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

Agent Coulson

I protected your wife.

The darkness is still inside her.


Whoever is picking the soundtrack to this series deserves an award.

Cruel to be kind.

Stark

Going to be interesting to see what happens with Luke now that they know he has Nicole. I'm sure Gilead has a few secret operatives in Canada they can dispatch. He never was the brightest.

ziedth

I genuinely like the show but June's contant stupidity really is distracting at this point. Agreeing to the meeting I can agree with but sending that tape that if heard by one person would have got them all killed is beyond all.

They could at least have done it so she doesn't give any details or name names so if heard it could have come from anyone at any time.

If Canada play ball with the request for the baby to be returned then all semblance of "realism" goes flying out the window I think.

Stark

To be honest, I'm finding it hard to continue suspending disbelief with all the stunts June has pulled in the last two seasons and no consequences. Other handmaids have been maimed/killed for far less.

Gimme A Pound

Yeah it's hugely dubious by now. The authorities just accepting a weak explanation for Emily kidnapping the baby at another home and going on the run? It seems unlikely that Fred would have just left it at that. He was ordered around by his wife and Nick - yeah right. The house fire - no mention of the story given to explain its cause? June did get punished for her stunt at the McKenzie home but I'd have thought that would be sure death given all the other stuff she's done in defiance of Gilead.

And no questioning of Commander Lawrence?

Also his u-turns in personality seem very far fetched. He goes from being genuinely reasonable towards the women - and a critic of the regime (if not explicitly in his verbiage but it still looks that way) to a woman loathing arsehole at the drop of a hat. And it's not faked for his buddies because he doesn't do that.

Bit silly overall, but like The Affair (which has followed a similar trajectory) I'll be hooked.

extra gravy

Episode 5... If the baby ends up back with Serena then I'm giving up on the show. It's getting boring now.

Credit Checker Moose

It's probably the only way they can keep the story going.

Shelga

Well I like that in episode 5 the writers seemed to finally remember that Serena is an evil person who cannot be trusted under any circumstances. Seemed like they’d forgotten for a while and had pushed the ever-so-slightly-more-sympathetic side of her character far too much.

SusieBlue

This is just getting annoying now, having Nicole come back will seriously delay the progress of the story. Its becoming tedious.

Nicole was sorted, this season should have been about getting Hannah out, next season June out, and a finale season to focus on the uprising and rebellion against Gilead. Even at that, it would be seriously dragging the arse out of the story. But now Nicole is probably coming back and June has lost an ally in Serena?

The only saving grace might be the tape June sent Luke. That confirms that Fred isn't the father of her child, so Canada have no reason to handover a child to people who aren't her parents. I know Luke isn't her dad, but he is June's wife, and that must count for something.
So hopefully if push comes to shove that might save the baby from being handed back over to the Waterfords.

Either way the lack of progression and the slow pace is getting very frustrating.

The Late Late Show

Episode 4 was very good. Aunt Lydia's backstory will be interesting. Was this the first time she actually cried in the series? She commits an awful act and then regrets it not only when alone but in front of Gilead's elite who even seemed shocked by her actions. I get a feeling she was an abuse victim who became a nun or something before Gilead.

Thargor

Fecks sake this trend of making every new series so dark that you can barely make out whats happening in a scene is so irritating, I have the brightness at max and Im looking at silhouettes talking to each other and shuffling around dark rooms here...

The Rapture

We need more shots of Offherself standing silently slowly turning up the gurn.

They really ad to the entertainment stakes.

Anyway, did enjoy the end titles tune.

Sardonicat

The Rapture wrote: »

We need more shots of Offherself standing silently slowly turning up the gurn.

They really ad to the entertainment stakes.

Anyway, did enjoy the end titles tune.

Don’t forget the clenched fists! For someone who can act with brilliant physical subtlety it can only be assumed that Elizabeth Moss has been instructed by her director to play the character as an angry face emoji which is a waste of her talent and an insult to viewers.

iamwhoiam

Sardonicat wrote: »

Don’t forget the clenched fists! For someone who can act with brilliant physical subtlety it can only be assumed that Elizabeth Moss has been instructed by her director to play the character as an angry face emoji which is a waste of her talent and an insult to viewers.

And the killer looks with her eyes to the side looking left

Sardonicat

iamwhoiam wrote: »

And the killer looks with her eyes to the side looking left

They're just one step away from having a thought bubble coming out of her head. Maybe they tried but the 'wings' got in the way.

