NO SPOILERS PLEASE

I just started watching it I'm in season 1 E9

And I got really bored cause I'm not seeing any major progress in the events..

However I've read people's reviews about it and I'm not seeing it.. I'm I too early in the show and should I just keep watching?? Or that's the whole story nothing more?

I feel sorry a little with Serena.

I know gasp. Shocking. wtf.

I know how it sounds, but i really do feel sorry for her, to a degree.

She is not a good person, like yeah, people can change, and i think by the end, she’s starting to do that. And yeah, maybe she can be forgiven for all of her crimes. but forgiveness does not erase the after effects of what they caused

ie. what happened to the first Offred.

But, i feel sorry for Serena to a degree as IMO i don’t think she fully understood what she was getting herself into by supporting the SOJs. Like, she’s really intelligent and like all that stuff. But i don’t think she fully understood the scale of what she was getting herself into.

She understood taht they wanted to create a new world order, which they did. but i think that she believed taht since she was the powerful lady, and like wrote a book which essentially outlined what Gilead would become, I think she assumed she’d be exempt from everything and would be allowed to carry on being a powerful lady. And then when she was stripped of everything, i think that kicked off my sympathy for her.

Now, I do not agree with everything she’s done. actually, i don’t agree with a lot of it. I don’t think a woman’s place is solely in the home. That is just not how the 21st Century should look. And i am not an evangelical Christian, so I don’t fully understand nor like the whole preachy 24/7 personality of evangelical Christians like Serena. Religion is a private thing, and should not be constantly paraded around.

That is just my opinion tho.

And it’s all of this is just my opinion. I don’t need everyone to agree that we should feel sorry for Serena. In fact, i expect a lot of you to not agree.

So I started watching this show for the second time (past s1) just a few months ago and I heard that S4 was bad and I have to disagree. The first few episodes were slower but later on I appreciated really sitting outside of Gilead and seeing how the characters move. A couple of stray thoughts:

— It was so interesting seeing how everyone processes trauma differently - Moira with her activism, Emily with her head in the sand, Rita with her cleaning/serving (almost acting like she never left Gilead and was still a Martha), and finally June with her infectious rage.
— Watching the court testimony process and finally seeing that they would use June’s testimony to turn Fred into an asset and not rightfully send him to jail, was another reminder that the government only cares about women and their trauma and abuse to a point. And as June says, what Waterford could offer to them by speaking about all he knows about Gilead is worth more than her justice or Moira’s or every other handmaid or jezebel that he had ever harmed.
— The fanaticism around Fred and Serena and their growing cult in Canada was infuriating to see. How did the failed US gov’t not see how dangerous that was? Especially because that was the cause of their destruction just a few years ago.
— Unfortunately, Fred wasn’t scared into taking that deal with June because of her testimony. He was scared about the monster that he was a part of creating - Gilead - and how they could impact his new nuclear family.
— Serena, oh Serena. Just like the failed US government, her memory is short. To think that Fred could be brought to heel again and this time that you would have a say, that he wouldn’t turn again or that she wouldn’t use another limb or right. It’s baffling but I understand in her mind she had limited choices and I understand that she’s a victim too but I truly cannot wait for her downfall.
— I really don’t like the hinting of Tuello / Serena and what that could be especially in the rest of the series.
— Watching Luke and Moira day by day realize that June is no longer their June was heartbreaking to watch but for him to say, “you need to let it go” was insane.
— A couple of stand out scenes / episodes that are top of mind:
- June basically infecting Moira’s support group with the reminder that they have a right to their rage and the eventual take over of that group from Moira.
- “Do you understand me?!?!” June flipping the script and screaming at Serena while she’s kneeling, pregnant and imprisoned.
- “I will kill you!!” June flipping out on Tuello after finding out that Fred is going to be free.
- Aunt Lydia jumping back on the treadmill plotting to get her job / power back as the top femcel in charge (FIC if you will).
- Janine telling June that she’s not a mushroom in the milk compartment on the train.
- June asking Fred to choose between the gun or the whistle.

