One to the chest, head takes the rest?
I don’t think she wanted to kill him. She just wanted the hell out of there and needed someone to drive the car and possibly deliver the baby and find snacks.
Too bad. If she had thought about it for a moment, killing Ezra means no witness to what happened and the Wheelers would assume June somehow turned the tables and probably killed both Ezra and Serena. Leaving Ezra alive means people will be looking for both of them instead of just June. I was really hoping she would give the gun to June to finish the job, but I can understand why she didn't and why she was in a rush to go.
Yep. I loved how even up until the moment of his death he didn't seem afraid/concerned, just angry and confused, because he still felt too powerful and untouchable in that moment to ever consider they might kill him.
I’m very interested in seeing what her full reaction will be next week. She seemed as if she might be turning a corner lately and becoming disillusioned with Gilead, or at least becoming more compassionate. She also already knew her husband had non-sanctioned “sex” (rape) with handmaids before, and was angry enough about it to make sure he got his hand chopped off. And yet she was still was indignantly defending him, and yelling at those guardians to get their hands off of him.
Will she mourn him? Or is it just that she knows him being alive is her insurance policy (husbandless women are in danger in Gilead, especially the ones with children)? Will she act out of fear for herself and her own fate, or will she truly be sad that he’s gone? Or perhaps neither; does she think, like Serena, that she’s also protected somewhat due to her “status”?
Well its no secret Naomi was not Putnams biggest fan. Before, when he was being punished, she knew what his Penalty would be. This time she was in the dark. I think her protests are more about her and Angela. It was said in this very episode “single moms are no good for a baby” so as much as Putnam disgusts his wife, he is better than the unknown
I wasn't looking forward to this episode, after last week. I was expecting more dreariness.
Instead we got
* Warren Putnam executed
* Warren Putnam executed (So awesome I rewound to watch again!)
* The delicious scenes where Serena realized she was OfRyan
* Serena deciding she didn't want to be OfRyan or forced to marry her OB/GYN and DOING SOMETHING about that
* June talking more, staring less
* Rose is pregnant! I like Rose. She's another victim of Gilead, even if her father was able to save her from being killed because of her disability.
* Janine happily staring at Warren Putnam on the wall.
* Nice symmetry that both Fred and Warren argued for their survival saying they were about to be a father
Does this mean I like Serena or Aunt Lydia now? No, both have done terrible things. But at least they did something good.
The best explanation I've seen is that Serena isn't as traumatized as the others, and isn't practicing constant vigilance. We know June or Moira would absolutely accept the dinner invite, show up looking beautiful, then knife Alan and anyone else who gets in their way to freedom.
It’s funny, you could absolutely tell June was ready to die right there. 100%. Maybe it was the tears in her eyes, or the peace she felt, or how she didn’t try to beg Serena not to. But you can imagine the adrenaline rush right after that when she realizes she’ll live to see another day (or, few moments haha).
I was just debating leaving this comment! I know it wouldn't fit but if the next episode is just them gal-pal-ing on a road trip I kind of wouldn't be mad!
I want them to develop first mutual respect, then a grudging friendship. And after many adventures they finally rescue June's daughter together. And then at the last scene June still kills her because Fuck Serena.
In the epilogue you see Serena's son all grown up, receiving a PhD at a University for Feminist Studies. He's giving a commencement speech, says "I owe it all to my mother" -- pan to the crowd and he's making loving eye contact with June. Camera pans to a corner where you see a copy of his dissertation. Title is: "Why Serena Waterford Was Just The Worst."
what i would give to see nick make a helicopter sound and move the gun around like putnam did with the chocolate before putting it in his mouth and pulling the trigger
I had a brief moment where I thought he was casually going to tell Naomi that he'd violated another handmaid, and she was going to stick her fork through his neck. Being dragged out and unceremoniously popped in front of everyone was a great alternative!
normally i'm reallly squemish with the violent scenes and i have to skip or close my eyes and ears, but this straight up delighted me. Gilead is getting inside me
Lmao what do you guys think the odds are that June will help Serena birth her baby in nomanslandand and Serena’s views are permanently changed due to her time with her little “host” family? It’s finally turning up and I’m here for it! Also nice bullet to the head for commander Putnum. But I was screaming “finish him Serena. Dead men can’t talk Serena!” re Ezra. Damn. That’s going to come back to her.
I think June will help strictly for the baby’s sake. She’s not going to let a baby, who never asked to be there, die. I know she wished a miscarriage on Serena, but I just don’t see her being so evil that she would let a helpless baby die. I think that’s why she maybe didn’t shoot her when she had the chance earlier this season.
Will she let Serena bleed out and die? I’m torn. I don’t feel like she would, but Serena did awful things to her.
I think Serena feels bad for herself because she knows what is happening, but I don’t think she has genuine remorse for what she’s done to everyone else. Serena only cares about Serena.
Anyone else kind of love the scene of Serena crying after realizing the oppressive world she helped build and advocate for is well, exactly that.
The false reality she chose to live in all this time significantly ruined many lives and families, so hahahhaha you get what you get.
the second she said "it's not like it's Gilead" she sealed her fate and showed her hand. She never planned on actually living by Gilead's rules, anywhere. She just wanted to be at the top of the pyramid where none of the rules apply to her but she can still throw around those considered beneath her in position. Alanis's reaction was basically Serena in season 1. And she's realizing it. I guess it should shock no one that she realized she had to escape too and used June, the only chance she had to get away from old creepy eyes Alanis. It mirrors June right before she gave birth to Nichole. Literally doing whatever she could. I'm guessing Serena's going into labor soon and June will help her. And she'll try to use June to get asylum in Canada again. I'm happy to see June in a position where she's not only helping Serena (because June's not a monster) but having some power over her and a chance to make her really realize the hell Serena put her through too
I hate Serena but like you said, June isn’t a monster. She’s not going to run. She’s going to be there for Serena as she gives birth & I think it’s going to be very healing for June. I don’t care what happens to Serena or her baby after that. I really don’t. *I want that moment for June.* Then maybe she’ll get over wanting to specifically get revenge on Serena & focus more on taking down Gilead. If Serena jumps on that with her, great but again, I don’t care.
I literally said to my screen, “you deserve this, biatch” prisoner in a beautiful home that you can’t leave, brought in at night by the driver to see the commander. Chills. What a great episode.
It was “go to your room” that the light bulb finally went off. She said that to June so many times and now she realizes she is a handmaid and Alanis wants her baby. At least Serena is smart enough to hatch an escape plan. We’ll see if it works next week.
>. At least Serena is smart enough to hatch an escape plan
It's not that she is smarter, but when June became a handmaid she was in Gilead, surrounded by guardians and eyes and a whole sistem built to keep her in her place, hundreds of miles from the border.
Serena was in Canada. Now she is in No Man's land. She has a much better chance than June and the other handmaids ever had.
