The Handmaid's Tale - Hulu Original (**Spoilers**)

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Exclamation Marc wrote: »

That's a bit disingenuous to be honest and missing the point of people's concerns. Love/Hate, Breaking Bad etc present nowhere near the same level of consistent misery with every little glimmer of hope or happiness crushed soon after. Those shows had redemption, happiness and laughs which balanced out the drama, this doesn't.

Also, people have less tv time these days, they don't want to be facing consistent misery, violence, rape, slavery, pain, torture, emotional distress etc. with little happiness or pay off.

The whole point about The Handmaid's Tale is that the Republic of Gilead is meant to be a horrid, paranoid, hypocritical fearful place with little joy (apart from Serena that is!!) and where no one is safe. Love/Hate and Breaking Bad on the other hands were set in a normal Ireland and USA where everyday life went on around the goings on of Nidge and Walt White. There was happiness, redemption, laughs and places to hide here unlike Gilead. There are happier scenes in Handmaid's but these are in the flashbacks and in the Canada-set parts but never in Gilead. Gilead is shown to be a dour, repressive, depressing place and the series gives us a very moving depiction of a claustrophobic encroaching dictatorship.

Sleeper12

jewels652 wrote:

I would like to start watching this series but I don’t have Hulu I don’t think is available in Ireland. Is it available on netflix ? Tía

I'm pretty sure that it's on sky boxset

Sleeper12

Exclamation Marc wrote:

Also, people have less tv time these days, they don't want to be facing consistent misery, violence, rape, slavery, pain, torture, emotional distress etc. with little happiness or pay off.

They don't have to watch it though

Exclamation Marc

The Late Late Show wrote: »

The whole point about The Handmaid's Tale is that the Republic of Gilead is meant to be a horrid, paranoid, hypocritical fearful place with little joy (apart from Serena that is!!) and where no one is safe. Love/Hate and Breaking Bad on the other hands were set in a normal Ireland and USA where everyday life went on around the goings on of Nidge and Walt White. There was happiness, redemption, laughs and places to hide here unlike Gilead. There are happier scenes in Handmaid's but these are in the flashbacks and in the Canada-set parts but never in Gilead. Gilead is shown to be a dour, repressive, depressing place and the series gives us a very moving depiction of a claustrophobic encroaching dictatorship.

Well, sorry, you're wrong and if that's your genuine opinion you've a very short memory. The first season was able to find the balance and wasn't all horrid, paranoid etc., there were genuine happy moments. The first season which was based on the book was a very accurate representation of Gilead and the actual story that was told and intended to be told (albeit with some TV tweaks and elongation for narrative). Season two went full misery and ramped up the harsher elements testing a lot of viewers which is very evident on lots of mediums. The differences between season one and two are stark and harsh where the Gilead and the Handmaid's Tale in general in season one and two are worlds apart in tone.

Sleeper12 wrote: »

They don't have to watch it though

This is the most ignorant, uneducated and pathetic comeback to any criticism. Most people enjoyed season one; the one that the original book was based off and the one that contained lots of sadness but just enough happiness to keep people locked in so they're already invested. Season two flipped it and became misery porn. People are allowed watch something and wish it was as good as when it started.

Also, the ending of season two was ridiculous and stank of abysmal TV writing.

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Exclamation Marc wrote: »

Well, sorry, you're wrong and if that's your genuine opinion you've a very short memory. The first season was able to find the balance and wasn't all horrid, paranoid etc., there were genuine happy moments. The first season which was based on the book was a very accurate representation of Gilead and the actual story that was told and intended to be told (albeit with some TV tweaks and elongation for narrative). Season two went full misery and ramped up the harsher elements testing a lot of viewers which is very evident on lots of mediums. The differences between season one and two are stark and harsh where the Gilead and the Handmaid's Tale in general in season one and two are worlds apart in tone.

This is the most ignorant, uneducated and pathetic comeback to any criticism. Most people enjoyed season one; the one that the original book was based off and the one that contained lots of sadness but just enough happiness to keep people locked in so they're already invested. Season two flipped it and became misery porn. People are allowed watch something and wish it was as good as when it started.

Also, the ending of season two was ridiculous and stank of abysmal TV writing.

