The Handmaids Tale S4 at C4 pace (no spoilers) thread 3

[MotionActivatedDog]

New thread!

Why would Canada send Serena back to Gilead? They want to prosecute her for war crimes.

Nick is definitely up to something

LOVED the constant male/female power roller coaster theme.

June being let down by ANOTHER man (Tuello) was very interesting I thought.

With the Waterfords - is it just Fred who now has immunity in exchange for info? Or Serena too?

I do not think June and Nick met in Canada. Gilead only makes up the small North Eastern part of the current US. They probably met somewhere in the US not controlled by Gilead.

Nick can't flip. June offered up his co-operation last season and they said no because of what he did. That is why I think he was part of the original terror group when Gilead overthrew the government.

Will Janine be an aunt?

Yes I too think they’ll make Janine an Aunt

I don't Hinstock wants to go to Canada. To sit in a prison cell and negotiate a way out back to Avaerage Joe status?

He's SOMEONE in Gilead. He's important, listened to, feared. He can make people, do things. He's been no one before, and he doesn't want to go back. I do think he has feelings for June, but he can put them to one side, like his wedding ring. He knows he'll get to have more babies (pr die).

I don't Hinstock = I don't think Nick...

I was wondering if June would offer Lawrence herself in return for Hannah.

@Schweetheart

Yes I too think they’ll make Janine an Aunt

I was wondering that too. What a plot twist that would be but it seems that it's only Lydia that wants Janine to stick around. As the others said favouritism would set a precedent. What a contrast we see in Lydia. At the very start she was evil and sadistic but she seems to have turned the other way. Will it last?

@Formaldeheidi

The very last scene really resonated with me and I’m sure it’ll resonate with millions of other women too.

Yes, our shitty legal system would get the same response.

@MotionActivatedDog

I think nick would be in prison in Canada. At least in Gilead he has some power over himself.

Couldn't he do the same deal as Fred Waterford? Surely nick has a shed load of info. Very strange he wouldn't hand himself in and make a deal...

Tuello doesn't have the power to drop the charges against Fred and Serena. The International Court did that (implausibly IMO). He does seem excited about it though.

I wondered if Cmdr Lawrence was offered an escape (and immunity from prosecution in Canada? Would he need that?) would he agree to help get Hannah out.

Couldn't he do the same deal as Fred Waterford? Surely nick has a shed load of info. Very strange he wouldn't hand himself in and make a deal.

Yes I agree, very strange. The obvious answer is as you say- he gives info for immunity. I think the writers haven’t actually decided who nick is yet so they’re keeping him as a mystery to us too.

No, Gilead has taken over the vast majority of the US. Some area on the periphery are still occupied by rebels with wars happening (as we saw in Chicago) but Gilead have majority control. Many areas are 'colonies' too though, which are uninhabitable die to the nuclear waste, but even those are Gilead. Only Alaska and Hawaii are still US territories.

There was a map somewhere once.

Map

Didn't Nick say Hannah is in the Western District? That is not marked on the map. Obviously I know roughly where it must be, but... did they mention Colarado Springs?

Yes Colorado Springs.

What a fantastic episode! I was SO tense watching June and Nick convinced he'd set her up, I actually paused and took breaths when he went to get the dolly 😂

Poor Luke, he really loves June but he has to square it with himself he loves the 'old' June. Who doesn't exist anymore

I actually don't blame Tuello for his decision. His focus has never just been the Waterford's it's been about taking Gilead down completely. And Fred could now be a key component in doing this. The Putnam visit creeped me out. It was very much a 'we want your baby but don't value you' message - ironic really because they fully created a world where babies and not women were important

Although looking at that map it looks like Colorado Springs is slap bang in the middle of the colonies!

I like how Serena got a taste of being a handmaid with Naomi's "we'll raise your son"

The more this goes on, the more convinced I am that Nick is a double (triple?) agent covering Gilead, Mayday & Canada.

I wonder if Esther will end up as Nick’s handmaid?
It seems like they are setting her up for a bigger role next season maybe?

How can Canada rely on Fred's intel. He's a Gilead Commander through and through who is compromised and says he will provide info. His views haven't changed and I can't imagine him giving quality information... how can they trust him. They can't quantify anything he says

He's just suggested to his wife that she write a book, completely against Gilead laws - I don't think he is what you'd call a true believer.
The supporters we saw in Canada won't be too happy when he turns!