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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:
Roussette · 27/08/2019 16:19

Madge No, we don't have Sky. I'm working out how I will manage it. I always knew you couldn't get BBC iPlayer in Europe because of the licence fee but admit I was surprised about All4 especially as you have to sit through all the ads when you do watch HT on catch up.
Thanks for all the suggestions.

I am wondering also if CL had a hand in his wife's death, cruel to be kind and all that, and maybe just left the pills in a convenient place for her.

RiaOverTheRainbow · 27/08/2019 16:50

Serena was very publicly involved in creating Gilead, writing books and giving speeches. I think she'd have a hard time convincing a jury she didn't know what she was doing.

PsuedoSatisfactionBaby · 27/08/2019 17:12

Surely she couldn't marry CL though, as she's already legally married, and was married in the US?
But she was, in the eyes of Gilead, not married because she married a divorcee and Luke was therefore already married so her and Luke’s marriage was not valid.

I like the marrying CL theory...it has legs!

PsuedoSatisfactionBaby · 27/08/2019 17:14

I didn’t explain that well...basically Golead didn’t view Luke and her marriage as valid. So technically she could be free to marry someone in Gilead.

CruCru · 27/08/2019 17:16

If June married CL, would the other Wives accept her? She has a sinful past.

Banjodancer · 27/08/2019 17:23

I think if she produce another baby she would be far too valuable as a handmaid to be an acceptable wife. If Canada double crossed Serena it would put off any other Gilead high-ups from trying to get a deal. She is more at risk I think from one of the refugees deciding to exact their own justice! And Serena is far more culpable than many wives who were probably in fear of their lives, she was involved from the start.

EBearhug · 27/08/2019 17:24

I think Serena saying she had no choice and being let off is quite plausible.

I agree.

Availability of All4 etc is not just down to the UK, but also broadcasting agreements in other countries.

SudowoodoVoodoo · 27/08/2019 18:05

Serena has the (half) finger to prove that she's a victim of the regime and betrayed by her husband. She had no decision making power once Gilead took over, and doesn't seem to have been involved in any illegal actions to bring it about. Yes, she wrote books in support of the social change but she's been a victim of the reality of it too. I'm not sure what she could be charged with, and there would be leiniency for handing in Fred the big fish.

I could see her writing "The Wife's Tale" in a while Grin

JoxerGoesToStuttgart · 27/08/2019 18:16

Serena has the (half) finger to prove that she's a victim of the regime and betrayed by her husband.

That’s her word only though. There are no witnesses or anyone to back up her claim. Also, having the regime you created impact on you doesn’t mean you’re off the hook for setting it all up in the first place.

Raynedance · 27/08/2019 18:23

V v strange episode.

I think they both get stuck behind somehow. Maybe they do marry?
The look was deeply peturbing.

desperatelyseekingcaffeine · 27/08/2019 18:40

Roussette you could use Google play movies and TV. Each episode is 1.99 so not too bad to avoid potentially dodgy streaming. Not sure exactly when the episodes go on there, but they've got episode 12 available now. You can watch on phone or device directly or cast the screen to tv if you have a chrome cast.

TeaStory · 27/08/2019 19:00

She had no decision making power once Gilead took over, and doesn't seem to have been involved in any illegal actions to bring it about.

She & Fred were both involved in planning the violent attack on Congress, weren’t they?

Roussette · 27/08/2019 19:23

Thank you all, problem solved, a kind poster sorted me.
Looking forward to catching up with you all next week, I'll stay away till then. Smile

Abraid2 · 27/08/2019 19:27

That’s her word only though. There are no witnesses or anyone to back up her claim

Other refugees could say that’s the type of punishment Gilead would mete out.

MotherOfSoupDragons · 27/08/2019 20:58

No way will June and CL marry. I just can't work out what CL's expression towards June at the graveside signifies. It looked like threatening hatred to me, but June didn't look worried. As for the June close up at the end yawn, I'm not sure about that either.

drivingtofrance · 27/08/2019 20:59

It's a good thing that Eleanor died.