I felt that I enjoyed seasons 1 and 2 and found The Handmaid's Tale no different to the other favorite TV series of mine Love/Hate and Breaking Bad. Look at Love/Hate for example: seasons 1 and 2 were more happy than season 5 (Nidge went from happy go lucky to a very paranoid and troubled man caught between his darker and kinder side). Handmaid's season 3 is reported as not going to be as dark as season 2 but all good dramas do have to in my view have a darker season. Breaking Bad jumped into the darker side with the first season and then had happier moments later before getting darker again in the last season, while Handmaid's did it in season 2 and Love/Hate in season 5. As for the season 2 ending in Handmaid's: this has to be explained not as a standalone but in context of season 3 as well. I have my ideas why the ending is there but will not explain here for the benefit of those who yet have to see this great series.

brian_t

jewels652 wrote: »

Hello everyone,

I would like to start watching this series but I don’t have Hulu I don’t think is available in Ireland. Is it available on netflix ?
Tía

Both seasons can be borrowed from your local library.

If you're not already a member it is free to join.

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jewels652 wrote: »

Hello everyone,

I would like to start watching this series but I don’t have Hulu I don’t think is available in Ireland. Is it available on netflix ?
Tía

The 2 seasons are available in shops like Golden Disks or online on DVD.

Stark

Exclamation Marc wrote:

Most people enjoyed season one; the one that the original book was based off and the one that contained lots of sadness but just enough happiness to keep people locked in so they're already invested. Season two flipped it and became misery porn.

I can remember very few happy moments in Season 1/the book. Both were full on misery porn from what I recall. The sense of hopelessness is even more pronounced in the book, although the book has far less graphic violence than the TV show. For example, the TV show has a happy ending for Moira for Luke, whereas in the book it's implied Luke was killed and June never got to see Moira again after the encounter in Jezebels. And the epilogue to the book describes how Gilead persisted for a century or so becoming even more of a ****hole until it eventually collapsed. Whereas the TV show gives some hope that Gilead will be defeated within the characters' lifetimes.

The two most disturbing moments I can remember from the TV show: Janine's right eye removal and Ofglen's genital mutilation are both from season 1.

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Stark wrote: »

I can remember very few happy moments in Season 1/the book. Both were full on misery porn from what I recall. The sense of hopelessness is even more pronounced in the book, although the book has far less graphic violence than the TV show. For example, the TV show has a happy ending for Moira for Luke, whereas in the book it's implied Luke was killed and June never got to see Moira again after the encounter in Jezebels. And the epilogue to the book describes how Gilead persisted for a century or so becoming even more of a ****hole until it eventually collapsed. Whereas the TV show gives some hope that Gilead will be defeated within the characters' lifetimes.

The two most disturbing moments I can remember from the TV show: Janine's right eye removal and Ofglen's genital mutilation are both from season 1.

The whole idea of The Handmaid's Tale is to portray a brutal, controlling paranoid dictatorship for what it is. I have met people from Afghanistan and Syria who lived under similar and they can identify with many of the situations shown on Handmaid's. Handmaid's is not watered down stuff like Rebellion and is all the better for it. It is to dictatorships what Breaking Bad and Love/Hate are to the drug world.

Sleeper12

Exclamation Marc wrote:

This is the most ignorant, uneducated and pathetic comeback to any criticism. Most people enjoyed season one; the one that the original book was based off and the one that contained lots of sadness but just enough happiness to keep people locked in so they're already invested. Season two flipped it and became misery porn. People are allowed watch something and wish it was as good as when it started.

I'm ignorant, uneducated & pathetic?

I'm from the generation of two to four channels. There was no Internet to bitch, moan and whine on. If we like something we watched it. If we didn't like it then we didn't watch it. There are lots of programs that I've seen over the years that went pear shaped. This is the point where you decide to continue to watch or not. I understand that you are the next generation but you have the same options as I had. Watch it or don't watch it

Exclamation Marc

Sleeper12 wrote: »

I'm ignorant, uneducated & pathetic?

I'm from the generation of two to four channels. There was no Internet to bitch, moan and whine on. If we like something we watched it. If we didn't like it then we didn't watch it. There are lots of programs that I've seen over the years that went pear shaped. This is the point where you decide to continue to watch or not. I understand that you are the next generation but you have the same options as I had. Watch it or don't watch it

No, your response was, not you. When someone criticises something and the response is 'well then just don't watch it', it's immature and dismissive. It also doesn't contribute to any debate or conversation.

