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

[OverByYer]

Under his eye

@EmpressWitchDoesntBurn

Thinking about Commander Lawrence’s comments on Gilead not caring about children - whatever her many faults, I’d say that children’s welfare is still one of Aunt Lydia’s top priorities. I think if anything could turn her, it would be that.

I agree with you RE Aunt Lydia, but then she didn't seem to blink too much when they were threatening to hurt Hannah

That’s true.

Sub titles don’t work on catch up.

They do on All4.

With the programme running, I press the main button to get info on the screen, and down in the bottom right corner is an S button you need to select, and then it asks you to confirm you want subtitles on. I assume it will be similar on other devices.

She knew that bringing Hannah out would make June crack, though.

Although, I think June did say it wouldn't, that she'd accept Hannah being harmed? And once she saw Hannah then of course she recanted. Parents wouldn't be able to tolerate the prospect of their child being harmed, that's brutal torture.

Mind you, Abraham was willing to sacrifice his son, guess that's why he got a mention in three Holy books.

My take was that June didn't believe Commander Lawrence and was calling his bluff. I was shocked when Hannah was really there, I was sure he was lying. We technically still don't know that they would really have hurt her.

I have a horrible suspicion that threatening Hannah was Lawrence and/or Nick's idea, as the thing that would make June crack.

Lawrence's idea I reckon.

I'll be watching THT on Sunday as I can't stand football, never watched a match and I'm certainly not going to start now.

I thought it might have been Nick's idea - didn't he say something like "I'm sorry I had to do that"? I thought perhaps she would interpret it as sorry he'd had to turn her in but actually he meant he was sorry he'd used Hannah against her but it was for her own good.

I flip-flop between Nick theories - I do so want him to be a spy but I can't quite believe he'd be capable of it. Although, I suppose that would probably be one of the first things they'd look for in a spy-recruit - doesn't seem like a spy!

Who thought that the glass box that Hannah was in was going to start to fill with water and that as it filled June would crack and give in. There were two bodies visible form the shot taken from above and two had been shot. The women hit by the train would be in bits along the track.

So why do you think June didnt bash Aunt Lydia's head in? I know their relationship is 'complicated' but I thought June was in a new hard core mindset now.

Yes Auntie. And the train was still rolling along, hiding the remains from view. Shocking moment when they were hit.

I have a theory that they are planting the seeds for the last series to neatly tie to what is in the Testaments. Been so long since I read the Testaments that I can't predict how i think it is going to go so time to go and re-read and come up with lots of theories that are totally wrong! I won't post any of my theories here in case they are spoilers for those who haven't read the book.

Perhaps once I've read the book I can start a thread on how the series may go to lead to the Testaments...

I stopped following The Handmaid's Tale on Twitter as it came up with Spoilers.
I have no idea where it's going, just sad for the Handmaid's who died.

I hope they don't tie it up with The Testaments, because I thought that was a steaming pile of shite!

@LODReturn I agree I think they're taking it in that direction. Although Whatshisname the exec producer & Hulu have already bought the rights and commissioned a separate TV series of The Testaments.

(Also, my phone now autocorrects the word that to THT every time, which is becoming a PiTA )

@BIWI

I hope they don't tie it up with The Testaments, because I thought that was a steaming pile of shite!

This!

Except for the Pearl Girls which I thought was a brilliantly creepy yet plausible idea.

I too was disappointed in the Testaments. It was good in parts but the "twist" was predictable and the ending was a bit fairytale.

The original book is flawless. I read it when I was about 16 and it made me a feminist. I'm 50 and the book still gives me goosebumps. And in all those years very little has changed for women - our rights remain fragile, we die in droves from male violence, governments don't listen to us and our physical needs are disregarded.

The other powerful book that added to my feminism was Invisible Women by Caroline Crido Perez. Not a feel-good or fiction read but it does demonstrate that the needs of 51% of the population have been missed out in a society.

I'd give those and the Female Eunuch to every teenage girl to read.

And then I'd sit back and watch the sisters sort some shit out.

@BIWI

I hope they don't tie it up with The Testaments, because I thought that was a steaming pile of shite!

I thought I was the only one 😯 dreadful book.

@BIWI

I hope they don't tie it up with The Testaments, because I thought that was a steaming pile of shite!

I found my people - I too thought it was absolutely terrible.

I thought the Testaments was rushed out to cash in on the popularity of THT on tv.
However I may be wrong and Margaret Attwood may have had the book all planned out for many years.

I need to re read The Testaments again as have no recollection of it at all ( sorry Margaret!)

The fact that she won an award for it, before it was even published, irritated me from the start.

But the whole thing read like she'd been told by her publishers to wrap it all up. And the ending ...

and then I woke up and it had all been a dream

It always annoys me when a writer wins a prize for an inferior book to make up for the fact that their better book was overlooked at the time.

BIWI it doesn't end like that??
But I think we should stop discussing the testaments tbh as something will be said that seems spoilery sooner or later

The Testaments read a bit like fan fiction of the TV show. However, Margaret Atwood was probably well paid for it and I can’t begrudge someone earning money from art (a bit like Helen Fielding - Cause Celeb was good, Bridget Jones was great but the Bridget Jones sequels were pure silliness).