of of violence in Jezebels, more usually against the women, so the Marthas are used to cleaning up.

The wives wear teal.

@BertieDrapper it was Kate Bush - cloudbusting

Love that song

Well, bloody hell!

I thought that Serena''s goodbyes were very final. And I wondered why she held Liam Hemsworth Fred's hand etc- that was also a kind of goodbye.

I think the gun to June is for her to do as she wishes with- she might need it for the grand plan, she might want to go down fighting, or she might need to avoid torture and kill herself. But he's also saying were also l fucked now, but I trust you.

IMO, she was totally in on it @boredboredboredboredbored - the guy only ever offered to help her escape Gilead, not return Nicole. I think her deal will be to deliver Fred so she has immunity and can then reunite with Nicole.

Also, she shagged him to convince him to go along with the plan, which is why he continued to follow the American as otherwise he'd have turned back to Gilead.

What an episode!

I was a bit confused by the gun as well. Will Lawerence be the most senior Commander left now?

Surly the gun can't be for that otherwise what was the point of all the planning. They've come this far & I think CL knows June enough by now the know that she's definitely NOT the type to give up so easily.

That really took me by surprise, after Big Cheese was taken out of the picture I thought someone was going to come after Fred and say 'congratulations, you've been promoted!'

I found the horrific bedroom scene a bit gratuitous. Not sure what it really added to the plot. More like something from "Killing Eve ".

@chimichangaz thanks. I thought so, sounded a bit like running up that hill

NB I read somewhere an interview with the costume designer -the bluey-green colour has changed very slightly in tone from season to season. Can't remember what that was meant to signify unfortunately.

@CaptainMyCaptain I agree with that. The fact June walked out of the room
Worse for wear, shoeless covered in blood and the two people just walked on by definitely had me thinking this was a normal occurrence. The Martha clean up confirmed it lol

Fabulous episode! Love the way the Marthas put all their new cleaning skills to use.

Great music. Bit of Portishead bit of Kate.
Think mentioning children was exactly the worse thing the head commander could have send to June?
And Fred ..fuck you .

It was Portishead when June was in Jezabels.

My imagination is on overdrive for the next 2 episodes!

Thanks also @boredboredboredboredbored

Presumably that Martha is well in with the Resistance. I'm guessing she knew June was in there with the top dog and suspected something was amiss. It can't be the norm for Martha's to yell 'Housekeeping!' and stroll in with a keycard.

I'm assuming the other Marthas June handpicked will appear in the remaining episodes. A lawyer, a scientist (chemicals or bomb related if I remember right), a thief... can't remember the other two?