What do you want to see in S5 of The Handmaid’s Tale?

[Anonymous]

For a smart woman, Serena is pretty stupid. Does she really think that she'd be allowed to raise her baby as a single mother in Gilead? Mrs. Wheeler is laying claim to that baby. Serena also seemed to realize that Ezra is not her servant/ally, but a Gilead man who's loyalty is with the Gilead system and not her, personally. She's arrogant and thinks she can control or influence men like she did with her beauty and brains pre-Gilead. Maybe the truth is finally sinking in.

Also interesting that Mr. Wheeler has identified himself as a Commander. I think he said something like "I and the other Commanders. . . " It sounds like the Wheelers and their ilk are more than just sympathizers with Gilead but already have some pretty tight organizational ties. That was an incredibly creepy scene in Serena' room. It was also odd that she left the door open while praying. I don't know why that seems odd to me, but it does.

The foreshadowing around June and Luke was pretty heavy handed. The song lyrics, that sign in the bowling alley that says "Come again." Are we to believe from the previews from next week that June is taken to the Wheelers so Serena can kill June, herself? If so, it would be cool if Serena has a lightbulb moment and instead convinces June to bust her out of there!

[Anonymous]

I don’t see Gilead ever sending June to Canada on purpose.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Spoiler alert - this week’sEpisode












I hated how Janine was completely different when she woke up. She completely
Lost her persona of being naive and seeing everything through happy glasses. Then she went back with the other handmaid’s and the first thing she says when they surround her is, “I almost died!” In a childlike fashion…back to herself.

Do we know the woman Serena is now staying with?

Janine - i thought it was suppose to show how much the handmaids now worship her like they did June. I think (and hope) Janine is going to take on the leadership role. She finally realize what was going on. Remember, this is how the show started- she was the one willing to speak up.

It doesn’t strike you as “off” that Janine is happy to hug her kid and return her, tells the new handmaid to keep quiet or she’ll be sent to work in the colony, and is kissing up to aunt Lydia - and after the poisoning, she’s hardened, angry, and accusatory?

I think you were seeing "real Janine" there. Janine has developed an elaborate defense mechanism/system to enable her to survive - she goes along to get along and consciously chooses to look at the bright side. Note that she's as angry at Lydia for pushing Esther as she is at her own physical injury.

[Anonymous]

Serena in spiked stilettos while heavily pregnant and presumably relaxing at the new home was pretty ridiculous.

She’s definitely realizing she’s a prisoner.

Not sure if she’s picked up on the fact they want her baby.

[Anonymous]

Was Ezra the one leaving June on the road? I couldn't really make it out.

[Anonymous]

I more or less enjoyed this week's episode, the exception being whatever Luke and June are doing. I understand they were trying to get information about Hanna, but it's just so hard to buy that storyline anymore. Does June not feel any obligation towards Nicole? I realize that Luke and June trying to rescue Hanna is obviously a major plot point, but sadly, I don't know that I really care. And I hate how Moira has been made into a footnote instead of into her own character.

That said, I loved every bit of the Serena storyline and her rude awakening that she's the handmaid now (sort of). I admit I have never wanted to see Serena as an actual Handmaid - too schlocky, but this was a nicely nuanced portrayal of the true role of womanhood in Gilead. The breakfast! The green drink! The isolation in her room, the prenatal pill, the lecture on ambition. Her realization that Mrs. Wheeler is actually a true believer. All amazing and well done. Totally agree that Gilead is not going to allow her to raise that baby as a single mother. I wonder if a suitable mate will be presented to her in Canada. I predict she runs back to Tuello at some point when the extent of her predicament dawns on her.

I didn't see the preview yet, but I felt like Luke and June were not being captured by Gilead at the end. Too straightforward.

[Anonymous]

^^also, I found Serena's flashback fascinating. I detected a kinder, gentler Serena. I tend to think she developed a relationship/friendship with the first Handmaid, which is why she was so schizophrenic with June. I want to see more of that storyline.

[Anonymous]

I can't get into this season at all. When June and Luke cross the border... uh, because their informant can't come across yet somehow they can very easily head across and back in this one direction? The writing is unbelievable, the acting is over the top, the direction is too slow. The hours of June's rage face close-ups left me completely detached from her character. Oh well. Let's get this over with.

