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.

@Frazzled2207 I thought that too. Surely with the loss of two Commanders, Nick will be brought back for crisis talks/for a public show of unity. Long term, I think Nick will be integral to June’s plan.....she’ll definitely need all the help she can get!

Maybe the Econo family are farmers ? Growing food for Gilead ? Hence isolated house and lots of children to help with the crops ?

I think the fact Serena has delivered a high up Commander from Gilead to Canada for the equivalent of war crimes will negate her culpability

*Serena

Wow, wow, wow!!!!! I knew something was up with Serena and Fred's departure the way Serena said goodbye to Rita but I wasn't sure what. When they stopped over at the singing family's home, I thought that maybe they were going to retire to the sticks and knit their own family or something like that. Was gobsmacked that Serena had actually given up on Gilead and dobbed Fred in too!!!!!

So glad June killed Commander Winslow and that the Martha's efficiently disposed of his body and cleaned up all the mess. I never felt a sense of natural justice more strongly.

I wonder who will be coming for Lawrence now, as Waterford is gone and Winslow didn't seem that bothered about him and he's dead.

I'm probably being thick here, but how come Fred wasn't arrested when he & Serena visited Canada previously- or was that because it was an official visit or something?

So yes she was arrested so she didn't set up what happened, she got set up herself by journalist. That's what I took from it, not that it was her plan.

If she had set it up she would have got herself immunity before she did it.

We don't know much about how gilead works outside of the cities but why would a working class farming family in the country not have a large house? The US has a lot more space than the U.K. so houses are often bigger. Why would gilead officials want a big farmhouse in the country? They need farmers just like any society does and who else would do the work if not the existing farming families?
Also there is no limit on children for those able to have them and 'moral' enough to raise them. The children stolen by commanders are all handmaids' children since they were too sinful to be allowed to raise them.

how come Fred wasn't arrested when he & Serena visited Canada previously- or was that because it was an official visit or something?

Yes it was a diplomatic visit. Also Canada didn't have the evidence of the sexual slavery at that point. June got the letters out for mayday which was what prompted the protests against the Waterfords.

I think it was an official visit.
Also, it takes time to prepare a case and get the paperwork in place to arrest somebody - maybe the lawyers hadn't got to that point back then. The proof provided by the handmaid messages that Nick smuggled out will have helped.

Serena wasn't arrested. No-one recited a list of her crimes, she was just escorted into the car. Fred was shouting & fighting them because it was a shock to him, Serena went quietly - she knew exactly what was happening. If she'd been set up she'd have been shouting about being doubly crossed.

Just watched this on catch up. Blimey. What an episode . Loved Cloudbusting, perfect song. I'm loving the soundtrack in general!

Great episode.

Serena set up Fred, for sure.

One point about Fred being accused of being a war criminal, listing the crimes etc I think as also so we would also understand what would happen to Commander Lawrence if he goes to Canada and what's at stake for him.

I assume hotels have much better cleaning materials than we have domestically as I expect they have to clean out unpleasant stains quite often.

Pretty sure the car CL dropped June off at Jezebel's in was a top of the range Tesla. Didn't notice the continuity error when he picked her up afterwards.

Loved the Loboutins!

I was only surprised by the econo family living out in the middle of nowhere because it's easier to control the masses with fear. They can't see the wall and wouldn't see guards every day with machine guns. This family could be the new May Day and hiding escapees. They must have really had to prove they are believers.

I thought it odd that the econo family lived in that lovely house but then thought they might be running it as a guest house and that's why Fred and Serena stayed there.

The previous visit to Canada by the Waterfords was a diplomatic one. It was abruptly terminated when the bundle of letters was received by the Canadian government - “We believe the women.” I guess they didn’t arrest the Waterfords then for fear of an attack by Gilead, plus they needed time to gather evidence against Fred specifically, and diplomatic immunity etc.

I watched this late on catch up and the violence at Jezebel sort of threw me in terms of concentrating.

But it did make me think if only we could have had more about how the Martha's network. Its clear they are really well organised, and BRAVE, and all we have had for weeks is June staring into the camera.

I am definitely now Team Martha.

I am sure that Serena has sacrificed Fred to be able to stay in Canada but not sure what rights she would have to Nicole. I think she was upset when he was arrested because they had had a very brief time that was a reminder of their life together pre Gilead.

But because my brain went to jelly for a bit can some one tell me what Serena said to Fred to get him to go along with the plan?

Thanks!

She told him about the phone at the end of the previous episode then at the beginning of the next one they were setting off. No idea what was said in between.

Fred has been negotiating the return of Nicole "illegally" but it's been a ruse to get him onto Canadian soil whilst not a diplomatic role.

Serena has been party to all of that.

All I could think was what an amazing carpet cleaner!

Serena giving up Fred will mean she's granted immunity but she'll have to give full details on the whole system also first.

Will 'Free America' have to take her back given she was one of the people who brought down the country in the first instance? I think she'll stay in Canada.

I do think June would be ok with Serena bringing up Nicole as she knows Serena loves her & she'll be pleased Serena got Fred arrested.

Their argument in Washington was because Serena was playing the game & appearing devoted to Gilead when she was actually working against it and Fred.

I love Serena as a character as she's so complicated - I've loved her at times whilst also hating her with an absolute passion! No doubt next week I'll hate her again!

I said up thread that getting the children out could be awkward in emotional terms, as even if they are old enough to remember their real parents, they will not necessarily be returning to them? And they could be really attached to the adoptive parents. Unless they are only taking babies? It's not been made clear.

Well that was exciting!!

I knew something was afoot given Serena heartfelt farewell to her Martha. She wasn't coming back.

Scary with June Killing n the commander (?). Tricky situation and I guess that was the only way out. Stabbed with his pen..

I loved the way the cleanup operation was carried out.

Brilliant episode. There is hope!