I hadn't considered that perhaps CL had assisted her? I'm glad that June let her go. She was a very troubled woman.

Final episode next week!

kungfupannda · 27/08/2019 21:14

I have various theories about how this is going to pan out, and I can't decide which one I think is most likely. I don't think the next season will just be a reset of season 1, with June back in a powerless position as a handmaid in a new household. Some possible scenarios:

  1. Lawrence decides to get June out of his house so that she can't involve him in her plan anymore, but doesn't want to confront her, as she knows too much about him. So he gets her recalled to the Red Centre, while pretending it's out of his control. Aunt Lydia drops him in it to June. June escapes and goes to the rendezvous. The Marthas are there with the kids. At the last minute Lawrence turns up with Hannah, having had a change of heart. June gets on the plane and the next season is about the politics between Gilead and Canada/June reconnecting with Luke.

  2. The above, but June misses the plane and the next season is about her actively trying to escape Gilead.

  3. June is recalled to the Red Centre against CL's wishes. He tries to continue with the rescue of the kids but is killed in the process. One of the Marthas turns up with Hannah at the last minute. As above re getting on the plane/missing the plane.

  4. Someone brings Hannah to the plane. June gets her on board and then decides to stay for some reason.

  5. June finishes up on the plane against her will, with Hannah still in Gilead, possibly having just missed the plane. The next season is about June trying to get back to Gilead and coming into conflict with Luke/Moira over it.

  6. Some combination of the above plane/CL/Marthas/Hannah scenarios, finishing up with June still in Gilead and Nick requesting her as a handmaid. The season finishes with them staring at each other intently as June kneels on the floor in his house.

I'm probably way off the mark with all of those!

JoxerGoesToStuttgart · 27/08/2019 21:24

Ooh scenario 5 would be a good twist! I like that one.

Megsheeran · 27/08/2019 22:31

@Rousette - you will be able to buy episode 13 on Amazon Prime for £1.89/£2.49 SD/HD once it's aired - episode 12 was available yesterday, if that's an option for you

LizzieMacQueen · 27/08/2019 23:16

I still think there's a small chance of pregnancy from when she and Nick hooked up before he went to Chicago..... maybe episode 3 or 4.

Poor Rita, desperate to be involved (save herself) in the rescue of the children.

InvisibleWomenMustBeRead · 27/08/2019 23:35

I enjoyed that episode but the scene with Luke and Fred annoyed me as Fred always has the upper hand in their dealings whilst Luke's wife and daughter are stuck in Gilead, so it was never going to be a satisfactory meeting. I was also annoyed that Luke left his folder behind and if there is anything in that that could help Fred, then that will be extremely anger-inducing!

Hated Serena again in this episode although don't really know why, other than I wanted her to receive a proper punishment and she seemed to be living in luxury! I reckon her chopped finger will save her as she'll use it as evidence that she was operating only under duress. Ironically it will be what convicts Fred and saves her.

thatone · 27/08/2019 23:37

Some really interesting possibilities kungfupannda, it could well be one/a combination of those suggestions. I think the Marthas will pay the price if the plane takes off though.

Roussette · 28/08/2019 06:27

Thanks Megsheeran I'm all sorted now!

ptumbi · 28/08/2019 07:22

That meeting with Fred and Luke - I've been thinking more about it. At one point Fred was snarling at Luke that he (Fred) had been dealing with the falling death rate and 'what were you doing about it?'

Why didn't Luke say 'I had a child! And We (June and I) were planning another one!'?? rather than planning to rape other people's wives and girlfriends...Angry

I think for there to be a series 4 Hannah and June must stay in Gilead and not get on the plane.

JoxerGoesToStuttgart · 28/08/2019 10:07

There’s no way June’s could be pregnant with Nicks baby and no-one know. She would be showing by now and also, the doctor that examined her after the ceremony with C Lawrence would have been able to tell if she was pregnant.

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