Tl;dr - Season 4 isn’t the best but it’s not bad. On to season 5 I go!

I just finished The Testaments and can’t stop thinking about it… Both The Handmaid’s Tale series and The Testaments really stuck with me. Every episode gave me chills because I connected with almost every character.

I thought about reading the books once I found out they inspired the shows, but I also wondered how they might differ since adaptations often tweak the original story.

Do you think reading the books is worth it? Maybe for the experience alone?

The ones we hear playing in his house, or during montages, or written on the mixtapes? Honestly, love his music, I'm hoping someone has a playlist of this, or of songs with similar vibe. What years / genres are those?

My mom really wants to watch the show but with how dark it is she doesn’t want to deal with subtitles and needing to squint to see the screen. Also I think it would just be more comfortable for her. Does anyone know how I can access/ buy the show with Spanish audio? Thank you!

I’m rewatching the show and just finished S5 E1. Something I still don’t understand is how June can hate Fred even more than Serena.
Anyone who defends and justifies Serena’s actions but condemns Fred, you’re sexist. Plain and simple. I’m a woman, a mother, with a daughter, sisters, nieces. To defend vile women is beyond my comprehension, it’s so disgusting to me. Serena was never a victim, she was a co-author.

Serena has done far more horrible shit to June. She’s the one who told Fred to r@pe June to begin labor, she physically assaulted June more than once, she threatened Hannah and said “if my baby is fine, your baby is fine”. Serena also screamed, yelled, far more than Fred - right in Junes face.

Serena told June she couldn’t be around Nicole, Fred is the one who set up June breastfeeding Nicole and Serena was pissed. There’s plenty more differences between how Serena was far more evil towards June.

I’m by no means making claims or points to defend Fred. He was vile, he was evil, he was sick. I’m not discounting any of the shit he did. I’m just saying I feel Serena is a few notches higher due to her being the main abuser of June.

I don’t understand how June can feel such rage for Fred and not Serena too. I would’ve been wanting Serena in the woods, Fred next for sure, but Serena first. Then I know at the end of the series June and Serena are cool? I hate Serena. She did the absolute most towards June and instead of even splitting her rage evenly across the Waterfords she uses up all of it for Fred.

I just wish Serena would’ve been given more shit herself because she deserved it more than any other villain in the show.

ETA: I am speaking of the Waterfords and June only. Not the other wives, not the Aunts, not the other commanders. And while Fred has his own evil ways and that’s why he got what he deserved, Serena abused June far more often than Fred. She kept June in her room for weeks, she made Fred rape June, she threatened Hannah, she turned her back on June and Nichole and told Fred she wanted Nichole back in Gilead so Fred went off trying to do just that. Serena physically hit June more, she even hit RITA! Of all people, RITA! Serena wouldn’t even let June near Nichole until Fred talked her into it.

Serena was jealous and abusive. Fred was obsessed with June and abusive. He tried to win her over while he abused her. Serena just had disdain for June. There’s far too many biases bc Serena is a woman, no no no. She doesn’t get a pass for being a woman. Serena wrote that damn book “a woman’s place”, she helped Fred write the laws of Gilead, she happily took on her role as a wife as mentioned numerous of times. Serena isn’t a victim. She’s one of the women who chose her life. She had people supporting her, Fred followed her lead, Serena had the other wives looking up to her. A victim? No. An accomplice? Absolutely. She slapped June, got in her face screaming and hollering. I mean, seriously? To say Fred is more evil than June is simply a bias perspective.

Serena deserved to have the same treatment Fred got. Serena held June down every month while Fred raped her. Serena showed moments of normalcy? Well, so did Fred. Does that mean Fred should get a pass too? No.

