The Handmaid's Tale S4 at C4 pace (no spoilers from Hulu subscribers) Thread 2

[OverByYer]

Under his eye

@Iggi999

I think Luke was shot. June assumed he was dead, but he wasn't - someone must have helped him, but I can't remember who! I think they executed bucket loads of people at the start, both to create fear and because they could. I think the fighting, the resistance and low fertility might be making them slow down a little with the random deaths.

he was shot and then was in an ambulance which crashed somehow and tipped right over, I think the ambulance people/guards were killed or maybe Luke killed one who survived the crash, I can't remember, so he then went on the run with a medical bag and the guy's coat as it was freezing. He ended up in an abandoned church with a fever etc and was picked up by a Mayday patrol I think who initially thought he was Gilead due to the coat. They were all going to Canada so he joined in - i think

@whatsthestory123

why dont they use Artificial insemination on the handmaids as this way they could maybe get more pregnant or would that be against what they believe in and could cause problems in years to come though i doubt that that would bother them

ive just watched Emmerdale and think Nicola looks like june

I think the whole "fertility crisis" is just a smokescreen. If it was really that vital to be producing children then a lot of things that happen in Gilead wouldn't make sense. As PP have said, it's about control.

Series 1 to 3 are on Amazon Prime if you have it without the thousands of adverts each episode on More4 (slight exaggeration but feels like it)

I read the book at A level and loved it. I hated and spent the first tv series saying to myself ‘that’s not what the book said'

Only watching back series 1 before series 2 did I realise I was wrong. They are different but the same

I think the whole "fertility crisis" is just a smokescreen. If it was really that vital to be producing children then a lot of things that happen in Gilead wouldn't make sense. As PP have said, it's about control.

There was that Mexican ambassador who told June her country were prepared to work with Gilead because they had a fertility crisis too though.

In the book the justification’s very much that they’re going back to doing it the Old Testament way, like Rachel & Leah & their handmaids.

When MA wrote the book in the mid 80s artificial insemination probably wasn’t advanced as it is now

@EmpressWitchDoesntBurn

I think the whole "fertility crisis" is just a smokescreen. If it was really that vital to be producing children then a lot of things that happen in Gilead wouldn't make sense. As PP have said, it's about control.

There was that Mexican ambassador who told June her country were prepared to work with Gilead because they had a fertility crisis too though.

In the book the justification’s very much that they’re going back to doing it the Old Testament way, like Rachel & Leah & their handmaids.

Oh yes, there definitely is a fertility problem, but I just don't think they care as much as they make out.

Louise Brown was the first "test tube baby" in 1978. I remember it in the news at the time and thought she was really born in a test tube Although the novel was written after this I don't think anyone could have imagined IVF would become so widespread.

Although the novel was written after this I don't think anyone could have imagined IVF would become so widespread.

Apart from Aldous Huxley.

I watched the 1990 film last night. Very different feel and look. A surprise at the end too. Worth a watch for any fans.

@Twizbe

I watched the 1990 film last night. Very different feel and look. A surprise at the end too. Worth a watch for any fans.

Where can I watch this?

I found it on Apple TV. It's the only place I've found it so far. I rented it for £3.49

@Twizbe

I found it on Apple TV. It's the only place I've found it so far. I rented it for £3.49

Thank you 😊

In the past week I binge watched the show starting from season 1 and I'm fully caught up now. I did find it ridiculous how yet again June is not on the wall and instead is moved to a magdalene colony with very little security or none at all really, and the group of them are left in the van with Aunt Lydia who has been referred to as frail a number of times already. Janine lost an eye back in season 1 for talking back, yet June remains relatively unscathed after all she has done! If they're not going to kill her, how has she not lost an eye, limb, tongue or even a finger yet. Even commanders and their wives have lost body parts for much lesser sins in the eyes of Gilead.

I did enjoy the last episode and the realism of that rebel leader taking advantage of June and Janine who he thinks of as mere sex slaves, just because they are not in the hands of the Gilead men doesn't mean they are safe from rape and abuse. I also appreciated seeing flashbacks from Janine as we have seen snippets from others before but this was the first time seeing some of Janine's former life. I did keep wondering though about the stench from the milk!

I've been wondering if June wasn't put on the wall because Gilead didn't want her to become even more of a martyr and fire up the resistance?

"*I did keep wondering though about the stench from the milk'
*
Exactly! They'd been sitting in the tanker, slowly drying out and fermenting. They must have stunk.

I don't think they would have smelled yet. They were in a chilled tanker. I think once they were in the heat it would slowly start to stink but maybe they managed clean clothes by then? Also, I can't imagine that the rebels would be very focused on personal hygiene and having regular showers, clean clothes and deodorant so in the early hours of it starting to get warm, they might not have noticed over their own stink.

@Freecuthbert what if aunt Lydia is secretly mayday? ....

Like you say, June keeps on surviving and not being hanged for all the various crimes she's committed...

Or they don't wish to turn her into a martyr. Also, if someone wants to die the worst punishment you can give them is to let them live

I feel like it's less of it being a punishment and more that June's just a massive liability at this point, she led the escape of 86 (I think) children plus had Nichole smuggled out, she's "led astray" other handmaids preventing them from fulfilling their duty while evading capture. I feel like she's proven she's more trouble to Gilead than she's worth being alive. I think though if June were to die, it would be the end of THT so I am glad she is being kept alive! I'd like to see more about Nick and his motivations and more behind the scenes discussions that backs up the rationale for keeping June alive, perhaps touching on not wanting to turn her into a martyr. I just don't feel satisfied with her fertility being enough to justify it as we have seen handmaids punished far more harshly for minor infractions.

I am also really looking forward to seeing more about the war in Chicago and what life is like at the front.

what if aunt Lydia is secretly mayday?

If she is that’s an insanely good act she’s putting on!!

@MotionActivatedDog

what if aunt Lydia is secretly mayday?

If she is that’s an insanely good act she’s putting on!!

Like Severus Snape.

@CurbsideProphet

I've been wondering if June wasn't put on the wall because Gilead didn't want her to become even more of a martyr and fire up the resistance?

Good point.

One more sleep! No sporting events clashing tomorrow night either!

My book arrived today!!

@MotionActivatedDog

My book arrived today!!

I'm still waiting - it'll be monday now at least.

Getting rather strange vibes from our parasol today.....