People are allowed criticise it and want it to be better without being told that they just shouldn't watch it.

I really enjoyed season one. Season two was demonstrably much harsher and much more misery focused and I didn't enjoy it as much. It laboured points too harsh and overdid the misery, and that was widely reflected in the majority of critical opinion of season two. And it's rare that I give up on programmes.

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Anyone know when The Handmaid's Tale season 3 is on RTE or the UK channels?

corkie

The Late Late Show wrote: »

Anyone know when The Handmaid's Tale season 3 is on RTE or the UK channels?

It is only premiering in US on the 5th June!

So maybe around the same time or a few weeks/months latter for IE/UK Channels.

The Handmaid’s Tale begins on Wednesday 5th June 2019 in the US on Hulu. Channel 4 will broadcast the show at a later date in the UK.

Season two arrived in the UK around a month after the US broadcast, and we can expect a similar time frame for season three.

https://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2019-05-22/the-handmaids-tale-season-3-us-uk-release-date-time-channel-trailer-cast-plot-hulu-channel-4/

There hasn't been an exact date set (yet) for when the drama will return to RTÉ2, but we're keeping our fingers crossed it won't be too far behind.

The station was the first to air season two of the drama, with episodes premiering the day after its North American broadcast.

https://www.her.ie/entertainment/release-date-season-three-handmaids-tale-revealed-449703

iguana

Last year RTE was broadcasting it a couple of days after it aired in the US.

nomdeboardie

There have been "coming soon" ads on Channel 4 (I think) - not specifying date, but presumably soon

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iguana wrote: »

Last year RTE was broadcasting it a couple of days after it aired in the US.

RTE are showing series 2 on Wednesdays and are at episode 11 now. They started showing 2 episodes at a time the last few weeks with the final 2, episodes 12 and 13, next Wednesday. So, it may be the same as last year: shown on 6th June, the day after it premiers on Hulu/MGM.

corkie

brian_t wrote: »

The Handmaid's Tale season 3 starts on RTE Two on Thursday 6th June at 9.35pm (Double-bill)

Galwayguy35

This is one of those rare occasions when I see my license fee being spent on something worthwhile by RTE

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Galwayguy35 wrote: »

This is one of those rare occasions when I see my license fee being spent on something worthwhile by RTE

True. The Handmaid's Tale is one of the few things I watch on RTE 2. Sadly, RTE's own dramas are not being inspired by The Handmaid's Tale. Not one decent RTE drama since Love/Hate.

Gimme A Pound

The book is not as visceral as the TV series. It leaves much of the punishment to the reader's imagination. A number of them aren't in the book at all. Aunt Lydia is only a minor character. The Waterfords aren't as blatantly evil. And the colonies are only talked about.

The book is still grim and nightmarish as **** but I think the TV series pours on the brutality much more thickly. That's the world it is though - those are the kinds of extremes which are gone to, in order to keep everyone so utterly controlled and in fear. And as dissent becomes evident (like an act of rebellion - e.g. the bomb at the Rachel & Leah Centre) things ARE ramped up. I can see why people give up because it's too much for them, but I don't think it's exploitative.

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Kingsley Massive Vacuum wrote: »

The book is not as visceral as the TV series. It leaves much of the punishment to the reader's imagination. A number of them aren't in the book at all. Aunt Lydia is only a minor character. The Waterfords aren't as blatantly evil. And the colonies are only talked about.

The book is still grim and nightmarish as **** but I think the TV series pours on the brutality much more thickly. That's the world it is though - those are the kinds of extremes which are gone to, in order to keep everyone so utterly controlled and in fear. And as dissent becomes evident (like an act of rebellion - e.g. the bomb at the Rachel & Leah Centre) things ARE ramped up. I can see why people give up because it's too much for them, but I don't think it's exploitative.

Yes, there are some differences between the series, the film and the book. For example, in the film version

Commander Fred is murdered by Offred

whereas in the book, Offred

mentioned she would like to kill him but doesn't

. The series has yet to decide how things end for that character. As well as this, Nick's background isn't told in the book or film but is in the series. The wedding praygavanza scene is detailed in the book too but isn't related at all to Nick. Also,

the shooting odf the Martha in season 2 is in the book but in a different context

and

Serena getting shot at is in the book too

. The other major difference is the

end of the first episode was actually more of a later scene in both the book and film versions

.