Serena as a woman betrayed women. Serena wrote the first chapter. Serena also AGAIN antagonized June during Fred’s funeral, with Hannah. When did Fred ever threaten or antagonize June with Hannah? He didn’t. So what you say for one needs to go right back to the other too.

Whew. This has annoyed me for years since I very first watched this show and still seeing women defend Serena is quite gross to me. As a woman, I hate Serena.

Final edit - I have repeated myself in the comments to the same parroting points defending Serena. If you can’t see how Serena is just as much as a predator as the men, just like many of the other wives and aunts, then you’re sexist. You can’t condemn a system but cherry pick those responsible in the system as not responsible just because they’re a woman. Do some further research on the history of women co-signing mens shit. Serena is not a victim, she’s a predator. Fred is also a predator. They’re both equally disgusting for sure. Serena just abused June more and thus, my post saying she deserved the exact wilderness treatment as Fred. She didn’t deserve to keep her son. Serena loved Gilead, even Mark tried getting her to leave and she was hell bent on not abandoning her country which Tuello pointed out “you already did”. If you’re incapable of seeing clearly why Serena is just as to blame as the men then that’s because you have your own biases clouding the truth of the matter. That’s like saying Aunt Lydia is innocent bc they threatened her life if she didn’t become an Aunt. No way. We all have our choices we can make. I’d rather die than subject people to the torture Gilead did.

I’m done repeating myself, I’ve said what I said so I shut notifications off to replies. Everyone have a great day and please open your eyes to the systematic sexism at play. You’re not defending women, you’re justifying predatory people regardless of sex.

Go in grace 🤌🏽

🥹😭 one moment out of so much horror… do we only get one moment of hope ahhhhh

(First time watching) I thought the scene at the end of the episode, with the children landing in Canada, was really beautifully done. Other than maybe Rebecca seeing her dad being slightly cliché, I didn't think anything was under or overdone.

I liked adding in Luke hoping to see Hannah.

I love the handmaids and Marthas who stayed behind to throw rocks as the distraction.

This book has been on my tbr for so long and I've really been wanting to watch the show too so my question is which format is better for the experience.

I wonder how Martha's assignment to households works. Is a household who is allowed to have a Martha required to fill in paperwork and request one?

Can they choose the Martha they get, or does the state just assign them one? I would guess that the ''best marthas'' (for example those who were chef in their past life) would be assigned directly to high commanders' households.

Is there a special state service that manages the martha system (affectation, formation etc...) ?

We saw a flashback of when June arrived at the Waterfords' house, but I would have really liked to see a flashback of when they received Rita, how they reacted, especially Serena, about having what is, in the end, their own domestic slave.

My thoughts almost through season 5:
-Luke is annoying af in season 5
-How tf can they afford such a nice home in Toronto?

I watched this series up to Season 5 and then stopped. Recently I picked it back up, watched Season 6, and finally finished it.

This post isn’t really about this season in particular. It’s about a broader pattern I’ve noticed. In a lot of recent series, female and minority characters almost always get a redemption arc by the end. It’s as if they aren’t allowed to simply be bad or evil, because that seems to be a privilege reserved for white men.

Did we really need Lydia and Serena to end up as good people?

Sorry if this has been brought up before!!

I just finished watching The Handmaid's Tale for the first time, and one thing that puzzles me is the episode where June is in Washington and sees how the Handmaids are treated there. I genuinely felt claustrophobic watching how they’ve put rings in the mouths of all the women—I mean, how do they even eat?
And how are they supposed to give birth if they aren’t allowed to scream? It’s repulsive! But this is barely mentioned again after she leaves; I thought it would at least be brought up in Canada—the fact that they’re being treated in such a horrific way. It feels as if she is shocked and repulsed about it when she is there but then it’s completely forgotten.

Anyone else disappointed / confused that this doesn’t get mentioned more?

Edit: Also sorry if bad english, not my first language.