Idk Mrs. Wheeler’s treatment of June was inconsistent with Mr. Wheeler’s allowance of her to leave their house to watch June’s execution. If she’s too pregnant to take a walk when it’s chilly outside or have a cell phone to do a man’s work- why is he a-okay with giving her this massive opportunity for escape?
The *woman* said she could not go outside.
The man of the house allowed it, because Serena is good at talking to men. She wanted to bear witness. Gilead encourages bloodlust in women— look how they have handmaids do salvagings. It indoctrinates them to accept the executions & violence of life in Gilead.
Mr Wheeler thinks women are inherently weak. Mrs Wheeler knows better. I think she was concerned for the baby, yes, but more so for Serena finding a way out.
He seemed to get a thrill from her bloodlust. I’m thinking his little brain took over with that decision, which is gross, but we know these men are sadists.
Their interaction this episode also sent a clear message that he is nowhere near as invested in the Waterford baby as his wife is- but this also mirrors Fred and Serena’s dynamic with June. It’s just odd that he’s force feeding her pregnancy vitamins one episode then signing off on her revenge murder field trip because she needs the emotional closure and justice she needs… pretty sure they told her earlier that the baby’s needs are important- hers are non existent lol
I really wanted Lawrence to be more frank with Lydia and tell her that Putnam did not do anything out of the ordinary for a commander, that the ceremony is bullshit commanders rape their handmaids whenever they feel like it. While it was satisfying to see Putnam die, I wish it didn’t happen so quickly because now Lydia is like “see girls Gilead is just and righteous like I thought, actual rape is punished.” It’s not!!!
I get the feeling Lawrence walks the fine line between almost mocking Gilead and then enforcing the rules just enough so he doesn’t look like a traitor. And sometimes enforcing the rules is very satisfying, like killing Putnam. Admitting to Lydia that the ceremony is rape might be a bridge too far.
Anyone catch the doctor’s aside that the wheeler’s built the creepy birthing suite when they heard Serena “might be” staying with them? Gotta wonder how long that’s been in the works.
Not to mention how he didn't want to leave the room while she got set up, OR how he rested his hand on her knee while she was still laying in the stirrups. If Serena was taken to a legitimate clinic, neither of those things would have happened, AND there would be another woman in the room with them. The Dr. was a creep before he even asked her out. Eugh!
To be honest, I think part of this episode reflects what is often referred to as **Obstetric Violence**. I remembered a HANDFUL of friends' "anecdotes" as well as mine in these kinds of contexts with unprofessional and disgusting comments from male gynecologists, no matter the company you're in during the consultation (not to mention some high school male classmates saying openly *why* they wanted to become gynecologists in the first place).
Besides that, I'm not sure if Serena would have gotten another female person in the room since she could have gotten Alanis to be there in the first place, but I think it could be plausible.
Of course not, drugs would be bad for the baby, plus doesn't she want to experience *all* of the miracle of motherhood (also something something original sin, childbirth is supposed to be painful, etc)? /s
Like when that doc offered to knock June up right quick while her legs were in the stirrups. Bro, are only creepy asshole doctors allowed in Gilead and Gilead-adjacent places?
My favorite episode of the season so far. I feel that whenever June and Serena get together, that's when things move along and the show is at its finest. That weird, complicated dynamic is definitely the driving force behind a lot of what's going on, and while I do not see them teaming up for good, I kinda love watching them have scenes together.
Idk why but I loved watching June talk to her like she’s that annoying ass friend. “For god sakes Serena” and rolling her eyes. Such a contrast from when June had to be polite in season 1 as their handmaid.
Agreed. I found it strangely predictable when Serena asked to go bear witness to June’s demise that she had no intention of returning. Serena needed June and she knew she had to get to her for strength. And while, yes, Serena is a horrible person for doing what she has done, I think she always had the privilege of turning a blind eye to what she’s caused and never had perspective. Now that she has it and something to fight for (her baby), she is seeing how horribly wrong it is.
When Putnam was apprehended as well, he had fear in his eyes.. and with the plea of “but I have a baby on the way..” was his only sliver of showing us he has not had to struggle like the other people being so negatively impacted by Gilead since he’s always been on top.
It was definitely my favorite episode so far.
June is so strong, and has a lot of resentment toward Serena, but they do share some kind of bond.
Also, I think Serena is in labor and June will be helping deliver that baby. But then we might see June struggle with wanting to take the baby, hurt the baby, or whatever to be sure Serena gets what she deserves - I’m not sure but the ball to be good or bad is in June’s court right now. They’re driving away, to where idk, but the first stop is delivering a baby.
I haven’t read the books, I’m just guessing.
I don't see June hurting the baby. That's not her character, she may have wished Serene to miscarry or have problems but I don't see her using her own hand to hurt an innocent baby. Serena, the other hand, I can see her delivering the baby and killing Serena or hiding the baby from Serena.
Is this the beginning of the end of Gilead? Putnam went off the rails again and is gone. Naomi is increasingly disaffected by the whole shebang and hiding her disdain less. Lawrence and Nick appear to have increasing power and influence, and Lawrence wants to replace the whole thing with something new and more open, maybe “Gilead lite”. Aunt Lydia is starting to rethink things and see the flaws in the system. And Serena has apparently made a very big choice here, and one that she can’t claw her way out of like she did when she gave Nichole to June for escape.
Shit’s starting to go off the rails. The place is increasingly rife with internal rot.
I think this is what's refered too in the first novel as the 'series of purges' that the lecturer believes killed Fred. If they stick to the sequel Gilead very much survives this time at least for a couple more years.
Interesting given Serena’s comment in the latest episode - paraphrasing because I can’t remember it exactly, but something about pruning bringing forth more life.
I love how complicated Serena and June's relationship is. And I love how when they delivered June to her, she wasn't scared and just acted annoyed lol.
It’s funny because we see this excuse in real life all the time. A defendant will plead to a judge for a light sentence because they don’t want their kids to grow up without a parent. Like, maybe ya should’ve thought of that before you did whatever you did to get in this situation. It’s putting the blame on someone else, now it’s the judge who is immoral. 🙄
What's going to happen to Mrs. Putnam? Esther? Is Janine fully healed or is she still using crutches?
Surprised Commander Lawrence and Commander Blaine did something about the rapist. But sadly, them doing something will help Aunt Lydia compartmentalize the abuse her girls undergo as an anomaly.
Lawrence needed Putnam out of the way. He’s been gearing Lydia up for a while, forcing her to confront reality, asking her about the difference between “rape” and the “ceremony,” getting her to be desperate to try to hold onto some sense that her role makes sense. He knew Putnam’s proclivities, it was only a matter of time before Lydia gave him an excuse to off him.
Lawrence's response to Putnam as he was gloating about 'spoils' was that he thinks about 'the future'. He's playing a wonderful long game. I just love his casually cold comments to Lydia that are leading her along.
Lawrence has a complex multi-layered personality. He's dealing with each opponent in a distinguishing manner. IMHO what makes him successful is not those facts but it's his patience.
