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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OMG…the entire first episode felt like nothing more than close-ups of Jane’s face!!!

Is this season going to just be her downward spiral into darkness? Will there be a redemption arc for her? This just seems stupid. She was supposed to be stronger—a survivor—not bananas.

And why did they have to drag that beautiful song by the Everly brothers into both opening shots? It’s not a song she would even know based on her age.

And not just close-ups of her face, but of her fluttering "distress" eyes. Ugh. I watched the whole thing thinking poor Elizabeth Moss, whomever directed her in this episode is an amateur, and then guess what? She directed the episode!!! LOL!

The eye fluttering was awful, I noticed too.

It's overdone, yes. Overly artistic, melodramatic.

I do think Serena is going to get kept by Gilead, her baby taken, and turned into a handmaid.

Yes they are definitely taking that baby and they have nothing else for her except handmaid. She wouldn’t be a good Martha. Why would she go back???

The only thing more tedious than the close ups of June's face are the people salivating for Serena to become a Handmaid. If they do that the show will have really and truly jumped the shark.

[Anonymous]

Anyone else watched Episode 3? I watched this evening. I was prepared for kind of a snooze, but it was a really good episode, with the Gilead portion being far superior to what's going on in Canada.

Right off the bat, I don't like the actor that plays Commander McKenzie and I don't like how evil he appears to be. I don't think we've seen him before, but he was portrayed as kind and a good father, fishing with Hannah (Agnes), etc. Him being such an SOB doesn't really square. But I loved that dinner party scene and loved even more Serena trying to propose a marriage between her and Commander Lawrence. That was awesome. I actually kind of wanted to see that happen.

Nick appears to actually care for his wife, which is nice. Or they are in on some insurgent plot together.

I still don't entirely understand why Gilead sent Serena back to Canada, with a staff, freedom, etc. I guess they believe she is loyal enough to Gilead and that they hold the cards as far as protecting Serena - i.e. - if she goes rogue, they withdraw protection/security and let June come after her and her child. But it's an interesting plot twist - probably more so than Serena staying in Gilead.

Someone upthread asked if there will be a redemption arc for Aunt Lydia. I think this episode was the start of that arc with how upset she was about Janine. I'm glad Janine is ok and I think I've seen enough of Esther. But I think Esther ends up in the Putnam's home. We know something shocking happens there b/c of the trailer. I thought before it was Esther, but now I think that might be Janine snapping.

June was the least interesting thing in this episode. I am trying to empathize because her daughter is still in Gilead, but I'm having a hard time. I did like the whole validation that there actually is a Mayday. And that makes June's inevitable involvement more believable.

[Anonymous]

Gosh, I totally forget about the whole Mayday part (was going through a hard time when it was airing so think its a little fuzzy for me). Why did June think Mayday wasn't real?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree the second episode was better than the first. However, I think we now know what the rest of the season is going to be - gives an excuse to put the characters back in Gilead and for June to do more “vengeance face”.

Are we supposed to know Nick’s wife?

I don't think so. Apparently there was a "Rose" character in Season 3 (I googled) who briefly meets June in the hospital when June is visiting the walking partner handmaid that she got shot and Lydia makes her stay in that handmaids hospital room. I guess it could be the same character, but they'd have to remind us of that moment. I had no memory of it.

That was a fascinating scene though. Doesn't seem like they've been married long, but she seems to know an awful lot of Nick's secrets.

DP. I really hope they show us more of Nick’s wife/marriage soon. She clearly knows everything about him and June, which would be incredibly dangerous for him unless he has good reason to believe she would never betray him. I really hope she turns into a more significant character.

I thought it was telling in the scene at the dinner where Nick said he always liked talking to Rose (hmmm about what?) and then he told June that she would like Rose. I think she's part of the plan to take down Giliead.

[Anonymous]

I was SO hoping when Serena got called before the Council, they were going to say, "now that you're able to make babies, congrats you're a handmaiden". The idea that they would send her to Canada and not keep her baby is kinda crazy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was SO hoping when Serena got called before the Council, they were going to say, "now that you're able to make babies, congrats you're a handmaiden". The idea that they would send her to Canada and not keep her baby is kinda crazy.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OMG…the entire first episode felt like nothing more than close-ups of Jane’s face!!!

Is this season going to just be her downward spiral into darkness? Will there be a redemption arc for her? This just seems stupid. She was supposed to be stronger—a survivor—not bananas.

And why did they have to drag that beautiful song by the Everly brothers into both opening shots? It’s not a song she would even know based on her age.

And not just close-ups of her face, but of her fluttering "distress" eyes. Ugh. I watched the whole thing thinking poor Elizabeth Moss, whomever directed her in this episode is an amateur, and then guess what? She directed the episode!!! LOL!

The eye fluttering was awful, I noticed too.

It's overdone, yes. Overly artistic, melodramatic.

I do think Serena is going to get kept by Gilead, her baby taken, and turned into a handmaid.

