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

[Anonymous]

^^Nick's in Gilead - he made it clear in his last phone call that he's not sticking his neck out anymore for June.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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?

Same difference. Stockholm Syndrome is also a defense mechanism.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did anyone watch episode 5 yet? Looks like we may get to see Serena in red after all! They’re certainly setting us up for that. Delightful.

I posted last week about episode 4 that I thought this would be the case, and I was surprised nobody else picked up on it in the last scene when the commander's wife was practically worshipping Serena's womb.

[Anonymous]

I watched episode 6 over breakfast. I knew it was going to happen. It was obvious what Serena’s plan was, but still a pretty good episode. The scene where the doctor looked up to the top floor and led her up there was genius. The panic on her face was so satisfying.

I’m wondering if June is going to take the baby and leave Serena behind for Ezra to find. Rookie move leaving him alive. Strong chance of her ending up on that top floor wearing red.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I watched episode 6 over breakfast. I knew it was going to happen. It was obvious what Serena’s plan was, but still a pretty good episode. The scene where the doctor looked up to the top floor and led her up there was genius. The panic on her face was so satisfying.

I’m wondering if June is going to take the baby and leave Serena behind for Ezra to find. Rookie move leaving him alive. Strong chance of her ending up on that top floor wearing red.

Gosh, it was so predictable. Though not sure what June will do next after (presumably) helping deliver the baby.

[Anonymous]

Awww yeah, Handmaids Tale just went all Thelma and Louise. I'm loving it. Don't care if it was predictable. Bring it on.

I also think Serena wanted to save June, or at least didn't want June's blood on her hands, so to speak. She seemed totally dumbfounded when Warner/Wheeler (as an aside, guy reminds me of a less handsome Paul Ryan) told her the plan.

This was really a good episode chock full of so much plot. Just when you think you are going to have to really hate Lawrence and even Nick! redemption comes to breakfast. I loved that scene. And now Nick has a baby on the way. And what happens to Esther and her baby? What happens to Naomi? I really hope she still has a storyline. Such a great character.

As far as June and Serena. I think June hides her and that's how we see Tuello again. No matter what happens/happened between June and Serena they are more alike than they are different.

Serena being treated like a child by Alanis was...no words. I especially loved the robotic panic taking hold when she tells Serena she can't be a single mother.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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?

We’re shown at least two unambiguously AA Commanders, including one promoted for getting his wife pregnant. I recall one Commander who appeared to be Asian American.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?

We’re shown at least two unambiguously AA Commanders, including one promoted for getting his wife pregnant. I recall one Commander who appeared to be Asian American.

Yes, the show diverged from the book in this. In the book, Gilead was racist and there's a mention of the children of Ham being deported.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?

We’re shown at least two unambiguously AA Commanders, including one promoted for getting his wife pregnant. I recall one Commander who appeared to be Asian American.

Yes, the show diverged from the book in this. In the book, Gilead was racist and there's a mention of the children of Ham being deported.

This was actually a criticism when the show debuted; they did "colorblind casting" and erased the racial aspect that would almost certainly be present in a society like Gilead. It was an artistic choice to make race not a part of the conversation. It was clear in the book that racism was also part of their building an ideal society, but that doesn't carry over to the show.

[Anonymous]

Predictable episode.

My guess is Serena will suggest getting to Tuello for protection.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Awww yeah, Handmaids Tale just went all Thelma and Louise. I'm loving it. Don't care if it was predictable. Bring it on.

I also think Serena wanted to save June, or at least didn't want June's blood on her hands, so to speak. She seemed totally dumbfounded when Warner/Wheeler (as an aside, guy reminds me of a less handsome Paul Ryan) told her the plan.

This was really a good episode chock full of so much plot. Just when you think you are going to have to really hate Lawrence and even Nick! redemption comes to breakfast. I loved that scene. And now Nick has a baby on the way. And what happens to Esther and her baby? What happens to Naomi? I really hope she still has a storyline. Such a great character.

As far as June and Serena. I think June hides her and that's how we see Tuello again. No matter what happens/happened between June and Serena they are more alike than they are different.

Serena being treated like a child by Alanis was...no words. I especially loved the robotic panic taking hold when she tells Serena she can't be a single mother.

If no other commander wants her, since Naomi's husband died a criminal she has no status. Chance to become an Aunt? Shipped to the Colonies? I'd love to see what the writers come up with!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Awww yeah, Handmaids Tale just went all Thelma and Louise. I'm loving it. Don't care if it was predictable. Bring it on.

I also think Serena wanted to save June, or at least didn't want June's blood on her hands, so to speak. She seemed totally dumbfounded when Warner/Wheeler (as an aside, guy reminds me of a less handsome Paul Ryan) told her the plan.

This was really a good episode chock full of so much plot. Just when you think you are going to have to really hate Lawrence and even Nick! redemption comes to breakfast. I loved that scene. And now Nick has a baby on the way. And what happens to Esther and her baby? What happens to Naomi? I really hope she still has a storyline. Such a great character.

As far as June and Serena. I think June hides her and that's how we see Tuello again. No matter what happens/happened between June and Serena they are more alike than they are different.

Serena being treated like a child by Alanis was...no words. I especially loved the robotic panic taking hold when she tells Serena she can't be a single mother.

If no other commander wants her, since Naomi's husband died a criminal she has no status. Chance to become an Aunt? Shipped to the Colonies? I'd love to see what the writers come up with!

This will be interesting. I'd be just as happy to see her married again, but yes, it's a good question - what happens to you if you don't have a man? It seems overly punitive to punish the wife for the sins of her husband but I guess there was the time after the bombing when the Eyes killed the entire family of Lily, the Handmaid that carried out the bombing.

[Anonymous]

So does Gilead know about Lawrence’s connection to the angel flight? Not related to this week’s episode, just something I wonder about every week. I’m loving this season, with all the secondary story lines and flashbacks from Gilead as it formed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Awww yeah, Handmaids Tale just went all Thelma and Louise. I'm loving it. Don't care if it was predictable. Bring it on.

I also think Serena wanted to save June, or at least didn't want June's blood on her hands, so to speak. She seemed totally dumbfounded when Warner/Wheeler (as an aside, guy reminds me of a less handsome Paul Ryan) told her the plan.

This was really a good episode chock full of so much plot. Just when you think you are going to have to really hate Lawrence and even Nick! redemption comes to breakfast. I loved that scene. And now Nick has a baby on the way. And what happens to Esther and her baby? What happens to Naomi? I really hope she still has a storyline. Such a great character.

As far as June and Serena. I think June hides her and that's how we see Tuello again. No matter what happens/happened between June and Serena they are more alike than they are different.

Serena being treated like a child by Alanis was...no words. I especially loved the robotic panic taking hold when she tells Serena she can't be a single mother.

If no other commander wants her, since Naomi's husband died a criminal she has no status. Chance to become an Aunt? Shipped to the Colonies? I'd love to see what the writers come up with!

This will be interesting. I'd be just as happy to see her married again, but yes, it's a good question - what happens to you if you don't have a man? It seems overly punitive to punish the wife for the sins of her husband but I guess there was the time after the bombing when the Eyes killed the entire family of Lily, the Handmaid that carried out the bombing.

Even more complicated since she's a mother. I could see Janine helping her in some way for the child's sake.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, I’m sure commanders die of natural causes once in a while too so what becomes of the widow and children. If no one can be a single parent there is some solution.