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

408 replies

OriginofSpecies · 18/08/2019 20:39

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.

OP posts:
Chienloup · 19/08/2019 00:31

Such a fantastic episode, I particularly loved the use of Kate Bush, Portishead, and the overt nods to The Shining at Jezebel's.

MazDazzle · 19/08/2019 00:41

I agree TheSpottedZebra, she’s definitely been instrumental. I think she’s been using the phone to contact with the journalist all this time.

I’m still not convinced she’s infertile. They have assumed every man is fertile and women are to blame. Would all women have been subject to fertility tests? Or just potential handmaids and children coming of age in the new regime? When the journalist first met her and was trying to convince her to defect to Canada, he said maybe she could even have a child of her own. Oh Lord, imagine if she hooks up with Luke! Shock Surely not... Hmm

AGnu · 19/08/2019 01:01

So glad Serena stitched him up. I had my suspicions, especially with the way she was with Rita. What's going to happen to Rita now? Reassigned? It was interesting to see her reaction to Fred suggesting she should drive. It reminded me of June when he was offering her "treats." First, refuse - it might be a test. Then, when he insists, go along with it - can't irritate him, need him on side. It was the pause before she got in the car, steeling herself to keep up the act, pretend to be grateful for his kindness & still go through with her plan. Also, driving in those heels? Really?!

I wonder if the Marthas at Jezebels dealt with the bloke Moira killed in the same way. Maybe no-one knows she killed him & he just "disappeared." Ditto with Commander Creepy - maybe "they" aren't coming for them because "they" think he's made a run for the border. I do feel a bit bad for the children he stole though. He seemed to be a loving father-figure to them & then he's suddenly just gone. Another parent they've lost. What's going to happen to that whole family now?! Especially if Gilead thinks he's a traitor & has run away. The whole household will be downgraded without a man in charge. Does Gilead even allow single women to raise children?!

Did anyone else think the washing machine noise sounded like an aeroplane engine starting up? The lyrics at the same time were "I just know that something good is going to happen" & June had just been talking about getting the kids out in a plane.

I've got a horrible feeling that something's going to go wrong with her plan & it's going to mess up whatever the Marthas were doing. Perhaps June will be able to get hold of all the children & get them on the plane... The plane takes off but there are guardians hot on their heels & whoever/whatever the delivery is won't be able to get away. Obviously, Teflon-June will escape & be innocently waiting back at the Lawrences wondering where they could possibly be when the guardians turn up. The Marthas will totally turn on her, any that aren't on the wall anyway, & will make life very difficult for her in the next series future.

That's where I'd take the story, anyway! Then the next series would see June reassigned, possibly in a new district where she didn't know anyone, couldn't trust anyone, had to do the whole ceremony thing again & still had no clue where Hannah was. She'd be back to square one & the Waterfords would be gone so it's not like anyone would need her anymore - no plot armour. Perhaps they could contrive a way for her to bond with her walking partner & we could switch to her when June ends up on the wall... Maybe they'd start to focus on the walking partner's face while the handmaids were preparing to hang June & cut from June's voiceovers to the new voice when they pulled the rope.

Anyway, I enjoyed this episode & am already desperate to know what happens next week & whether it's anything like my plan for the story! Grin I like the idea of CL becoming more important since they lost 2 commanders in one night. Interesting that it was one commander who supported CL & one who was trying to get rid of him. Perhaps "they" will turn up & will ask for his leadership, rather than arrest him!

EBearhug · 19/08/2019 03:18

I might have to watch this one again, so much happened.

Roussette · 19/08/2019 07:04

Well... Waterford had a downer on CL so that's that pressure gone.

Each episode presents so many q's for me! I think it's pretty obvious Serena was in on all of this but...
she had that horrendous vicious row with June at the GW memorial. What was all that about? She seemed to have turned pro-Gilead at that point.

Also she can't have decided to contact Phone Bloke overnight, there must've been a lot of leading up to this ambush. And how did she communicate this to phone bloke wihout Waterford knowing? I would imagine she would've had to talk in hidden phrases and hope theyphone bloke would pick up on it. She would hardly likely have been able to ring him on her own...

