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

[OverByYer]

Under his eye

I actually also liked how the journey from Gilead to Canada was a difficult one. Apart from the checkpoint it wasn't hugely difficult physically but what an emotional challenge for her. What was she leaving behind? How would Luke take her not having Hannah. In the flashbacks she was basically asking him if she couldn't get pregnant would she be enough? Then she apologised for it only being her.

That followed by the Paralympic ad

A bit destroyed here

The more I see of Luke the less I like him

@TheSpottedZebra

I still didn't really get what happened with Nick / Commander Lawrence / the aerial bombardment.

Commander Lawrence wanted back onto the board of commanders so he had some power and he wanted a ceasefire. He used the information (dirt) aunt Lydia gave him on the other commanders to blackmail them into letting him back on the board. It’s not clear whose decision it was to bomb. I suspect it was the boss commander (price?) who said “ok Lawrence, fine, you can come back on the board and have your ceasefire but we’ll have a bombing strike first” and he probably felt he had to agree. So then they told nick who is in charge of that stuff that he had to bomb Chicago.

@GoingGently

So do we think janine is dead now?

I don't think so for some reason. We might find her later on again. But where? Will she be a handmaid again? How awful.

@CloseYourEyesAndSee I remember it from a judgemental gilead perspective but not from the perspective of June's own insecurities. But there's a huge amount I can't remember so I am sure you're right!

I agree this could have been half the episode I would have liked to see other characters stories too it was a bit slow. I get that she felt she had to bring Hannah back to luke as she had previously sent the tape about Nicole being born out of love etc

So June feels like she has to go back for.. Hannah, Nick and Janine?

I wanted a big scene for when she finally escaped like when emily got back with the baby and everyone clapped for her

@Breathmiller is everyone else dead?

I wonder what happened to the young wife at the farm. Can't remember her name

Ok, so I have the all4 app on my smart tv but it does not show 'live'. So had to watch on laptop and it kept freezing every time the ads came on so I would have to put the computer to sleep and open again. What happened when it was June's turn to be checked by the baddies?

@OverByYer

The more I see of Luke the less I like him

Yeah. I’ve always felt there was something off about luke.

@OverByYer

The more I see of Luke the less I like him

Agreed. I felt slightly ill at June worrying if she disappointed him in the future.

A man who had an affair and she is worried about being the disappointment 🤦🏼‍♀️

I do understand the dilemma of the rescuers because they operate within certain parameters with Gilead. Smuggling in their highest asset is going to cause more death and destruction to people and potentially prevent them being able to continue their humanitarian work. So although they can print a pass etc it's a really difficult choice to make.

I found it a bit silly this week. June drove me mad with the expressionless face concussion notwithstanding.

I liked that episode. It wasn't wall-to-wall excruciating violence for a change! And yet I was on the edge of my seat. I found her steps out into freedom to be quite understated and all the more powerful for it. So emotionally charged. I also like Luke and am interested in their relationship going forward. Now we need to get Hannah AND JANINE out. I love Janine.

Do Gilead have to find out that June has been smuggled out? Do Canada have to declare it?

@MotionActivatedDog Commander Price died in series 2 when Ofglen #2 blew herself up. Are you thinking of Putnam?

Yes Putnam!! Thank you.

He was the one telling nick he has to bomb Chicago?

I thought that was a great episode! It would have been easy for her finally making it out to feel too easy and anticlimactic but it showed how hard it was for her.

Totally agree what an anti climax

Too much recap - do they think we have sieve memories? Made the episode feel far too short with far too many ads. I don’t think Janine is dead either, unless you actually see someone die never assume anything. I don’t know I was a bit underwhelmed by the Luke reunion.

Nick needs to rescue Janine, swoop in and pick up Hannah then shimmy over the border, yeah?

Why couldn't they take people out and had to be checked by the police before? I remember previous series where they were constantly smuggling people out and Canada seemed to want them to. That's how Moria and Luke got out to start with.

@cleocleo16

Why couldn't they take people out and had to be checked by the police before? I remember previous series where they were constantly smuggling people out and Canada seemed to want them to. That's how Moria and Luke got out to start with.

I think it's enforced by gilead not Canada... they can only come in and give food and medical aid if they don't rescue anyone

@TheUnquestionedAnswer

Ok, so I have the all4 app on my smart tv but it does not show 'live'. So had to watch on laptop and it kept freezing every time the ads came on so I would have to put the computer to sleep and open again. What happened when it was June's turn to be checked by the baddies?

They got her an ID. Moira was questioned briefly and sent through. Then it was June's turn. She said her new name and the guard took a look at her and asked her what had happened to her. June said nothing, looked blank and unhinged. Moira calls over that she was caught up in the bombing. She then said something nice to the guard, can't remember what, who seemed to soften and allowed June through too. He was being rushed on by another guard asking if he was finished.