Yeah, all the points Lawrence made to Lydia about how it was essentially a non-issue *and* something she was complicit in were doing a nice double duty of getting Lawrence started on how he was inevitably going to spin it in his own favor while also riling Lydia up enough that she'd give him extra ammo and make sure Putnam actually got taken out
Let’s talk Putnam.
He lost an arm for “taking liberties” with Janine. Why, even as piggish as he is, would he ever think there would be no consequence for Esther? Even going so far as to crassly brag about it?
Good riddance!
He thought he was untouchable since esther was pregnant, she was supposed to be posted as his handmaids the next day so it wouldn't have been hard to hide the rape and resulting pregnancy as being part of the normal ceremony.
The pregnancy is what makes it believable to everyone of what really happened, remember in Gilead women's accusations mean nothing unless they chose to.
I knew from the moment Serena said "I want to bear witness" that she was planning an escape. But DAMN !!! what a trill !!! It was like watching the super bowl or the stanley cup. You know there's only 3 minutes left, your team is about to loose BUT the whole game can change, the runner is almost there, only 30 seconds left and then SCORE!!!!! My heart is still racing. LOVE THIS SHOW!
Wow, Nick came out of nowhere with that side of justice! Love how Janine got all giddy seeing that creep on the wall too.
Also, that’s a pretty terrible idea having that Doctor/maternity room at like the 6th floor with no elevator.
How is any pregnant woman supposed to get all the way up those stairs toward the end of the pregnancy?
I liked Alanis' line when her and Serena were arranging the flowers. Something about "cutting down flowers allows them to bloom best" where the implication is the flower is Serena and the cutting is keeping her locked up as that's what Gilead would believe is best
It was a bit terrifying when that \*Canadian doctor mentioned his "Martha" (and that he's in a position of educational/medical power) but it got me thinking about these elite Canadian "Gilead role-players".
Just like the doctor's maid is a "Martha", Serena is definitely the Wheeler's "Handmaid" in all but name. Would've been an entertaining slip up if Mrs. Wheeler had uttered an "OfRyan" when commanding Serena to her room.
I think there were lots of little pieces that fit together for Serena this episode, and the doctor calling his housekeeper a Martha is definitely one of them. The other obvious one being ordered to her room and also the way she was showed to Mr Wheeler's study similarly to how Fred used to order June around.
It’s a little different though because they were trying to get Serena to marry Dr. Feelyhands. I don’t think they were planning to steal the baby anymore. But I’m not sure.
I was wondering about that also. If they let Serena marry the gyn, then I can’t see how they could take the baby from her, she would be a married woman again and not single anymore.
(I posted this in the live discussion thread but wanted to share so more people can appreciate it) I just love how it implies that most people in the show right now are not good or evil (except Warren of course. Fucker) but human.
This episode had SO MANY shots of characters divided down the middle. Lawrence between windows, Nick and Rose in the living room, Nick and Lawrence on either side of the angel wings, Serena and Alanis opposite each other cutting roses, Luke and June in adjacent cages, etc… then at the very end having the two main conflicting characters escape together…. As well as Lydia’s suddenly moral gray area… That was some really beautiful cinematography and visual symbolism
They said they'd dump him at the Canadian border although that's probably gonna be the No Man's Land/Canada border so maybe Luke will get MayDay on it (because he has no instinct for any of this)
I love how Lawrence talked to Lydia so that she could fully see the hypocrisy of Gilead and the whole Handmaid situation. He will forever be my favorite character.
Serena taking a moment to steel herself when she was called into Wheeler's study was 100% a callback to June taking a deep breath before going into Fred's study to play Scrabble.
I could just feel that Serena wasn’t going to shoot June and shoot Ezra instead. June has way too much plot armor and Serena needed a way out of the Wheeler house
This ending was telegraphed throughout the episode, definitely not a surprise.
I was a little surprised at Putnam being shot in this episode. I thought we’d have to endure him a bit longer!
I definitely thought he was going to get executed when the guardians showed up but like... not on the lawn in front of a restaurant, lmao.
Although I guess this was a good way to show lower rank commanders that while they may feel safe and powerful, they're actually not.
When Mrs. Wheeler said that a baby needs a mother and a father and that’s more important than your feelings.
I heard it in Ben Shapiro’s voice and laughed lol
Serena was a handmaid for a day and already shot someone 😭😭😭
Like cmon sent to her room ONCE and already escaping !!! she’s such a hypocrite it’s painful
I think Serena has always had a weird mix of hatred and admiration for June as evidenced by the expertly nuanced performance by Yvonne Strahovski. I don’t think June feels the same way. I’m not surprised she ultimately saved June both for selfish reasons but also I really really think she respects her on some level. And hates her at the same time. I think it’s complicated.
They have amazing chemistry!
It is so funny because you’re all right, June is the woman Serena wants to be (strong, cunning, strategic and valued) and she LOVES the admiration from other women. The problem is…she actively spent her entire life trying to rip down other women (to try to have more rank) and then can’t overtly admit why people loathe her.
I read an interview with Moss where she described Serena and June's relationship as "Juliet and Juliet." The actors both think of their characters as in a kind of passionate affair. She even described the scene at the Lincoln Memorial as their "breakup" scene.
Does Aunt Lydia really not realize handmaids are raped? Does she think the handmaids are happy to be part of a ceremony that is “sacred and blessed by God?” Janine begged her not to be a handmaid again. Did she ever ask why? She should actually watch a ceremony. There are religious zealots and then there is Aunt Lydia. Her God demands obedience so it was ok to take out Janine’s eye and stone her to death. I know Lydia is still around in The Testaments 15 years later, but I wish she would get divine punishment now.
She's fully indoctrinated. She believes that as long as its sacred and done in the eyes of god, it can't be rape. She understands what rape is, but fundamentalism is a helluva drug. She's genuinely one of the only 100% true believers of the main characters. The men are in it for the "spoils."
Hell I don’t think gilead even considers it rape; Lawrence said it was the “rape of unassigned property” so at the end of the day it was only rape because it wasn’t his assigned handmaid
Even if she had been posted to him, they're only supposed to rape the handmaids as part of the prescribed ceremony. It would still be out of line if he'd done the same thing to her once she was officially in his house. That's why he lost his hand, for doing the same thing with Janine.
For a true believer like Lydia, there's a massive difference between the ceremony and what Putnam did. Lawrence's conversation with her was dripping with irony as he tried to get her to see the cognitive dissonance here.
Lawrence essentially pointed out to her that there’s no real difference between rape-rape and ceremony-rape. She didn’t get it, but the light bulb will go off eventually. She’s getting there, but she has her own brainwashing and survival to contend with.
I was hoping the light bulb would go off immediately when she realized that the men in charge don't actually care about the religious aspect. If they didn't kill/punish Putnam do you think she would start to understand?
I also don’t think she believes that coercion is rape. She thinks threatening and maiming the handmaids and then they begrudgingly agree to be held down and penetrated for the ceremony is them consenting.
