The Handmaid's Tale season 5 contains spoilers

[IconicKitty]

The new season starts on 14th September in the US. No UK date yet but likely be be later in the year

Trailer:

It looks set to be as dramatic as ever. I'm looking forward to the new series but I hope this will be the last, or it risks being one of those series that goes on too long.

[Title edited by MNHQ at OP's request]

Oh, something that really bugged me.
Hannah writing her name was really important - so why did she write in capitals? She was a young girl when she was captured and would have learned to write her name in lower case (with capital H obviously). Since she won't have done any writing since then, she's hardly going to start changing it is she? She'd just reproduce what she learned.

I guess I'm being pedantic but it's annoying me!

Do they learn to write in capitals to start with in America? (An old MN thread from 2008 suggests they might)

Very good point; that hadn't even occurred to me. A quick Google seems to suggest that teaching children to write in capitals first does seem to be A Thing.

And they don't learn phonetically either from what ive seen. So they learn the letter names.

Wasn’t sure why June was looking upset when Nick told her his wife was pregnant surely that ship has well sailed

I suspect she's always held out hope that she has someone 100% devoted to her on the inside and if he could, he would risk his life to get Hannah to her.

Now she knows that he has something to stay alive in Gilead for, she has sort drawn a line under that (remote) possibility.

It’s a real shame Janine and Esther’s stories haven’t been explored more during the series, Janine and Aunt Lydia’s relationship developments are worthy of a few mentions in the episodes surely!!

Agreed.

Yes it seems they've completely sidelined those two. Sometimes it would be good to see less of June!

It seems like they are trying to shoehorn Lydia into places that don’t feel like natural Aunt territory to me. I’m not buying that she would be a weird kind of relationship broker/PA for Lawrence and Mrs Putnam. Or a chaperone at baby shower. Are they trying to force the Lydia-being-kind point ? Wouldn’t she be busy herding handmaids?

Another thing that’s bugging me, we keep hearing that Gilead is ‘working’ ie the birth rate is improving and Lawrence even claimed he’d saved humanity. What are we supposed to attribute this to? Is it just because of the handmaid system, but if so that doesn’t explain Serena or Rose’s pregnancies. Are Gilead literally supposed to have cleaned up the ‘toxins’ or whatever that other states do not seem to have managed?

In the testaments Aunt Lydia developed quite a lot of power as she used her knowledge of others misdeeds to blackmail them into giving her authourity. Pretty sure she murders another aunt in order to get the top spot for herself, it's been a while though so might be wrong.

I think they are developing her character so it makes sense next season.

She and Lawrence had discussions at the start of the season about improving Gilead overall and seem to have a you scratch my back sort of relationship.

Up until the point she lost the girls at the train track, Lydia was one of the most powerful Aunts. She's had a setback, but I think she just wants a world where "her girls" (aka the Handmaids) are treated kindly (as can be for the system).

She probably also recognises that no Handmaid system = fewer Aunts to manage them.

Am up to date now, watched the latest episode twice, absolutely love THMT, it's my favourite drama series so far. Can't wait for the next episode, I'm so intrigued to find out what happens.

Thanks to whatsthestory123 for the link once again, would hate to watch it at channel 4 pace! Although I do re-watch it on Sunday night and read the No Spoiler's thread. Praise be. God, I* *love the phrases.

Can anyone do all the phrases and meanings - like the Line of Duty ones?

Currently re-watching the series, up to season 4 now, have forgotten so much about it. Praise be.

Just watched the latest episode.
Who in their right mind would let Serena out of their site with her baby to escape! How do these commanders get so much power when they make the silliest of mistakes!
I'm so confused by Nick and Lawrence too. Does Lawrence arrange the hit on June at the end or are they just firing shots at anyone?

I don't want this series to end 😔 really hope it's heading towards The Testaments

Oh my. My jaw is on the floor.

I'm just watching this week's episode. I'm so sad it's the last one, and oddly jealous of those who are watching at UK pace and still have it to look forward to.

Season Five has been absoloutley exceptional. I think my favourite after s1.

It’s ended with too many questions and too many cliffhangers, I’m not happy!!!! 😂

OMG.... I need series 6. Now. Right now.

Totally agreed. It's been phenomenal. Those last 2 episodes were something else.

I can't find this anywhere. Amazon won't play beyond episode 7 for me. Where can I find the remaining episodes?

^ x

That ending was perfect. Thelma & Louise vibes.

Well, that was all very dramatic!
So glad to see Janine and Nick following their hearts instead of their heads - am worried about them now, though.
It got hopeful at one point in this season but it seems decidedly unhopeful now
Will Serena and June become uneasy allies???!