Yes they are definitely taking that baby and they have nothing else for her except handmaid. She wouldn’t be a good Martha. Why would she go back???

The only thing more tedious than the close ups of June's face are the people salivating for Serena to become a Handmaid. If they do that the show will have really and truly jumped the shark.

Oh I disagree. It's perfect, especially in today's political climate. She's all on board with passing laws about what fertile women have to do and then - SURPRISE!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OMG…the entire first episode felt like nothing more than close-ups of Jane’s face!!!

Is this season going to just be her downward spiral into darkness? Will there be a redemption arc for her? This just seems stupid. She was supposed to be stronger—a survivor—not bananas.

And why did they have to drag that beautiful song by the Everly brothers into both opening shots? It’s not a song she would even know based on her age.

And not just close-ups of her face, but of her fluttering "distress" eyes. Ugh. I watched the whole thing thinking poor Elizabeth Moss, whomever directed her in this episode is an amateur, and then guess what? She directed the episode!!! LOL!

The eye fluttering was awful, I noticed too.

It's overdone, yes. Overly artistic, melodramatic.

I do think Serena is going to get kept by Gilead, her baby taken, and turned into a handmaid.

Yes they are definitely taking that baby and they have nothing else for her except handmaid. She wouldn’t be a good Martha. Why would she go back???

The only thing more tedious than the close ups of June's face are the people salivating for Serena to become a Handmaid. If they do that the show will have really and truly jumped the shark.

Oh I disagree. It's perfect, especially in today's political climate. She's all on board with passing laws about what fertile women have to do and then - SURPRISE!

Yep, kind of like all those crazy conservatives fighting abortion until... oops they see that pink line. How quickly things change.

[Anonymous]

I think they sent Serena back as a sacrificial lamb. They want June to kill her. The outpouring of sympathy would be enormous.

[Anonymous]

I’m OP and, so far, very satisfied with the new season. Serena being effectively exiled to Toronto provides plenty of possibilities for new plot twists. I don’t put it above June to kidnap Serena’s baby.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OMG…the entire first episode felt like nothing more than close-ups of Jane’s face!!!

Is this season going to just be her downward spiral into darkness? Will there be a redemption arc for her? This just seems stupid. She was supposed to be stronger—a survivor—not bananas.

And why did they have to drag that beautiful song by the Everly brothers into both opening shots? It’s not a song she would even know based on her age.

And not just close-ups of her face, but of her fluttering "distress" eyes. Ugh. I watched the whole thing thinking poor Elizabeth Moss, whomever directed her in this episode is an amateur, and then guess what? She directed the episode!!! LOL!

The eye fluttering was awful, I noticed too.

It's overdone, yes. Overly artistic, melodramatic.

I do think Serena is going to get kept by Gilead, her baby taken, and turned into a handmaid.

Yes they are definitely taking that baby and they have nothing else for her except handmaid. She wouldn’t be a good Martha. Why would she go back???

The only thing more tedious than the close ups of June's face are the people salivating for Serena to become a Handmaid. If they do that the show will have really and truly jumped the shark.

Oh I disagree. It's perfect, especially in today's political climate. She's all on board with passing laws about what fertile women have to do and then - SURPRISE!

This.

Missed opportunity. Serena could have learned from her brutal mistakes by enduring being a handmaid herself. Instead she’s in Toronto.

[Anonymous]

My memory of The Testaments is a little fuzzy... but my first thought of Serena being sent back to Toronto is that she helps establish the whole missionary type thing like in the book. And also the Janine/Lydia story would lead into Lydia's story in the book.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My memory of The Testaments is a little fuzzy... but my first thought of Serena being sent back to Toronto is that she helps establish the whole missionary type thing like in the book. And also the Janine/Lydia story would lead into Lydia's story in the book.

Yup. Totally agree. Serena is going to establish The Pearl Girls. And Lydia will do her Lydia thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree the second episode was better than the first. However, I think we now know what the rest of the season is going to be - gives an excuse to put the characters back in Gilead and for June to do more “vengeance face”.

Are we supposed to know Nick’s wife?

I don't think so. Apparently there was a "Rose" character in Season 3 (I googled) who briefly meets June in the hospital when June is visiting the walking partner handmaid that she got shot and Lydia makes her stay in that handmaids hospital room. I guess it could be the same character, but they'd have to remind us of that moment. I had no memory of it.

That was a fascinating scene though. Doesn't seem like they've been married long, but she seems to know an awful lot of Nick's secrets.

DP. I really hope they show us more of Nick’s wife/marriage soon. She clearly knows everything about him and June, which would be incredibly dangerous for him unless he has good reason to believe she would never betray him. I really hope she turns into a more significant character.

I thought it was telling in the scene at the dinner where Nick said he always liked talking to Rose (hmmm about what?) and then he told June that she would like Rose. I think she's part of the plan to take down Giliead.

She’s kind and empathetic, and he trusts her. We’ll see if her role gets political beyond that.

[Anonymous]

How did Serena become free? When Fred died?