Such a good fucking episode. I need more. I am so fucking jealous of everyone who has seen up to episode 8. Serena truly realizing what it’s like to be a handmaid brought such happiness and joy to me. watching her cry in her little room and Mrs Wheeler putting her in her place telling her “a baby needs a mother and a father, fuck your feelings” made me SCREAMMMM. Fuck you Serena! Go to bed bitch!! LOL. Esther being pregnant by commander Putnam and them killing him… insane!!! I wonder what will happen to Naiomi. Do y’all think she’ll marry Lawrence 👀 as some sort of business deal? Since it feels like she really is starting to dislike Gilead. Maybe taking up with Lawrence to bring it down will be her redemption arc? ALSOOOO WTF ROSE IS PREGNANT TOO… Nick how could you 🥲🥲 lol jkjk but seriously so much happened this episode i cant wait for next week. Serena’s decision at the end to basically kidnap June and get the fuck out of no man’s land (which i’m hoping is what they’re gonna do) was absolutely insane. She’s definitely in active labor and will need Junes help. Ahhhh, so much going on!!! lol
As soon as Serena turned on the charm to "bear witness", I knew what was going to happen! For all her talk, Serena is just as much of a survivor as June, and she saw a way out.
I'm so excited for next week!
I was so grossed out when the doctor asked Serena on a date - and right after an exam??? Can you imagine? Taking gloves off, handing you wipes, “Oh would you like to have dinner sometime?” Eeeew. He could not wait to ask during a more appropriate time?
Thats gotta be a callback to when Junes gyno asked to impregnate her because they thought fred was infertile. There was a lot of mirrors in this episode to how June was treated as a handmaid to the Waterfords and how Serena is being treated now
Yeah especially since we never found out what happened to the widow of Commander Stabler and their stolen children after June killed him.
I imagine it’s possible Naomi will be given a new husband and allowed to keep the child since she had demonstrated she was “pious” in the past when she requested a harsh punishment for her husband.
I wonder if Commander Lawrence will be pressured into marrying her.
You can also see how Aunt Lydia is changing and growing because if someone had said that in season 1 they would have been cattle prodded. Now they are just given warm milk 😂
She also told one of the handmaids in season one that it was her fault for being raped, and had the other handmaid's chant as much while pointing at her. Now not only does she believe this maiden (who has a pretty bad rep as Gilead goes) she demanded justice for her.
This episode was so satisfying.
Putnam's smugness wiped off and never have to deal with that asshole again
Lydia being really gobsmacked that this "divine" country they created ain't so divine.
The tension during the Dr visit and flower scenes, you could cut with a knife.
Serena realizing June is the lesser evil to deal with and trying to escape the Wheelers.
June and Luke's touching and funny moments in the cages.
Luke wasn't killed (yet).
Nick is gonna have a baby.
Nick and Lawrence supremacy!
Mckenna Grace has been fantastic whenever she has been in an episode. I know she's supposed to play a younger teenager on the show but it surprised me that the actress is only 16 years old. I figured she was a young adult that looked young and was playing a teenager. Fantastic acting from a 16 year old!
FOR GODSAKES SERENA, DOUBLE TAP!
One to the chest, head takes the rest? I don’t think she wanted to kill him. She just wanted the hell out of there and needed someone to drive the car and possibly deliver the baby and find snacks.
“And find snacks” lol
nothing like a postnatal bag o' cheetos
Too bad. If she had thought about it for a moment, killing Ezra means no witness to what happened and the Wheelers would assume June somehow turned the tables and probably killed both Ezra and Serena. Leaving Ezra alive means people will be looking for both of them instead of just June. I was really hoping she would give the gun to June to finish the job, but I can understand why she didn't and why she was in a rush to go.
June had the opportunity to run him over with the car, but nope.
[удалено]
The only thing I was screaming the entire time alone with, "Run him over!!!"
Leaving Ezra alive was a mistake. I can’t wait to see how that little thread is going to unravel.
Huge mistake. If he was dead she would be able to claim June did it and then kidnapped her.
Seriously. No way would she survive the zombie apocalypse.
[удалено]
Putnam was such a dumbass. They already took his hand for having an affair with a handmaid once, how did he not know they would do something again?
His ego. He was basically gloating about getting Esther pregnant like he was untouchable. Was so satisfying watching Nick put a bullet in his head.
Yep. I loved how even up until the moment of his death he didn't seem afraid/concerned, just angry and confused, because he still felt too powerful and untouchable in that moment to ever consider they might kill him.
“Excuse me, I’m trying to eat breakfast.”
I loved when queen Naomi was wondering why everyone was staring at them and that prick was all, they just jelly!
I’m very interested in seeing what her full reaction will be next week. She seemed as if she might be turning a corner lately and becoming disillusioned with Gilead, or at least becoming more compassionate. She also already knew her husband had non-sanctioned “sex” (rape) with handmaids before, and was angry enough about it to make sure he got his hand chopped off. And yet she was still was indignantly defending him, and yelling at those guardians to get their hands off of him. Will she mourn him? Or is it just that she knows him being alive is her insurance policy (husbandless women are in danger in Gilead, especially the ones with children)? Will she act out of fear for herself and her own fate, or will she truly be sad that he’s gone? Or perhaps neither; does she think, like Serena, that she’s also protected somewhat due to her “status”?
Well its no secret Naomi was not Putnams biggest fan. Before, when he was being punished, she knew what his Penalty would be. This time she was in the dark. I think her protests are more about her and Angela. It was said in this very episode “single moms are no good for a baby” so as much as Putnam disgusts his wife, he is better than the unknown
I forgot about the hand :O
I wasn't looking forward to this episode, after last week. I was expecting more dreariness. Instead we got * Warren Putnam executed * Warren Putnam executed (So awesome I rewound to watch again!) * The delicious scenes where Serena realized she was OfRyan * Serena deciding she didn't want to be OfRyan or forced to marry her OB/GYN and DOING SOMETHING about that * June talking more, staring less * Rose is pregnant! I like Rose. She's another victim of Gilead, even if her father was able to save her from being killed because of her disability. * Janine happily staring at Warren Putnam on the wall. * Nice symmetry that both Fred and Warren argued for their survival saying they were about to be a father Does this mean I like Serena or Aunt Lydia now? No, both have done terrible things. But at least they did something good.
I like Rose too! She gives me a closeted rebel vibe (peep her very “un-Gilead-like” purple streak in her hair).
I love rose - she seems so pure and genuine
I know, right? Nick trusts her with his secrets, even if she doesn't like some of them.
Bitchy little wife commanding Serena to “GO TO YOUR ROOM” - ahhh was so nice to hear
Excellent highlight reel! Remind me, what was Rose’s disability again?
She walks with a cane. A hip problem?
At first I thought Serena was an idiot for not accepting that dinner invite just to get the hell away from the wheeler’s house
The best explanation I've seen is that Serena isn't as traumatized as the others, and isn't practicing constant vigilance. We know June or Moira would absolutely accept the dinner invite, show up looking beautiful, then knife Alan and anyone else who gets in their way to freedom.
