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.

Could be @GinPink

Not that this clears things up, but are there parts of the USA that are still not part of gilead?

Only Alaska and Hawaii.

@GinPink

She had a deal didn't she, and then they u-turned on it but I can't remember why now

It's because her husband the commander told the Canadian authorities that Serena was also guilty of crimes herself, like when she forced June to have sex with Nick.

How would Fred have known that though? Serena did it to get June pregnant by another man (Nick) to pretend it's Fred's?

I'm also confused. Why would this commander give the HM shelter? What's in it for him if he's been pimping his young wife out?

Also, bet she cut that rapist's todger off with her big knife.

I don’t think he knows they are the on-the-run handmaids. He thinks they are Martha’s working on his farm. He appears not to have all his faculties, doesn’t recall that Esther is his wife or what her name is so I think it must be easy enough to keep him in the dark.

It did not look like a 'clean' kill, that's for sure!!

That makes sense, Uhtred

The other thing that had me going "what?" was "home made penicillin".

Right.

I'll come back tomorrow but there is a map of Gilead. It was referenced a couple of series ago.

Alaska, Hawaii - still the US.

Chicago, California, bits around Canadian border - areas of conflict.

Mid West - the bits that were nuked (we think) and are now known as the colonies.

Gilead proper is mostly the North East of the current US.

I think Serena exchanged Fred for fertility treatment and freedom. She did a deal with Mark Tuello (remember coconuts and treason)? There was a recap at the beginning of series 4 episode 1 on this but but Fred refused so Serena tricked him and got him arrested, over the border in Canada.

As others have said, she claimed she had no power and everything she had done in Gilead was upon fear of death, it was the men making the decisions and she was a victim too. Then Fred took his revenge by reporting her for what she did to June and Nick - which as Fred pointed out wasn't within the laws of Gilead, or God ie she chose to do that herself.

@NewYearNewTwatName

I still don't understand what happened at the farm, that the commander is no longer in charge?

are they drugging him?

Either drugging him or he's got Alzheimer's or Dementia.

How would Fred have known that though? Serena did it to get June pregnant by another man (Nick) to pretend it's Fred's?

When they first find out that June is pregnant Serena tells Fred it's not his baby. She tells him he isn't worthy of fathering a child or something.

I'm in. I have waited for this for so long.

Place marking.

Are we allowed to mention stuff from The Testaments or is that spoilers??

@hopeishere

Place marking.

Are we allowed to mention stuff from The Testaments or is that spoilers??

Is it even relevant or a different narrative? I haven't watched episode 1 yet.

The ending was so brutal I found it shocking coming from the women, but I suppose they will maybe need to remember how violent they can be, to be able to escape. It's never as straightforward as showing mercy because you know how it is to be victimised, I suppose, but I sort of wanted June to be better than that. Given their circumstances they have to dish out the executions themselves but I found it horrific. This series always has the power to shock, it's got to.

@alloverthecarpetagain

The ending was so brutal I found it shocking coming from the women, but I suppose they will maybe need to remember how violent they can be, to be able to escape. It's never as straightforward as showing mercy because you know how it is to be victimised, I suppose, but I sort of wanted June to be better than that. Given their circumstances they have to dish out the executions themselves but I found it horrific. This series always has the power to shock, it's got to.

It was horrific but these are women who have been kidnapped, trafficked, systematically raped, had their children stolen. They are traumatised to a level that few can understand.

I'm still not sure why Serena is allowed contact with Nicole. Under US / Canadian laws then Serena has no parental responsibility for Nicole.

@hopeishere

Place marking.

Are we allowed to mention stuff from The Testaments or is that spoilers??

I don't know. We weren't allowed to mention stuff from the original book last time, as the TV series is a different story line.

@JoJoandGreg

I'm still not sure why Serena is allowed contact with Nicole. Under US / Canadian laws then Serena has no parental responsibility for Nicole.

I think she was allowed contact as part of the deal she arranged re shopping Fred and colluding in his arrest. However, when Fred turned the tables and said how she was implicated in June’s rape by Nick then the deal was off the table, including contact.

Hello

So just one question.

Who was driving the truck at the beginning that they were hiding in?

@GinPink I think the enemy territory comment was about being outside the farm…. Which they consider safe. Outside means Gilead, eyes etc… inside… they have relative safety.

I'm watching in Ireland on RTE2 and we are 3 episodes ahead of Channel 4.
It's interesting to read your comments, as I know no one watching it here.
I promise no spoilers.

Aunt Lydia was beaten up by Janine

I don’t understand who the other men on the farm are and clearly they know the “female farmhands” are hiding out there

Although at the music party two of them were snogging so I assume they are doing their own personal version of “hiding out” as homosexuality is punishable by death in Gilead

All very interesting, and terrifying

I think those men are commander Keyes guards? And now that he is senile? They can get away with being more relaxed.