The Testaments - Handmaids Tale Sequel has started on Disney + ***contains spoilers***

[EineReiseDurchDieZeit]

It seems pretty good so far, Gilead through a Young Adult gaze.

Anyone watching ?

@FrankieMcGrathThank you. I have watched THT. My 18 & 21 y/o started to but found it too graphic. I wondered whether the Testaments was less graphic (esp sexually)

So far it is - there’s been nothing overt but the violence (bodies hanging, people being amputated) is there.

@FrankieMcGrathThanks that's helpful. I think I'd better watch it first (might need to refresh memory of THT as it's been a while). I bought the Testaments book but, again, it was a while ago and I don't know if the series follows the book very accurately? (don't want to read this thread too carefully as spoilers)

I don’t know, he said he didn’t want to change too much but the timeline didn’t work for Daisy to be Nicole. He didn’t share any further detail about her identity. I personally think the better approach to that would have been to not mess about with the timeline in the first place, but he’s planning 5 seasons so having Daisy appear from the start he can’t really follow the book.

I’ve not read the book but from reading the thread, I don’t think it does follow the book (at least not closely).

Thanks @FrankieMcGrath sorry for the 20 Questions! xx

I hope they create a magnificent back story for Daisy where she was rescued from the very beginning of Gilead pre June's story. Maybe a commander decided he didn't want his daughter to live like this? (Maybe this is why Eleanor Lawrence is unstable and would explain June's connection?). I hope they make it a good one.

I'm a bit disappointed that the story is so far away from the book, i thought that Daisy being Baby Nicole, and her being sent into Gilead which had long wanted her back, was one of the key points. It's odd that they would change it so much, particularly given that surely most viewers would have read the book.

I agree. It's putting me off to be honest.

I'm watching ep 4 now

What was the thing Shunamite(?) was drinking at the start?

I can't remember the book so the deviations are not ruining it for me 😂 I'm enjoying it

Some fermented crap/old wives tale designed to bring on your period was my take on this.

I really didn’t like the book - it was not a patch on The Handmaid’s Tale - and forgot the story almost immediately. Looks like the creators of The Testaments agreed with me! I’m loving the show.

Watching this weeks now, loving the backstory section

I've just finished it. Fascinating, and also quite sad I thought.

I think it was eerie because of the knowledge of real roundups in stadiums under totalitarian regimes

Really enjoyed today’s too! Great backstory arc.

I really enjoyed it too although I read TT few years ago I already knew what happened to Lydia in the stadium. I know the Aunts are evil bitches but you could argue they're doing what they have to do to survive. We'd all like to think we'd do the right thing in a situation like that and rebel or die in a blaze glory but ultimately what most of us want it to not die and that instinct to survive will make people do awful things. And boy Aunt Lydia's manipulation of Commander Judd at the stadium was something else.

Also Aunt Estee when she said she's the original pearl girl who could she be? I thought Nicole at first but she's too old. I just felt it was significant.

Seeing the piles of possessions that had been removed from the women reminded me of seeing similar piles of jewellery and bags in the exhibits at Auschwitz.

It was definitely significant. I’m wondering what that’s about too!

Really enjoyed this latest episode but actually dying to know who aunt Estee is more than daisy to be honest!

When the Aunts were planning the matches did anyone else press pause and take a close up look at Agnes’ file that Aunt Lydia was reading?
It was hard to read clearly but there was some very interesting information on the Maternal Record page……

@tinglywingly Please elaborate. I am rubbish at pausing in apps.

I guess Garth will be matched to Becka. Aunt Lydia was adamant that the old boozer Commander should not marry her and she had no other prospects.
Will Agnes be matched to Judd? Or is it too early for him to be back on the market?