This is a brutal world and the series are not afraid to show it for what it is. One of RTE's tame Amy Hubermann dramas this most certainly is not and that's a good thing. The Handmaid's Tale speaks for all those living under brutal realworld regimes like Saudi Arabia, ISIS, Boko Haram, Lord's Resistance Army and Taliban/Al Qaeda. It is the world of Hitler, of Pol Pot, of Milosevic and of Ceausescu too. It also is a warning for modern America: Tea Party rallies scare me and are exactly like those flashback scenes in The Handmaid's Tale. A few weak moves by a weak president like Trump and Gilead could be one possible future America in the post-Trump era. Let's hope this doesn't come to pass but the likes of Ted Cruz are very scary.

Gimme A Pound

Yeah it's beyond idiocy to say America right now is like The Handmaid's Tale - and an insult to women living in Saudi Arabia, India, Pakistan, the list goes on... but there are folk in America who do think along the lines of the powers that be in The Handmaid's Tale. And not just religious ones either. I dislike feminism today but the backlash against it has also laid bare utterly vile attitudes towards women in general.

Forgot about the movie actually. It's not well regarded but I think they did as good a job as they could with the resources they had. Great cast too.

brian_t

corkie wrote: »

Thursday 6th June at 9.35pm on RTE2 (Double-bill)

Seems to be starting on C4 on Sunday 9th June at 9pm. (No Double-bill)

Thargor

Great news, thought this was a year away yet.

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Kingsley Massive Vacuum wrote: »

Yeah it's beyond idiocy to say America right now is like The Handmaid's Tale - and an insult to women living in Saudi Arabia, India, Pakistan, the list goes on... but there are folk in America who do think along the lines of the powers that be in The Handmaid's Tale. And not just religious ones either. I dislike feminism today but the backlash against it has also laid bare utterly vile attitudes towards women in general.

Forgot about the movie actually. It's not well regarded but I think they did as good a job as they could with the resources they had. Great cast too.

The Handmaid's Tale is a warning and today's America is not like Gilead right now for sure but there are worrying individuals who could create it for sure and have already created it. But probably not as it turns out in America but in some place they go to war against: ISIS were a REAL Gilead that came about out of the Iraq war. In Handmaid's, we are aware a war is happening on American soil and hence the awful world we see there.

The Handmaid's Tale film is very good in my view and underrated. A lot of this is because it was released at a time when dystopia appeared further away than ever. 1989 was the year of peace and velvet revolution in the eyes of the world, even if a lot of this wasn't quite as rose tinted as was let on.

Dandelion6

Kingsley Massive Vacuum wrote: »

Forgot about the movie actually. It's not well regarded but I think they did as good a job as they could with the resources they had. Great cast too.

:eek:

Natasha Richardson was all wrong for the role. She played it so emotionless it was hard to sympathise with her.

Gimme A Pound

I said cast though, not lead actress.

Robert Duvall, Faye Dunaway, Aidan Quinn... pretty impressive line-up.

spurious

iguana wrote: »

Last year RTE was broadcasting it a couple of days after it aired in the US.

They have a history of getting some series before the UK. As kids we used to joke they robbed it off the plane at Shannon.

Good for them.

Still think the book was better, or maybe it just had a big influence on me back in the 80s. Must-re-read it.

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Kingsley Massive Vacuum wrote: »

I said cast though, not lead actress.

Robert Duvall, Faye Dunaway, Aidan Quinn... pretty impressive line-up.

I watched the film the other night in preparation for the new series. The film has a very good cast and is underrated. Similarly, Kevin Costner's The Postman is often unfairly panned: watched that recently too and the world in it is very like Gilead and I feel this is the same universe showing other aspects of what goes on. The Holnists and the Sons of Jacob are the same type of organisations.

I feel both the film of Handmaid's and The Postman were underappreciated because they were done in a non-dystopian era between the 'end' of the original cold war and 9/11.

bodhrandude

I'm curious about how Aunt Lydia is and I'm also curious about this new captain who appeared in the last two episodes of season 2, can't wait.