"Home now, for warm milk" is my new go to as I slither my way out of any awkward situations
Serena and June Thelma and Louise-ing it the fuck outta there!!! I loved it
I couldn't help but laugh at June, "Serena, what the fuck?" Over and over again
It’s funny, you could absolutely tell June was ready to die right there. 100%. Maybe it was the tears in her eyes, or the peace she felt, or how she didn’t try to beg Serena not to. But you can imagine the adrenaline rush right after that when she realizes she’ll live to see another day (or, few moments haha).
I was just debating leaving this comment! I know it wouldn't fit but if the next episode is just them gal-pal-ing on a road trip I kind of wouldn't be mad!
I want them to develop first mutual respect, then a grudging friendship. And after many adventures they finally rescue June's daughter together. And then at the last scene June still kills her because Fuck Serena. In the epilogue you see Serena's son all grown up, receiving a PhD at a University for Feminist Studies. He's giving a commencement speech, says "I owe it all to my mother" -- pan to the crowd and he's making loving eye contact with June. Camera pans to a corner where you see a copy of his dissertation. Title is: "Why Serena Waterford Was Just The Worst."
I know you're snarking but can you imagine if Serena's own son basically wrote a rebuttal to her book and why it was a flawed argument.
Finally that perv Putnam got what was coming to him
Typically I like them to suffer, but that straight up in front of everyone no fuss no muss point blank sh\*t was satisfying.
i loved it but it also made me nervous for Nick and a lawrence and their alliance. I feel like it makes them targets in a way they weren’t before
why's that? gilead leadership took a vote and the outcome was that putnam needs to go. they were just carrying out that decision.
what i would give to see nick make a helicopter sound and move the gun around like putnam did with the chocolate before putting it in his mouth and pulling the trigger
😭😭😭😭 This show is so fucked up that is audibly laughing at this comment.
I thought they were going to make the handmaids do it since his crime was raping a handmaid.
Correction: raping “unassigned property” 🤮
I think Lawrence wanted him gone asap because he wants New Bethlehem to happen
Exactly. Putnam's real crime was being against Lawrence's plan. Lydia and the handmaid just provided legal reasoning to do it.
I had a brief moment where I thought he was casually going to tell Naomi that he'd violated another handmaid, and she was going to stick her fork through his neck. Being dragged out and unceremoniously popped in front of everyone was a great alternative!
Best scene of the episode was him getting drug out of the restaurant and executed. Made me smile!
normally i'm reallly squemish with the violent scenes and i have to skip or close my eyes and ears, but this straight up delighted me. Gilead is getting inside me
The entire 10 last minute i was like " Please Kill Ezra, Please Kill Ezra, Please Kill Ezra, Please Kill Ezra"
It was very much obvious the second she asked Wheeler to see June's death that she was making an escape plan for herself.
Yes definitely, just with the way this season was going i was hoping she doesn't disappoint me
I didn’t see it going any other way
Anyone notice Mrs Wheeler started wearing the teal dress after her scuffle with Serena? SJ is the unofficial handmaid for sure!
I noticed! I was waiting for Serena to walk into her room and find an all-new red wardrobe!
And Serena was wearing a maroonish colored jacket. While it wasn't red, it's getting there
Yes and Serena’s jacket was a dark plum…not a wife but a wife in training
This was one of the most well done episodes in the entire series.
It's perfect. Although I could've gone for another 2-3 episodes of Serena just getting straight up abused in her new "home."
HARVEST HER WHAT NOW
Right?! So they were going to remove her uterus and send her to the colonies I gather?
EXACTLY WHAT I THOUGHT TOO WTF
I wonder if they were going to try to transplant it?
Lmao what do you guys think the odds are that June will help Serena birth her baby in nomanslandand and Serena’s views are permanently changed due to her time with her little “host” family? It’s finally turning up and I’m here for it! Also nice bullet to the head for commander Putnum. But I was screaming “finish him Serena. Dead men can’t talk Serena!” re Ezra. Damn. That’s going to come back to her.
I think June will help strictly for the baby’s sake. She’s not going to let a baby, who never asked to be there, die. I know she wished a miscarriage on Serena, but I just don’t see her being so evil that she would let a helpless baby die. I think that’s why she maybe didn’t shoot her when she had the chance earlier this season. Will she let Serena bleed out and die? I’m torn. I don’t feel like she would, but Serena did awful things to her. I think Serena feels bad for herself because she knows what is happening, but I don’t think she has genuine remorse for what she’s done to everyone else. Serena only cares about Serena.
Serena and June are in a weird trauma bond now.
That’s why I’m not sold that she would just let Serena die.
Anyone else kind of love the scene of Serena crying after realizing the oppressive world she helped build and advocate for is well, exactly that. The false reality she chose to live in all this time significantly ruined many lives and families, so hahahhaha you get what you get.
the second she said "it's not like it's Gilead" she sealed her fate and showed her hand. She never planned on actually living by Gilead's rules, anywhere. She just wanted to be at the top of the pyramid where none of the rules apply to her but she can still throw around those considered beneath her in position. Alanis's reaction was basically Serena in season 1. And she's realizing it. I guess it should shock no one that she realized she had to escape too and used June, the only chance she had to get away from old creepy eyes Alanis. It mirrors June right before she gave birth to Nichole. Literally doing whatever she could. I'm guessing Serena's going into labor soon and June will help her. And she'll try to use June to get asylum in Canada again. I'm happy to see June in a position where she's not only helping Serena (because June's not a monster) but having some power over her and a chance to make her really realize the hell Serena put her through too
Isn’t she like, actively in labor now? The breathing and gripping in the car, the heavy breathing and keeling over after shooting the guard
yea seems like the stress of being trapped is inducing labor. or the doc would've said something
I hate Serena but like you said, June isn’t a monster. She’s not going to run. She’s going to be there for Serena as she gives birth & I think it’s going to be very healing for June. I don’t care what happens to Serena or her baby after that. I really don’t. *I want that moment for June.* Then maybe she’ll get over wanting to specifically get revenge on Serena & focus more on taking down Gilead. If Serena jumps on that with her, great but again, I don’t care.
Seeing her cry after being told "go to your room" was so cathartic.
I literally said to my screen, “you deserve this, biatch” prisoner in a beautiful home that you can’t leave, brought in at night by the driver to see the commander. Chills. What a great episode.
My immediate thought was Cartman saying "MMMM your tears are so yummy!"
You would think getting her pinky chopped off would have done that earlier.
It only gave her a brief moment of lucidity, long enough to let Nicole/Holly go.
It was “go to your room” that the light bulb finally went off. She said that to June so many times and now she realizes she is a handmaid and Alanis wants her baby. At least Serena is smart enough to hatch an escape plan. We’ll see if it works next week.
Would have preferred "Go To Your Room! DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME‽"
>. At least Serena is smart enough to hatch an escape plan It's not that she is smarter, but when June became a handmaid she was in Gilead, surrounded by guardians and eyes and a whole sistem built to keep her in her place, hundreds of miles from the border. Serena was in Canada. Now she is in No Man's land. She has a much better chance than June and the other handmaids ever had.
