Handmaids tale

I really enjoyed The Testaments and thought it was worthy of the Booker Prize. I didn’t watch all the tv version and probably won’t after reading The Testaments. I won’t say any more in case people are still reading it?

Serena is an interesting character, isn't she? She helped to set up Gilead, then realised too late that doing down women had done her down too. She also realised too late that whilst being the more intelligent and astute one in her marriage worked for her when it was acceptable for women to be those things, as soon as it wasn't she was scuppered.

After Gilead and its strictures was established she tried to make the best of it for herself, and used what powers she had to do it. It's a human response, but she used inhuman ways to achieve her aims. She does sometimes show her 'human' side (I'm trying to think of an example, though, and can't ?), so the impression I get is that in different circumstances she'd have been a different character.

That's true of all of us, I suppose - how we act depends on the circumstances. I hope I would never behave as Serena does, but it's one of those things we'll never know unless we are tested, I guess. I'm not sure what I think she deserves.

I've loved the Handmaid's Tale so far. I thought the final scene with Fred was good, it needed to happen, but the chase through the forest was a bit Disney, this way then that way etc... it did take away from the brutality that was about to become his fate I thought. I hope they give Janine a happier ending in the next season, she deserves her freedom and I really hope Serena get what she deserves too.

May7

doodledog
I don't think Serena has had any other men has she?? and she definitely invited Fred into her bed when they were in Canada. It was my first thought when she discovered she was pregnant that maybe Nichole was his after all and how would that play out. Suppose well find out in the 5 series......or not
Dont know what I'm going to do with my Sunday evenings now

I don't think she has had other men, no. I guess if she had they would have tied that loose end up, or at least let us know that it was a loose end to be tied up in the next series.

It was something I thought when I saw she was pregnant, though. Now, if Nick is the father of both Serena's and June's babies, that would be an interesting storyline, though.

A fifth series!!! 'Praise Be' and Blessed be the fruit'

Can't wait.

Loved the books and enjoyed every series particularly this last one, bring on series 5 cant wait.

doodledog
I don't think Serena has had any other men has she?? and she definitely invited Fred into her bed when they were in Canada. It was my first thought when she discovered she was pregnant that maybe Nichole was his after all and how would that play out. Suppose well find out in the 5 series......or not
Dont know what I'm going to do with my Sunday evenings now

Doodledog

*Well according to Mumsnet it has been confirmed that there will definitely be a 5th series; that explains why there were so many loose ends in Sunday's episode*

I said that in the first post after the OP?

You certainly did Doodlebug - I was just confirming that what you were sure you had read was right! ??

Well according to Mumsnet it has been confirmed that there will definitely be a 5th series; that explains why there were so many loose ends in Sunday's episode

I said that in the first post after the OP?

John Slattery as Roger Sterling Babs758. I think Megan Draper, Don's second wife could rival Pete Campbell in the annoying stakes. Great series although the hippy trippy period was a bit tedious. Elisabeth Moss was also in The West Wing playing one of President Jed Bartlet's daughters, another terrific series. She has quite a long CV on imdb.

I loved Elizabeth Moss as Peggy Olson in Mad Men and also Christina Hendricks. The character of Don was interesting but I got very annoyed with his antics.. Pete was truly awful as a character and I loved the SilverFox boss. During the first lockdown I watch the whole series again.

I found the finale of the Handmaid's Tale very hard to watch even if Fred did deserve it.

Oh my goodness there is something wrong with me because I have a crush on Joseph Lawrence the way he stands with his hands in his pockets and I think he is so laid back, June wouldnt have got away with anything without his help. I do like the series but it can be slow at times. I have just started reading the book, I have had it on Kindle for about a year.
I must say Im fed up with June crying all the time. Glad Fred got his comeupence and I hope Aunt Lydia gets her's too in the 5th series.

Well according to Mumsnet it has been confirmed that there will definitely be a 5th series; that explains why there were so many loose ends in Sunday's episode. I think June will return to Gilead - to rescue Hannah and I think it was obvious that she is now more in love with Nick than Luke her husband. I so hope that Serena gets her just desserts and is transported back to Gilead, has her child taken off her and ends up as a handmaid - anything less would be so unjust!