Thargor

Yeah thats another thing I meant to say aswell, the terrified beaten down nature of the Handmaids was what made the show so terrifying and gripping in the first place, making her all smug and "woke" is going to wreck it.

Walter E GO

Alabama has just become Gilead.
https://edition.cnn.com/2019/06/21/politics/alabama-megachurch-police-force-trnd/index.html

Barna77

Stark wrote: »

To be honest, I'm finding it hard to continue suspending disbelief with all the stunts June has pulled in the last two seasons and no consequences. Other handmaids have been maimed/killed for far less.

My thoughts too. She's getting away with anything she does.

Sittingpretty

It has run its course for me.

I presume this is the final series?

iguana

Sittingpretty wrote: »

It has run its course for me.

I presume this is the final series?

I don't think so. The showrunner has talked about having 10 seasons in mind. And yes, there could be potential for 10 great seasons of television in the world of The Handmaid's Tale. Expansion into the rest of the world, the resistance in the non Gilead areas of the US. The efforts American refugees are going to in spreading the word on what is happening in Gilead, especially the stir Moira could create by letting the world know about Jezebels and the utter hypocrisy of the Commanders. Life for different people in Gilead, the econo-families, other handmaids, wives, eyes, guardians, etc. But it would take a willingness to follow through on the obvious consequences for the characters.

The Waterfords would not have survived recent events. If they had managed to make it to the end of S2, Nicole's kidnap and June showing up at her other daughter's home would have been the end of the road for them. In the world of Gilead Fred should be dead and Serena should be at Jezebels. June who constantly escapes and ends up in places she shouldn't be, would be dead or permanently chained in a basement. She should have gotten to Canada or at least into an area where there is a pocket of resistance. Luke, Moira and Erin should do more than have moody drinks and dinners. The existence of Nicole should be a massive deal, Emily wouldn't just hand her over to Luke and everyone just go along with it. There is a massive world wide baby shortage. Nicole's well being would be absolutely considered paramount by the Canadian and remaining US governments. Luke could be a campaigning celebrity highlighting all that is wrong in Gilead and demanding his wife and daughter back.

But the show seems to hold status quo as king. Very, very little changes. Side characters eventually have things happen, like Moira and Emily both escaping, but then they are side-lined further rather than utilised properly. Meanwhile June stays in Gilead in situations inconsistent with the world Gilead was shown to be. While Fred and Serena remain as major characters for no reason other than an unwillingness to change the dynamic of the show.

gozunda

Sardonicat wrote: »

The Rapture wrote: »

We need more shots of Offherself standing silently slowly turning up the gurn.
They really ad to the entertainment stakes.Anyway, did enjoy the end titles tune.

Don’t forget the clenched fists! For someone who can act with brilliant physical subtlety it can only be assumed that Elizabeth Moss has been instructed by her director to play the character as an angry face emoji which is a waste of her talent and an insult to viewers.

Reminds me of this ...



Though tbh I can see where this should have a place where June as a Handmaid is otherwise powerless but resorts to bouts of internal rage followed by barely suppressed murderous thoughts lol. The handmaids are treated as children and referred to as "good girls" etc

Much like the behavioral response of the little girl in the photo ...

Stark

Thargor wrote: »

Fecks sake this trend of making every new series so dark that you can barely make out whats happening in a scene is so irritating, I have the brightness at max and Im looking at silhouettes talking to each other and shuffling around dark rooms here...

Yeah that's been the case for a couple of shows I've been watching now.

I remember when Farscape was showing on TV and Season 4 went very dark, they came straight out and admitted it was a cost saving thing. Cheaper to turn down the lighting than replace the sets that were ageing. I'm sure that's still the case for quite a few shows going into their later seasons. Though I'm also sure producers are looking at the trend and thinking that must be what "modern" shows are supposed to look like and following suit.

Trying to look artistic and gritty through washed out color palettes is another thing. A lot of shows have that "Matrix" look these days. For example, in the Handmaid's tale, the wives' costumes are meant to be blue but they look green because of the colour saturation.

The Late Late Show

Walter E GO wrote: »

Alabama has just become Gilead.
https://edition.cnn.com/2019/06/21/politics/alabama-megachurch-police-force-trnd/index.html

These places are going to the dogs for sure. Gilead is becoming real the minute Trump lost control of America to Commanders Bolton and Pompeo last year. There are others even worse than Bolton and Pompeo who would push things even further. The next Republican president is going to be scary.

