Anonymous
Post 04/29/2026 15:19     Subject: The Testaments
Anonymous wrote:No spoilers but last nights episode was so good. I left wanting 10 more minutes and wig it was next Wednesday already

Ann Dowd is incredible.
Anonymous
Post 04/29/2026 14:55     Subject: The Testaments
I'm experiencing cognitive dissonance between Lydia's backstory was portrayed in THT, and did not fit exactly with this one. Wish they had found a way to mesh them more successfully.
Anonymous
Post 04/29/2026 14:49     Subject: The Testaments
Trying to work out the Lydia-Vidala dynamic. On the one hand, how could Vidala not hate her after her willingness to execute her to save herself. On the other, Vidala does seem very deferential and deflected when Judd suggested they talk about a post-Lydia future.
Anonymous
Post 04/29/2026 14:48     Subject: The Testaments
^^agree about the cancer issue with older women
Anonymous
Post 04/29/2026 14:19     Subject: The Testaments
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Seems pretty clear that women aren't welcome in Gilead past a certain age, since they'd have no functional use at that point. The only post-60 woman we've seen is Aunt Lydia, and surely just because she holds special status. I assume they're killed outright or sent to the colonies at that point.


This loops back to my question about whether they are still using Handmaids. In the book and original series, there were lots of older wives who had handmaids to birth the babies. With no handmaids there’s probably more incentive to ditch your non fertile wife, aka Henry VIiI. It really makes me wonder why Agnes dad didn’t pick a younger fertile wife.

Also, I think there’s an implied undercurrent of cancer rates, maybe particularly hormone related cancers like breast and ovarian, related to the fertility crisis. Agnes’s first foster mom died of cancer. One ongoing question I have is about the extent of the environmental degradation in the U.S. and elsewhere. And why did Toronto seem basically pretty normal/nice when we were let to believe that an environmental/demographic crisis had let to the fall of the U.S.?


My impression is that they have moved away from using handmaids, with the expectation that the "cleanly raised" young women will be fertile and able to procreate within the context of marriage. We saw the handmaid doll had been removed from Agnes's dollhouse. However, they are clearly willing to revert to that model when necessary, as the convo between Aunt Lydia and Commander Judd made clear.
Anonymous
Post 04/29/2026 13:53     Subject: The Testaments
Anonymous wrote:Seems pretty clear that women aren't welcome in Gilead past a certain age, since they'd have no functional use at that point. The only post-60 woman we've seen is Aunt Lydia, and surely just because she holds special status. I assume they're killed outright or sent to the colonies at that point.


This loops back to my question about whether they are still using Handmaids. In the book and original series, there were lots of older wives who had handmaids to birth the babies. With no handmaids there’s probably more incentive to ditch your non fertile wife, aka Henry VIiI. It really makes me wonder why Agnes dad didn’t pick a younger fertile wife.

Also, I think there’s an implied undercurrent of cancer rates, maybe particularly hormone related cancers like breast and ovarian, related to the fertility crisis. Agnes’s first foster mom died of cancer. One ongoing question I have is about the extent of the environmental degradation in the U.S. and elsewhere. And why did Toronto seem basically pretty normal/nice when we were let to believe that an environmental/demographic crisis had let to the fall of the U.S.?
Anonymous
Post 04/29/2026 12:24     Subject: The Testaments
Seems pretty clear that women aren't welcome in Gilead past a certain age, since they'd have no functional use at that point. The only post-60 woman we've seen is Aunt Lydia, and surely just because she holds special status. I assume they're killed outright or sent to the colonies at that point.
Anonymous
Post 04/29/2026 12:20     Subject: Re:The Testaments
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Why are there so many older commanders who are single?


I read that they send their wives off to the colonies or even kill them when they get older or aren't producing babies. I believe this was implied in the main commander married to Penny. His first wife "died".


Or she may have died in childbirth, which is what I was afraid was going to happen to Penny.
Anonymous
Post 04/29/2026 12:11     Subject: Re:The Testaments
Anonymous wrote:Why are there so many older commanders who are single?


I read that they send their wives off to the colonies or even kill them when they get older or aren't producing babies. I believe this was implied in the main commander married to Penny. His first wife "died".
Anonymous
Post 04/29/2026 11:07     Subject: The Testaments
I wish I could binge this show, the waiting drives me crazy.

But I am thoroughly enjoying it, after being disappointed by HT final seasons.
Anonymous
Post 04/29/2026 10:28     Subject: The Testaments
Anonymous wrote:No spoilers but last nights episode was so good. I left wanting 10 more minutes and wig it was next Wednesday already


Yes, they really left us hanging! Sadly I don't think it's going to work out the way Agnes wanted.
Anonymous
Post 04/29/2026 10:27     Subject: The Testaments
No spoilers but last nights episode was so good. I left wanting 10 more minutes and wig it was next Wednesday already
Anonymous
Post 04/26/2026 19:58     Subject: Re:The Testaments
Anonymous wrote:Why are there so many older commanders who are single?
Probably because they keep hanging their women or shipping them off to the colonies when they do things like read a book.
Anonymous
Post 04/25/2026 12:16     Subject: Re:The Testaments
Why are there so many older commanders who are single?
Anonymous
Post 04/22/2026 02:06     Subject: The Testaments
Ugh, those pedo men were so old. Disgusting. Poor Becca and great acting by the woman playing Shu.