PippaZ

I'm wondering if you have read Sarah Hall's novel The Carhullan Army based in Cumbria?

The population has to be controlled after climate change and flooding has reduced the habitable landmass. People have had to flee to high ground. The country is dependent on expensive imported food. There is little work and it's reserved for men. Women are forceably fitted with IUDs to control population growth.

Your final paragraph describes exactly what unfolds.

I was so excited to watch the last episode but thought the ending was rushed. I was hesitant to watch the series because of the rape scenes.

If anyone is looking for something to watch with Elizabeth Moss, 'Mad Men' is an amazing series about 1960's advertising, set in Manhattan. She plays an ambitious secretary, called Peggy. 'Don' is nice to look at too!

I've always loved The Handmaid's Tale and all of Margaret Atwood's writing. The first series seemed OK but then it seemed to lose so much of the mystery and confusion of the book. I thought the Testament was predictable and not up to her usual standard.

Am with you, Whatdayisit. Watched first episode, quite enough for me. Never watched it again

I have read both novels, indeed all of Atwood's dystopian novels. I think she is almost visionary in her depiction of what the future could be like.

Final scene bit over the top with the 'handmaids' killing off Fred by hand for raping handmaid as we saw earlier in the series.

Why was it over the top? I think it is very likely that refugees and the resistance in Gilead would kill those who had turned their society on its head. A society that leads to sanitized rape and deprives women of their rights to the point of hanging them, or stoning them if they disobeyed will see a backlash at some time. The law did not help them so they found their own justice.

If you create a savage society you should be aware that you are creating savagery all through it. In all societies, people deprived of equality eventually rebel and they often use the methods of their "masters".

May7

^Else Nick might wake up and realise that Fred wasn't impotent afterall and request a DNA test on Nicole....^
Yes Holysox I'd been waiting for that penny to drop as well.
Roll on next series

Oh, I'd assumed that Serena had found another man to impregnate her. She wasn't above doing that when Fred couldn't get June pregnant, so I've been waiting for her to be exposed as an adulterous wife, with all the implications of that in Gilead.

Elizabeth Moss is a Scientologist so I sometimes wonder if she draws upon this experience when acting this part of June given that, from what I understand, both Gilead and Scientology both believe that all outside sources are wrong or evil.

At the risk of sounding ridiculous I cannot bare anything to do with this and I have never watched it. Saying The Handmaid's Tale makes me tense with fear and feel physically sick. I think it was the Heart of Glass song that triggered this phobia! Did Phillip Glass do a haunting version for the series?
My daughter has told me bits as she is a fan and I beg her to stop. Possibly past life hauntings making me so irrational. I have tried reading some of your posts about it and feel like I have been hit in the stomach. I wish i could watch it but even writing that has made me shiver.

Else Nick might wake up and realise that Fred wasn't impotent afterall and request a DNA test on Nicole....
Yes Holysox I'd been waiting for that penny to drop as well.
Roll on next series

Not often the Yanks give us good drama but loved this.

The characters were so complex. Greatke twisted relationships like that between Aunt Lydia (best lines) and Janine. Is Joseph Lawrence good or bad ... or just a psycopath.
Final scene bit over the top with the 'handmaids' killing off Fred by hand for raping handmaid as we saw earlier in the series.
Then Fred's finger in the post to Serena as retribution for her amputation - evidence of the love hate relationship between June and Serena.
Thoroughly entertaining but think it shoukd be left here. Else Nick might wake up and realise that Fred wasn't impotent afterall and request a DNA test on Nicole....

May7

I was quite spooked by last nights episode. Elizabeth Moss is such a great actress and says it all with her facial expressions but when she left gaps in her speech I filled them in for her (not keen on silences) and I was correct. I went to bed feeling quite disturbed

It’s funny how we’re all so different. My daughter said she would love to have watched this, but can’t stand Elizabeth Moss. My daughter said she’s the same in everything she’s in. I’ve only seen her in ‘ Top of the Lake’, and actually can’t remember her at all.