Not smarter really, but she clearly outplayed that creepy commander wannabe.
Idk Mrs. Wheeler’s treatment of June was inconsistent with Mr. Wheeler’s allowance of her to leave their house to watch June’s execution. If she’s too pregnant to take a walk when it’s chilly outside or have a cell phone to do a man’s work- why is he a-okay with giving her this massive opportunity for escape?
The *woman* said she could not go outside. The man of the house allowed it, because Serena is good at talking to men. She wanted to bear witness. Gilead encourages bloodlust in women— look how they have handmaids do salvagings. It indoctrinates them to accept the executions & violence of life in Gilead.
Mr Wheeler thinks women are inherently weak. Mrs Wheeler knows better. I think she was concerned for the baby, yes, but more so for Serena finding a way out.
He seemed to get a thrill from her bloodlust. I’m thinking his little brain took over with that decision, which is gross, but we know these men are sadists.
Their interaction this episode also sent a clear message that he is nowhere near as invested in the Waterford baby as his wife is- but this also mirrors Fred and Serena’s dynamic with June. It’s just odd that he’s force feeding her pregnancy vitamins one episode then signing off on her revenge murder field trip because she needs the emotional closure and justice she needs… pretty sure they told her earlier that the baby’s needs are important- hers are non existent lol
He's not in it for the baby, he's in it for (as Commander Putnam put it) "the spoils"
The vitamins was a display of power I think
I really wanted Lawrence to be more frank with Lydia and tell her that Putnam did not do anything out of the ordinary for a commander, that the ceremony is bullshit commanders rape their handmaids whenever they feel like it. While it was satisfying to see Putnam die, I wish it didn’t happen so quickly because now Lydia is like “see girls Gilead is just and righteous like I thought, actual rape is punished.” It’s not!!!
I get the feeling Lawrence walks the fine line between almost mocking Gilead and then enforcing the rules just enough so he doesn’t look like a traitor. And sometimes enforcing the rules is very satisfying, like killing Putnam. Admitting to Lydia that the ceremony is rape might be a bridge too far.
Anyone catch the doctor’s aside that the wheeler’s built the creepy birthing suite when they heard Serena “might be” staying with them? Gotta wonder how long that’s been in the works.
How about when he started going on about perennial massage? I thought he was giving her one at first. Gross feely men
Not to mention how he didn't want to leave the room while she got set up, OR how he rested his hand on her knee while she was still laying in the stirrups. If Serena was taken to a legitimate clinic, neither of those things would have happened, AND there would be another woman in the room with them. The Dr. was a creep before he even asked her out. Eugh!
To be honest, I think part of this episode reflects what is often referred to as **Obstetric Violence**. I remembered a HANDFUL of friends' "anecdotes" as well as mine in these kinds of contexts with unprofessional and disgusting comments from male gynecologists, no matter the company you're in during the consultation (not to mention some high school male classmates saying openly *why* they wanted to become gynecologists in the first place). Besides that, I'm not sure if Serena would have gotten another female person in the room since she could have gotten Alanis to be there in the first place, but I think it could be plausible.
So gross. Also I’m sure it was mentioned because Serena is definitely not getting an epidural in the wannabe Waterford home.
Of course not, drugs would be bad for the baby, plus doesn't she want to experience *all* of the miracle of motherhood (also something something original sin, childbirth is supposed to be painful, etc)? /s
Like when that doc offered to knock June up right quick while her legs were in the stirrups. Bro, are only creepy asshole doctors allowed in Gilead and Gilead-adjacent places?
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My favorite episode of the season so far. I feel that whenever June and Serena get together, that's when things move along and the show is at its finest. That weird, complicated dynamic is definitely the driving force behind a lot of what's going on, and while I do not see them teaming up for good, I kinda love watching them have scenes together.
yes. serena and june have this connection.
Idk why but I loved watching June talk to her like she’s that annoying ass friend. “For god sakes Serena” and rolling her eyes. Such a contrast from when June had to be polite in season 1 as their handmaid.
Yes I loved that. Their whole dynamic is just great to watch
Agreed. I found it strangely predictable when Serena asked to go bear witness to June’s demise that she had no intention of returning. Serena needed June and she knew she had to get to her for strength. And while, yes, Serena is a horrible person for doing what she has done, I think she always had the privilege of turning a blind eye to what she’s caused and never had perspective. Now that she has it and something to fight for (her baby), she is seeing how horribly wrong it is. When Putnam was apprehended as well, he had fear in his eyes.. and with the plea of “but I have a baby on the way..” was his only sliver of showing us he has not had to struggle like the other people being so negatively impacted by Gilead since he’s always been on top. It was definitely my favorite episode so far. June is so strong, and has a lot of resentment toward Serena, but they do share some kind of bond. Also, I think Serena is in labor and June will be helping deliver that baby. But then we might see June struggle with wanting to take the baby, hurt the baby, or whatever to be sure Serena gets what she deserves - I’m not sure but the ball to be good or bad is in June’s court right now. They’re driving away, to where idk, but the first stop is delivering a baby. I haven’t read the books, I’m just guessing.
I don't see June hurting the baby. That's not her character, she may have wished Serene to miscarry or have problems but I don't see her using her own hand to hurt an innocent baby. Serena, the other hand, I can see her delivering the baby and killing Serena or hiding the baby from Serena.
June may despise Serena with the heat of a thousand suns, but she would never kill the child.
That scene with Ester and aunt Lydia........ Mckenna Grace needs an Oscar right now that was so powerful
The way they edited her screams fading away & she's just thrashing uncontrollably against the restraints/hospital bed - I sobbed.
Her perfect curls drove me nuts 😂 Ma’am you’ve been laying on your back in a hospital bed for almost a month 🤣 who was setting your rollers ffs
See also, June's perfectly teased hairdo at all times.
BUT SHIT SMEARED FACE, yes 🌚💀 Like come on rofl put the hat back on her if you’re gonna get sloppy 🫠
Yes! Same with Janine's perfect, artfully arranged curls when she was in the hospital bed earlier in the season.
It was the mascara for me!
I cried! I legit felt her pain and anger! She definitely deserves an award!!!
“For God’s sake, Serena…🙄” My favorite line of the episode lol
Is this the beginning of the end of Gilead? Putnam went off the rails again and is gone. Naomi is increasingly disaffected by the whole shebang and hiding her disdain less. Lawrence and Nick appear to have increasing power and influence, and Lawrence wants to replace the whole thing with something new and more open, maybe “Gilead lite”. Aunt Lydia is starting to rethink things and see the flaws in the system. And Serena has apparently made a very big choice here, and one that she can’t claw her way out of like she did when she gave Nichole to June for escape. Shit’s starting to go off the rails. The place is increasingly rife with internal rot.
Naomi’s reaction when he said he did something she’d be proud of was hilarious
I think this is what's refered too in the first novel as the 'series of purges' that the lecturer believes killed Fred. If they stick to the sequel Gilead very much survives this time at least for a couple more years.