[Anonymous]

I thought it was fantastic when Serena and the other last are walking in the sterile hallway looking at all the children of color in rooms taken from "unfit mother's" and the rich white women looking at them talking about how they need good homes but you don't know where they come from and whether they'll be good and could you take one in all the while thinking they'll get their own children......if that's not analogous to the CPS system, adoption and republicans..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought it was fantastic when Serena and the other last are walking in the sterile hallway looking at all the children of color in rooms taken from "unfit mother's" and the rich white women looking at them talking about how they need good homes but you don't know where they come from and whether they'll be good and could you take one in all the while thinking they'll get their own children......if that's not analogous to the CPS system, adoption and republicans..

I only remember seeing one child of color but you raise a good point. In a society like that, you would expect racism. Not a single Commander of color that I can recall.

I’m thinking that June will be blackmailed into cooperating re:Gilead propaganda with assurances of Hannah’s safety on the line. The scene with Joseph and Warren discussing “New Bethlehem” was intentionally foreshadowing June’s capture. Warren mocked the idea that sinners would be forgiven and allowed back. I think Joseph will convince them to keep June alive for propaganda purposes, regardless of where she ends up.

Luke is going to die. He’s shown to not be cut out for this. I’m wondering if Nick being splattered with blood involved Luke. Then we see Janine looking at someone on the wall. Maybe the maimed Guardian?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Spoiler alert - this week’sEpisode












I hated how Janine was completely different when she woke up. She completely
Lost her persona of being naive and seeing everything through happy glasses. Then she went back with the other handmaid’s and the first thing she says when they surround her is, “I almost died!” In a childlike fashion…back to herself.

Do we know the woman Serena is now staying with?

Janine - i thought it was suppose to show how much the handmaids now worship her like they did June. I think (and hope) Janine is going to take on the leadership role. She finally realize what was going on. Remember, this is how the show started- she was the one willing to speak up.

It doesn’t strike you as “off” that Janine is happy to hug her kid and return her, tells the new handmaid to keep quiet or she’ll be sent to work in the colony, and is kissing up to aunt Lydia - and after the poisoning, she’s hardened, angry, and accusatory?

I think you were seeing "real Janine" there. Janine has developed an elaborate defense mechanism/system to enable her to survive - she goes along to get along and consciously chooses to look at the bright side. Note that she's as angry at Lydia for pushing Esther as she is at her own physical injury.

I thought that Janine had Stockholm syndrome and had trauma bonded with aunt Lydia but after the coma she didn’t have it anymore?

[Anonymous]

Why would they *not* make Serena into a handmaid? Serena is too strident. Give her baby to a humble wife. Make Serena make more babies. She has no standing, no protector. Hell even when she did have a high level protector they cut off her finger! She is doomed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can't get into this season at all. When June and Luke cross the border... uh, because their informant can't come across yet somehow they can very easily head across and back in this one direction? The writing is unbelievable, the acting is over the top, the direction is too slow. The hours of June's rage face close-ups left me completely detached from her character. Oh well. Let's get this over with.

+1

Plus, before they crossed, the May Day lady said, “No names—too dangerous.” Yet Luke asked the guy his name and he quickly introduced himself.

Where’s Nick?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why would they *not* make Serena into a handmaid? Serena is too strident. Give her baby to a humble wife. Make Serena make more babies. She has no standing, no protector. Hell even when she did have a high level protector they cut off her finger! She is doomed.

Also very important--when Serena went back to Gilead she was told it was unfortunate her husband couldn't be tried now. She cultivated a strong persona with the funeral idea but the fact is she's highly suspect on multiple levels.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can't get into this season at all. When June and Luke cross the border... uh, because their informant can't come across yet somehow they can very easily head across and back in this one direction? The writing is unbelievable, the acting is over the top, the direction is too slow. The hours of June's rage face close-ups left me completely detached from her character. Oh well. Let's get this over with.

+1

Plus, before they crossed, the May Day lady said, “No names—too dangerous.” Yet Luke asked the guy his name and he quickly introduced himself.

Where’s Nick?

Yeah, I found the Luke/June storyline here boring and not believable. I did like the kid, Jaeden, but wasn't entirely sure what the point was - maybe demonstrating how Gilead is more complicated not than it was at its inception?

And why is the resistance being run by a bunch of ragtag homemade rebels? Even if Canada wouldn't let the US operate an open rebellion from its territory it would undoubtedly facilitate its operation on the border.

It's too bad because I thought the Serena portion of the episode was excellent in both substance and direction.