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Handmaid's Tale. EPISODE 12 (season 3). Channel 4, 25/08/19. UK pace. NO SPOILERS!

256 replies

OriginofSpecies · 25/08/2019 20:06

This is the thread for Episode 12 (season 3) of The Handmaid's Tale.

We are watching on Channel 4, UK pace and have only seen episodes 1 - 11 so far.

Please, NO SPOILERS.

I can't believe there are only two more episodes - tonight's and the season finale next week. Very patchy series, which picked up last week.

OP posts:
ElspethFlashman · 30/08/2019 12:04

Winslow was one of the ones who essentially raped him. I definitely don't think he's going to say anything.

Besides, blackmail is useless without blackmail material. And there's no body!

EBearhug · 30/08/2019 12:23

Interestingly CL does know what June did, but it's a tough one to hold over her as blackmail potential as it's a massive can of worms and he has unwittingly benefited significantly which doesn't look incidental on his part.

But then he'd have to explain why he took his handmaid to Jezebels in the first place, especially as he didn't go in with her. He can't use it against her without showing himself to have broken the rules.

CaptainMyCaptain · 30/08/2019 14:09

Yes Bloodybridget that was what upset the dog. She has never reacted like that before.

Andylion · 30/08/2019 15:10

The sex through a hole thing was also in 100 Years of Solitude, by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. If I recall, the groom was surprised by it.
And not thrilled.

stumbledin · 30/08/2019 19:13

Not sure that the historical anecdote above is in any way correct.

In Victorian times it was widely believed that men had sexual needs that wives should service - lie back and think of England.

And most anecdotes are about rebellious wives who lock their bedroom doors to stop husbands claiming their sexually rights. Dont forget there was no such thing as rape in marriage.

Up thread someone said could June be pregnant by Nick. As far as I remember they only held hands and kissed. Even allowing for Victorian anti sex messages about how you get pregnant I dont think even in Gilead this would happen.

If it did they wouldn't need the Ceremony!!

Maypole245 · 30/08/2019 19:43

I am horribly suspicious that Rita has been coerced into informing on June.
As someone said upthread, why is she still shopping at Loaves and Fishes? She mentioned that she was questioned about Serena by the Eyes, and that she told them Serena was acting oddly. As we have been told before in the series that Martha’s/Handmaids who don’t inform on their households are deemed to be equally guilty, I think she has had to agree to spy on June to save herself from the Wall. That’s why she’s now so keen to be involved, having always been cautious and verging in disapproving in the past.

MotherOfSoupDragons · 30/08/2019 22:29

I can't believe that of Rita.

colouringinpro · 30/08/2019 23:17

I wonder if CL suspects too

CruCru · 31/08/2019 07:13

I think that Rita has been moved to another household to help our whole they investigate the Waterfords. If there’s no Handmaid, the Marthas have to do the shopping.

ElspethFlashman · 31/08/2019 09:44

There are always lots of Martha's in that shop, they're just always in the background. I got the impression Rita was on her own in the house thus far, after all it's only been a week or so. She would definitely have been moved, but they're not quick about it, clearly. I mean, June should have been put of the Lawrence House immediately after the funeral.

EmpressLesbianInChair · 31/08/2019 09:52

I got the impression Rita was on her own in the house thus far, after all it's only been a week or so.

Did the Waterfords come back from Washington before going to Canada? I can’t remember.

ElspethFlashman · 31/08/2019 09:55

I can't remember either, but surely they came home first?

Where did Rita say goodbye to them?

Horatioroses · 31/08/2019 12:32

Rita spoke to Serena about whether she was doing the right thing (getting Nicole back) so I'm sure that was as she left for the meeting (I don't think they knew they were going to Canada!)

EmpressLesbianInChair · 31/08/2019 12:43

(I don't think they knew they were going to Canada!)

Fred didn’t, anyway!

I don’t even know if they had a new house sorted out in Boston after the fire, especially since Fred was hoping to move to DC. Rita might have had nowhere to go back to and have been assigned to a different house.

MargoLovebutter · 31/08/2019 12:47

I didn't think the Waterford's had a house anymore, so I'm not sure where Rita is situated now either. Annoying untidiness by they script writers.

ElspethFlashman · 31/08/2019 14:32

I forgot all about the fire!

AGnu · 31/08/2019 18:48

The Waterfords & Commander Creepy had been lurking around in Boston while they were making sure that CL was raping June. Maybe they were staying somewhere together & hadn't left yet - C. Creepy probably has houses strategically placed around Gilead for wherever he needs to go for work.

I wondered about where Rita said goodbye to Serena. In the end I decided it was an airport - they'd just flown in & Rita was handing over their luggage for their onward trip. Seemed logical enough to satisfy my confusion!

I wonder where econo-people get their food. Do they have access to the same shops as the commanders' Marthas? I'm sure we've covered this before but I've forgotten... Are all Marthas single? What would happen if they wanted to marry a driver? Are Marthas & drivers technically econo-people? Nick was assigned a wife while he was a driver so drivers are allowed to marry. Would he have been allowed to marry Beth? I suppose that would mean her giving up her position in Jezebels to be a good little wife - that would've left a Martha vacancy so perhaps they wouldn't allow it.

Frazzled2207 · 31/08/2019 23:25

I think (May be wrong) all Marthas and Handmaids have "sinned"- basically the Marthas are infertile and he Handmaids fertile. Happy to be corrected. Neither is allowed to marry. Think all new marriages are arranged in some way either by the econopeople or commanders?
Happy to be corrected.

PsuedoSatisfactionBaby · 01/09/2019 12:17

I might actually have to stay up and watch it live tonight. I’m so glad I persevered with this season....I was about to give up hope after weeks of nothing much.

TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 01/09/2019 12:36

I think marriage in Gilead would be for the begetting of children so as Marthas are infertile they wouldn't be able to marry.

EmpressLesbianInChair · 01/09/2019 15:49

There’s an interview with Elisabeth Moss in the Sunday Times. I’m saving it to read after the finale. I’ll stick a shareToken link in the finale thread once it’s over.

TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 01/09/2019 17:31

I have read it, there is nothing in the least spoilery.

MazDazzle · 01/09/2019 17:36

I remember June wondering why the Waterford’s driver (Nick) was whistling, as he had nothing to be cheerful about; as a driver he wasn’t even allowed a I’m sure it was in the book and series 1.

I think he got a wife as a reward. As part of a promotion. Is that right?

ElspethFlashman · 01/09/2019 18:12

Yeah he was informed he was getting Eden as a reward. He was not impressed.

The doctor who got his own wife pregnant was promoted to Commander.

I guess there are carrots and not just sticks in Gilead. But I don't know if that's Book Canon. I don't recall anyone being rewarded for anything in the book!

But I like the possibility of "reward" cos it means theoretically at some point June could be rewarded.

EmpressLesbianInChair · 01/09/2019 18:30

I have read it, there is nothing in the least spoilery.

Thanks Countess.

Wasn’t Fred instrumental in getting Nick sent to the front? Maybe he’ll have a better chance of returning now.