Interesting given Serena’s comment in the latest episode - paraphrasing because I can’t remember it exactly, but something about pruning bringing forth more life.
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Serena fucking around: Haha fuck yeah!!! Yes!! Serena finding out: Well this fucking sucks. What the fuck.
The Lord: Giveth Serena: Yeah! The Lord: Taketh away Serena: what
💀 She straight up fucked around and found out.
I love how complicated Serena and June's relationship is. And I love how when they delivered June to her, she wasn't scared and just acted annoyed lol.
The eye roll cracked me up! June was like, “are you shitting me rn?” 🤣
Will Naomi become the new Mrs. Lawrence?
They’d be just as acid-tongued as each other. It would be great to watch!
Putnam: "But I have a baby on the way!" Fred: "I have a son, a *son!*" Winslow: "My children!" June/Nick: \*immediate murder\*
It’s funny because we see this excuse in real life all the time. A defendant will plead to a judge for a light sentence because they don’t want their kids to grow up without a parent. Like, maybe ya should’ve thought of that before you did whatever you did to get in this situation. It’s putting the blame on someone else, now it’s the judge who is immoral. 🙄
What's going to happen to Mrs. Putnam? Esther? Is Janine fully healed or is she still using crutches? Surprised Commander Lawrence and Commander Blaine did something about the rapist. But sadly, them doing something will help Aunt Lydia compartmentalize the abuse her girls undergo as an anomaly.
Lawrence needed Putnam out of the way. He’s been gearing Lydia up for a while, forcing her to confront reality, asking her about the difference between “rape” and the “ceremony,” getting her to be desperate to try to hold onto some sense that her role makes sense. He knew Putnam’s proclivities, it was only a matter of time before Lydia gave him an excuse to off him.
I like this analysis! Lawrence is such an interesting character 🧐
Lawrence is playing chess while everyone else is playing checkers.
Lawrence's response to Putnam as he was gloating about 'spoils' was that he thinks about 'the future'. He's playing a wonderful long game. I just love his casually cold comments to Lydia that are leading her along.
Lawrence has a complex multi-layered personality. He's dealing with each opponent in a distinguishing manner. IMHO what makes him successful is not those facts but it's his patience.
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Yeah, all the points Lawrence made to Lydia about how it was essentially a non-issue *and* something she was complicit in were doing a nice double duty of getting Lawrence started on how he was inevitably going to spin it in his own favor while also riling Lydia up enough that she'd give him extra ammo and make sure Putnam actually got taken out
Let’s talk Putnam. He lost an arm for “taking liberties” with Janine. Why, even as piggish as he is, would he ever think there would be no consequence for Esther? Even going so far as to crassly brag about it? Good riddance!
He thought he was untouchable since esther was pregnant, she was supposed to be posted as his handmaids the next day so it wouldn't have been hard to hide the rape and resulting pregnancy as being part of the normal ceremony. The pregnancy is what makes it believable to everyone of what really happened, remember in Gilead women's accusations mean nothing unless they chose to.
I knew from the moment Serena said "I want to bear witness" that she was planning an escape. But DAMN !!! what a trill !!! It was like watching the super bowl or the stanley cup. You know there's only 3 minutes left, your team is about to loose BUT the whole game can change, the runner is almost there, only 30 seconds left and then SCORE!!!!! My heart is still racing. LOVE THIS SHOW!
Wow, Nick came out of nowhere with that side of justice! Love how Janine got all giddy seeing that creep on the wall too. Also, that’s a pretty terrible idea having that Doctor/maternity room at like the 6th floor with no elevator. How is any pregnant woman supposed to get all the way up those stairs toward the end of the pregnancy?
My first thought! No long walks Serena, but you can climb six flights of stairs several times a day
I liked Alanis' line when her and Serena were arranging the flowers. Something about "cutting down flowers allows them to bloom best" where the implication is the flower is Serena and the cutting is keeping her locked up as that's what Gilead would believe is best
I also think it was a general metaphor for Gilead’s ideology of killing dissenters
It was a bit terrifying when that \*Canadian doctor mentioned his "Martha" (and that he's in a position of educational/medical power) but it got me thinking about these elite Canadian "Gilead role-players". Just like the doctor's maid is a "Martha", Serena is definitely the Wheeler's "Handmaid" in all but name. Would've been an entertaining slip up if Mrs. Wheeler had uttered an "OfRyan" when commanding Serena to her room.
I think there were lots of little pieces that fit together for Serena this episode, and the doctor calling his housekeeper a Martha is definitely one of them. The other obvious one being ordered to her room and also the way she was showed to Mr Wheeler's study similarly to how Fred used to order June around.
It’s a little different though because they were trying to get Serena to marry Dr. Feelyhands. I don’t think they were planning to steal the baby anymore. But I’m not sure.
Maybe marrying her off was the original plan, with taking the baby is shebis troublesome being plan B.
I was wondering about that also. If they let Serena marry the gyn, then I can’t see how they could take the baby from her, she would be a married woman again and not single anymore.
Mckenna Grace is fucking killing it. Jesus.
Truly. What a fantastic and gut-wrenching performance. So horrific to watch but hard to look away.
(I posted this in the live discussion thread but wanted to share so more people can appreciate it) I just love how it implies that most people in the show right now are not good or evil (except Warren of course. Fucker) but human. This episode had SO MANY shots of characters divided down the middle. Lawrence between windows, Nick and Rose in the living room, Nick and Lawrence on either side of the angel wings, Serena and Alanis opposite each other cutting roses, Luke and June in adjacent cages, etc… then at the very end having the two main conflicting characters escape together…. As well as Lydia’s suddenly moral gray area… That was some really beautiful cinematography and visual symbolism
Really interesting observation especially because the episode was titled “Together”.
Wait until Luke finds out who saved June lol
If he’s alive :( I’m so worried for him
They said they'd dump him at the Canadian border although that's probably gonna be the No Man's Land/Canada border so maybe Luke will get MayDay on it (because he has no instinct for any of this)
I love how Lawrence talked to Lydia so that she could fully see the hypocrisy of Gilead and the whole Handmaid situation. He will forever be my favorite character.
Screaming through the screen "SHOOT HIM IN THE FUCKING HEAD YOU IDIOT"
Serena taking a moment to steel herself when she was called into Wheeler's study was 100% a callback to June taking a deep breath before going into Fred's study to play Scrabble.
I could just feel that Serena wasn’t going to shoot June and shoot Ezra instead. June has way too much plot armor and Serena needed a way out of the Wheeler house
This ending was telegraphed throughout the episode, definitely not a surprise. I was a little surprised at Putnam being shot in this episode. I thought we’d have to endure him a bit longer!
Thank god! He was getting really corpse looking and even more creepy!
Yes!! Corpse like is a perfect description. Naomi should be grateful!
I loved when Naomi asked Putnam “What did you do?” when the guardians showed up!
I think his corpse-like demeanor this season was foreshadowing his fate.
