The Handmaid's Tale S4 at C4 pace (no spoilers from Hulu subscribers)

[Faircastle]

A thread for those watching Season 4 of the Handmaid's Tale on Channel 4 starting this evening. There's another thread for those who have already streamed it via Hulu, so it would be good if we could keep this one free of spoilers for episodes beyond those Channel 4 has broadcast.

I binge listened to all the eyes on Gilead podcasts up until the one for the last episode thanks to this thread

I listened to the ep3 podcast and they suggested that the kiss on the bridge with Nick could have been a dream sequence?

I did wonder that. The whole lot of the journey in the minibus felt like a dream.

Would explain the lack of security etc;

So the escape is a dream??? I'll be pissed off if it is!

A dream seems more likely than letting them all travel unrestrained. June was very much strapped in when they captured her the first time so it seems unlikely they wouldn't have done the same again this time around. Also, would the other hand maids have been so supportive of her knowing she had betrayed them or don't they know that yet?

I read an interview with EM yesterday where she said that this episode was one of her favourites in the series so I'm hoping that means it was all real and significant and not just a dream. 🤞🏻

I didn't see the escape bit as a dream - but the sequence on the bridge was dreamlike and very much out of the usual style (lots of soft focus, romantic music, June running into Nick's arms) - I saw it as her mentally building herself up again after the torture and her experience with Hannah. But if the escape sequence was also a dream, then at least Alma and Brianna aren't dead?

Hope this isn't a spoiler (pretty sure it's not, but just in case) but on Nina Kiri's (Alma) Instagram there was a post where she said "spoiler alert: don't read any further unless you've seen episode 4" I didn't obviously read it but I'm wondering if there is something further that happens in EP 4 with her? She definitely said 4 and not 3 which is what made me wonder?

Elizabeth moss was raised in scientology and her parents are scientologist too.

I wonder how many people are Christian/Jewish/Muslim simply because that's how they were raised. I think it's different from actively choosing a religion or to be religious at all.

I'm an atheist anyway so don't have any axe to grind for any of them.

They could have just stopped short. Obviously, you'd be killed if you were on the track but I'm not sure they actually made it that far.

Which might mean that the 4 HM are alive? Two shot and two shat themselves as they were nearly taken out by a giant train?

Which would reduce the impact on Aunt Lydia, she's only got two troublesome HM on the run. Again.

Mind you, I don't remember seeing them in the aerial shot, just two red bodies on the ground and a brown body over one.

Dammit, I'll have to watch it again...

I don’t think a day goes by when I’m not contemplating this programme

I'm sure we saw at least one handmaid being absolutely wipes out by the train and I think 2 were.

If they stopped I think that driver would have shot them! Maybe he thought he'd be in trouble for leaving them if he let any of them live?
Awful to be hit by the train but better perhaps than life where they were headed

If Alma comes back as a friendly ghost to guide them through the forest to the helpful lumberjack then I'm out.

Me too, Over. I'm totally over invested and working really hard to avoid spoilers because I'm enjoying the daydreaming too much!

I'm pretty sure I saw the two of them get swept away by the train

I really need to stop listening to Eyes on Gilead with headphones in bed. Terrible habit anyway but it makes for an anxious sleeping experience!!

I too am thinking about THT a lot.... anyone else seeing Gilead everywhere?

Someone was definitely hit by the train. I can’t remember who or if it was one or two people but definitely at least one.

It's why Janine was so traumatised I think

Aw man. I hope its not a dream sequence. So, 1980s Dallas.

I wrote a story in primary 5 about a scary adventure and how in yhe end it was all okay because "it was all a dream" . Primary 5 is where that sort of thing should stay.

There's never been a dream sequence before, and it'd be a really weird choice to start now, like that. I'd be shocked if the kiss, the train etc didn't really happen.

Is there a new thread yet?
@Faircastle

Yes if it's a dram I think that's the worst thing a writer can do. I remember being taught that in standard grade English!!

I got the impression that all 4 of the others were killed. 2 hit by the train & 2 shot. I'm clinging onto the hope that the 2 shot weren't actually killed & will make a full recovery...

Weren't there 7 handmaids at one point? I'm sure I counted 7 in either ep 1 or 2 - I watched them back-to-back so I can't remember when it was. I might have to go back & watch them all again to figure out who was missing!

Just checked Nina Kiri's Instagram post & it says Szn 4 Ep 3 so not a spoiler as such, but others may still want to avoid it for now.

I'm pretty sure all 4 are dead. I think J & J's reaction made that clear.

O agree all four are dead. 2 shot, 2 smooshed by train.