The Late Late Show

iguana wrote: »

I don't think so. The showrunner has talked about having 10 seasons in mind. And yes, there could be potential for 10 great seasons of television in the world of The Handmaid's Tale. Expansion into the rest of the world, the resistance in the non Gilead areas of the US. The efforts American refugees are going to in spreading the word on what is happening in Gilead, especially the stir Moira could create by letting the world know about Jezebels and the utter hypocrisy of the Commanders. Life for different people in Gilead, the econo-families, other handmaids, wives, eyes, guardians, etc. But it would take a willingness to follow through on the obvious consequences for the characters.

The Waterfords would not have survived recent events. If they had managed to make it to the end of S2, Nicole's kidnap and June showing up at her other daughter's home would have been the end of the road for them. In the world of Gilead Fred should be dead and Serena should be at Jezebels. June who constantly escapes and ends up in places she shouldn't be, would be dead or permanently chained in a basement. She should have gotten to Canada or at least into an area where there is a pocket of resistance. Luke, Moira and Erin should do more than have moody drinks and dinners. The existence of Nicole should be a massive deal, Emily wouldn't just hand her over to Luke and everyone just go along with it. There is a massive world wide baby shortage. Nicole's well being would be absolutely considered paramount by the Canadian and remaining US governments. Luke could be a campaigning celebrity highlighting all that is wrong in Gilead and demanding his wife and daughter back.

But the show seems to hold status quo as king. Very, very little changes. Side characters eventually have things happen, like Moira and Emily both escaping, but then they are side-lined further rather than utilised properly. Meanwhile June stays in Gilead in situations inconsistent with the world Gilead was shown to be. While Fred and Serena remain as major characters for no reason other than an unwillingness to change the dynamic of the show.

You can be sure the makers of the series know this. While I enjoy the series very much, I also know there is plenty room for a lot more to be told. But the makers keep The Handmaid's Tale focused on June and her situation for 5 seasons I predict. Then, there will be offshoots perhaps called Gilead or The Testaments exploring the deeper world and the anti-Gilead revolution. In a world where Breaking Bad spawned Better Call Saul and where Game of Thrones is going to get an offshoot, series are made these days to spawn sequels, prequels and offshoots.

Sunrise_Sunset

Not enjoying it anymore, packing it in.
Sometimes watching it, I get the feeling the writer's have no idea what they are doing and what story they are trying to tell. I find June's character to be annoying and I hate the stares she does into the camera. I agree with other comments that she'd be on the wall now if it were anyone else, as would the Waterford's.

Series I've watched in the past that I bored of, I still watched to end, as I felt invested in them. But I just can't anymore. Same goes for The Affair, as someone else mentioned.

Wibbs

Ditto. There's only so much misery porn, preachiness and massive plot holes I can take. I enjoyed the first series where they mined the original high quality source, the second had its moments, but otherwise became tiresome for me.

It has fantastic talent in front and behind the camera which does draw one in and covers up the cracks. However it's like a chef assembled the finest ingredients with an idea of a great meal, but lost the recipe.

gozunda

Wibbs wrote: »

Ditto. There's only so much misery porn, preachiness and massive plot holes I can take. I enjoyed the first series where they mined the original high quality source, the second had its moments, but otherwise became tiresome for me.

It has fantastic talent in front and behind the camera which does draw one in and covers up the cracks. However it's like a chef assembled the finest ingredients with an idea of a great meal, but lost the recipe.

This series does not follow directly from Margaret Atwood's original.

There appears to be a lot more script writing input and less of a defined story line imo

Afaik Margaret Attwood is writing a continuation of the story - this may or may not follow from the TV dramatisation...

The Late Late Show

gozunda wrote: »

This series does not follow directly from Margaret Atwood's original.

There appears to be a lot more script writing input and less of a defined story line imo

Afaik Margaret Attwood is writing a continuation of the story - this may or may not follow from the TV dramatisation...

Yes, Margaret Atwood is wring the sequel called The Testaments which comes out in September. It is set 15 years after the events of The Handmaid's Tale so it is probably not related directly to the storyline of the series.

Stark

Offred isn't meant to be the central character either. Going to be 3 different women. Probably taken from a cross section of Gilead society.

The Late Late Show

Stark wrote: »

Offred isn't meant to be the central character either. Going to be 3 different women. Probably taken from a cross section of Gilead society.

Yes, I heard that too. Probably another Handmaid, a wife and a Martha.