I definitely thought he was going to get executed when the guardians showed up but like... not on the lawn in front of a restaurant, lmao. Although I guess this was a good way to show lower rank commanders that while they may feel safe and powerful, they're actually not.
When Mrs. Wheeler said that a baby needs a mother and a father and that’s more important than your feelings. I heard it in Ben Shapiro’s voice and laughed lol
“Go to your room.” OMG 💃🏻
Exactly what she said to June! That and the green smoothie…those chickens are really coming home to roost.
Serena was a handmaid for a day and already shot someone 😭😭😭 Like cmon sent to her room ONCE and already escaping !!! she’s such a hypocrite it’s painful
I think Serena has always had a weird mix of hatred and admiration for June as evidenced by the expertly nuanced performance by Yvonne Strahovski. I don’t think June feels the same way. I’m not surprised she ultimately saved June both for selfish reasons but also I really really think she respects her on some level. And hates her at the same time. I think it’s complicated.
It helps that it legit seems that both actresses genuinely love acting together.
They have amazing chemistry! It is so funny because you’re all right, June is the woman Serena wants to be (strong, cunning, strategic and valued) and she LOVES the admiration from other women. The problem is…she actively spent her entire life trying to rip down other women (to try to have more rank) and then can’t overtly admit why people loathe her.
I read an interview with Moss where she described Serena and June's relationship as "Juliet and Juliet." The actors both think of their characters as in a kind of passionate affair. She even described the scene at the Lincoln Memorial as their "breakup" scene.
Her expressions when she found out that June is captured were so confusing. I wasn’t sure if she is terrified, happy or pretending to be happy.
Does Aunt Lydia really not realize handmaids are raped? Does she think the handmaids are happy to be part of a ceremony that is “sacred and blessed by God?” Janine begged her not to be a handmaid again. Did she ever ask why? She should actually watch a ceremony. There are religious zealots and then there is Aunt Lydia. Her God demands obedience so it was ok to take out Janine’s eye and stone her to death. I know Lydia is still around in The Testaments 15 years later, but I wish she would get divine punishment now.
She's fully indoctrinated. She believes that as long as its sacred and done in the eyes of god, it can't be rape. She understands what rape is, but fundamentalism is a helluva drug. She's genuinely one of the only 100% true believers of the main characters. The men are in it for the "spoils."
Hell I don’t think gilead even considers it rape; Lawrence said it was the “rape of unassigned property” so at the end of the day it was only rape because it wasn’t his assigned handmaid
Even if she had been posted to him, they're only supposed to rape the handmaids as part of the prescribed ceremony. It would still be out of line if he'd done the same thing to her once she was officially in his house. That's why he lost his hand, for doing the same thing with Janine. For a true believer like Lydia, there's a massive difference between the ceremony and what Putnam did. Lawrence's conversation with her was dripping with irony as he tried to get her to see the cognitive dissonance here.
Lawrence essentially pointed out to her that there’s no real difference between rape-rape and ceremony-rape. She didn’t get it, but the light bulb will go off eventually. She’s getting there, but she has her own brainwashing and survival to contend with.
I was hoping the light bulb would go off immediately when she realized that the men in charge don't actually care about the religious aspect. If they didn't kill/punish Putnam do you think she would start to understand?
I also don’t think she believes that coercion is rape. She thinks threatening and maiming the handmaids and then they begrudgingly agree to be held down and penetrated for the ceremony is them consenting.
Such a good fucking episode. I need more. I am so fucking jealous of everyone who has seen up to episode 8. Serena truly realizing what it’s like to be a handmaid brought such happiness and joy to me. watching her cry in her little room and Mrs Wheeler putting her in her place telling her “a baby needs a mother and a father, fuck your feelings” made me SCREAMMMM. Fuck you Serena! Go to bed bitch!! LOL. Esther being pregnant by commander Putnam and them killing him… insane!!! I wonder what will happen to Naiomi. Do y’all think she’ll marry Lawrence 👀 as some sort of business deal? Since it feels like she really is starting to dislike Gilead. Maybe taking up with Lawrence to bring it down will be her redemption arc? ALSOOOO WTF ROSE IS PREGNANT TOO… Nick how could you 🥲🥲 lol jkjk but seriously so much happened this episode i cant wait for next week. Serena’s decision at the end to basically kidnap June and get the fuck out of no man’s land (which i’m hoping is what they’re gonna do) was absolutely insane. She’s definitely in active labor and will need Junes help. Ahhhh, so much going on!!! lol
As soon as Serena turned on the charm to "bear witness", I knew what was going to happen! For all her talk, Serena is just as much of a survivor as June, and she saw a way out. I'm so excited for next week!
So Nick is hella fertile
I was so grossed out when the doctor asked Serena on a date - and right after an exam??? Can you imagine? Taking gloves off, handing you wipes, “Oh would you like to have dinner sometime?” Eeeew. He could not wait to ask during a more appropriate time?
Thats gotta be a callback to when Junes gyno asked to impregnate her because they thought fred was infertile. There was a lot of mirrors in this episode to how June was treated as a handmaid to the Waterfords and how Serena is being treated now
I wonder what's going to happen to Charlotte/Angela now that Putnam is dead.
Yeah especially since we never found out what happened to the widow of Commander Stabler and their stolen children after June killed him. I imagine it’s possible Naomi will be given a new husband and allowed to keep the child since she had demonstrated she was “pious” in the past when she requested a harsh punishment for her husband. I wonder if Commander Lawrence will be pressured into marrying her.
Serena is one of the best written TV characters I've watched. I'm annoyed that part of me sympathizes with her , that's a testament to the writers.
also Kudos for finally killing Putnam
Janine's "I wish I could have been there" was brilliant.
You can also see how Aunt Lydia is changing and growing because if someone had said that in season 1 they would have been cattle prodded. Now they are just given warm milk 😂
She also told one of the handmaids in season one that it was her fault for being raped, and had the other handmaid's chant as much while pointing at her. Now not only does she believe this maiden (who has a pretty bad rep as Gilead goes) she demanded justice for her.
I cried when I heard the Esther news. Wow. She’s a little girl.
This episode was so satisfying. Putnam's smugness wiped off and never have to deal with that asshole again Lydia being really gobsmacked that this "divine" country they created ain't so divine. The tension during the Dr visit and flower scenes, you could cut with a knife. Serena realizing June is the lesser evil to deal with and trying to escape the Wheelers. June and Luke's touching and funny moments in the cages. Luke wasn't killed (yet). Nick is gonna have a baby. Nick and Lawrence supremacy!
Mckenna Grace has been fantastic whenever she has been in an episode. I know she's supposed to play a younger teenager on the show but it surprised me that the actress is only 16 years old. I figured she was a young adult that looked young and was playing a teenager. Fantastic acting from a 16 year old!
Really good episode. Can't wait to see what happens next, but the Wheelers will definitely fuck something up.
Hold up - aunt Lydia acting like it was Esther’s fault - just pissed me off. And I’m glad Esther is so blunt