Applesandpears23 · 19/08/2019 07:18

I think Serena arranged it with phone bloke before showing Fred the phone. Then she could say whatever Fred needed to hear in front of Fred and the Canadians could stick to the plan.

BuzzShitbagBobbly · 19/08/2019 07:21

So was Fred arrested by Americans or Canadians? Those military people had the American flag on their uniform didn't they?

Definitely Canadian as the arresting officer said so (and I think there were taken back roads so as to avoid any traffic and border signage). But aren't there some rebel-held areas in Gilead? Maybe they were from there? The camera did seem to pointedly linger on those badges.

TeaStory · 19/08/2019 07:32

I’m sure I remember seeing in previous episodes that there was some kind of American government in exile existing in Toronto.

paradyning · 19/08/2019 07:57

They were from the 'American' government in exile. The Stars and Stripes has stars missing. Same as the flag that was in the processing centre with Luke. I guess to represent the bow missing states under Gilead.

Serena is infertile as she was shot in the uterus on campus iirc

CodenameVillanelle · 19/08/2019 08:12

June would be happy for Serena to have Nicole

Why do you think that? Why would she want serena anywhere near her daughter when she's being raised by Luke and moira?

CaptainMyCaptain · 19/08/2019 08:42

Lue and Moira are raising Nichole as a favour to June but do they really want her?

CaptainMyCaptain · 19/08/2019 08:42

Luke.

Frazzled2207 · 19/08/2019 08:44

Also think June would settle for Serena bringing up Nichole as long as it was not in Gilead.
Especially if it helped her get Hannah somewhere.

CodenameVillanelle · 19/08/2019 08:46

Luke and moira will raises Nichole until June comes back I'm sure of it. Luke seems really attached to her and he's missing his daughter - id be shocked if either of them would hand her over to serena. Serena engineered June's rape and stole her baby. and why would June prefer that to Luke/Moira keeping her?

Frazzled2207 · 19/08/2019 08:50

In the last two episodes I am impatiently hoping for the arrival of Nick to save the day somehow, can't believe he was just quietly written out

Regarding these children June is rescuing. Will they willingly go? They will all be brainwashed surely.

BentBastard · 19/08/2019 09:04

I assumed Serena was setting Fred up from the moment she showed him the phone but then when they arrested Fred they seemed to be arresting her also Confused. Perhaps it was for show, for Fred, but he's in custody now so why would they need to appear to arrest Serena for his benefit?

Am I being dim?

BuzzShitbagBobbly · 19/08/2019 09:07

Use her as leverage to get him to talk?

EachandEveryone · 19/08/2019 09:21

I’m pretty sure this is the last episode? I hope it is,

TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 19/08/2019 09:22

I would assume in that situation Serena would still get taken into custody initially even if they were ultimately going to stand by their deal and let her go to Hawaii.
Also given she is going to go with them in their car either way, and they have guns and she doesn't, does being arrested look any different from not being arrested iyswim?

CodenameVillanelle · 19/08/2019 09:29

I’m pretty sure this is the last episode? I hope it is,

No there are 2 more

boredboredboredboredbored · 19/08/2019 09:31

Serves has absolutely no claim to the baby though does she? It's not even Fred's child, I think she just knew it was the right thing to do.

I can't wait to rewatch it tonight the end with the haunting Kate Bush music sent shivers down my spine!

TeaStory · 19/08/2019 09:34

It makes sense to take Serena into custody, she has a hell of a lot of information and evidence against Fred and other commanders (remember, she and Fred were involved in the planning of the attack on Congress etc).

CodenameVillanelle · 19/08/2019 09:37

Yeah they are hardly likely to let serena just waltz off without assessing her risk and culpability.

Timeandtune · 19/08/2019 09:39

I have been pondering on the rescue of the children. I can’t believe they will all be willing to go quietly. They will have been brainwashed to be frightened of the resistance and many of them will be too young to remember their real parents.
I know that some of the disappeared children of Argentina did not want to know their real parents once their false adoptions were uncovered.

CurbsideProphet · 19/08/2019 09:40

Will Rita be accused of knowing Fred and Serena were planning to head to the border?

I was surprised that econo family were allowed to live out in the middle of nowhere in that big house. I thought Gilead would have appropriated it and made them live in one of the city apartment blocks with the other econo families.