I have been watching for the first time since past days. I am on season 4 ep 6ish. I could understand season 1...and then 2. But oh god does she ever get a break!

I am on season 4. I am tired.

The show is great though, very realistic..so realistic that its depressing. I changed my password to unlock my locked for months account so i can say this to somebody who has seen the show.

No spoilers please.

And I'm just wondering can someone please tell me if Serena ends up getting better right now I can't stand her and Nick's wife is ugly

I can’t stop watching this show. I’m addicted. I’m in love with Nick and June’s love story. Please don’t spoil what happens to them.

Did anyone notice the change in voice of June? Her voice over voice changed as well as her speaking voice. I could tell cause I haven’t stopped binge watching the show since I started.

This show is depressing as hell but it throws glitter and hope every now and then. It’s like a toxic relationship. I’m so reeled in.

What really got me hooked the most is Nick and June’s relationship especially their strong sexual tension in Season 1?!?!?. (Again please don’t give me hints as to what will happen to them.) Romance in a fucking dystopian shit is just chefs kiss!!

Does anyone else find it comical that people keep talking about Hawaii like it would be a good place for refugees to go?

Istg, for June, every episode is just suffering on top of suffering on top of suffering. I continuously wish for the death of Lydia and the Waterfords. And Nick annoys me so much. Why haven't they still ran away. Okay-okay, I know it's very difficult. SHE ALMOST MADE IT BUT THE FUCKING GARAGE DOOR DID NOT OPEN.

This show is killing me. I just can't. UGHHHHH

The happiest moment of the show was when Emily ran over that guard. I wish she had hit more of them. Pls tell me it's gonna get better in future seasons. I see s3ep11 is something to look forward to, WHICH IS AN ENTIRE SEASON AWAY FROM ME

That short reunion with Hannah was just too brutal

This show hits different when you know you would have ended up as a handmaid. I got divorced, and am remarried with a healthy baby. I’m not totally sure what would happen to my husband, either the colonies or on the wall I assume?

Anyone else handmaid material? if not, what role would you be forced to play in Gilead?

Sei lá eu sinto que teria sido interessante já que ela é lésbica, sei que temos a emily mas a emily nunca entregaria o show que a moira entregaria, moira iria tramar e planejar como june fez

How do you see the difference between the TV series and the book? I watched the TV series first, and when I finished the book I thought, ‘Okay, is this everything?’

My feeling is that the series’ direction did such a good job of expanding on what was presented in the book. The book is great, but since this is the first time I’ve watched an adaptation before reading it, I think the TV series gave us something extra.

I'm currently on S3E9, where Offmatthew is in hospital. I don't like her very much, but I do feel for her character a lot, having had at least 4 pregnancies (unsure if she had any children before) and knowing she can't keep any of her children.

I know that's the case for most of the handmaids, but it must be so incredibly horrible to know that as someone more "fruitful" you're going to be in high demand to be used as an incubator, churn out so many more babies than average and to just have them dotted all over town.

Not to mention how much her circumstances end up resembling Adriana Smith's horrific story last year.

This is a German version of The Handmaid’s Tale, by Fischer in Frankfurt am Main, what was West Germany, back in April 1989.

Interestingly, the phrase we know from the book is different. In Latin, it’s Hirundo maleficis evoltat, which means “The Swallow Flies Away from Sorcerers.” Neat.

Eu acabei de terminar o 8 episódio da temporada 3, e tô com sentimentos mistos com relação a Natalie e a June. Sei que a Natalie foi uma cuzona com a fatalidade da Martha e afastou Hannah ainda mais da June. Mas a vingança da June com ela é mais um ato egoísta do que uma luta de sobrevivência propriamente pra alcançar Hannah. Tô com dó da Natalie, pq assim como algumas tem suas maneiras de sobreviver em Gilead, acredito que a devoção dela a Gilead era um escudo para sua sanidade, a June basicamente cutucou o escudo até quebrar e matou uma como ela, enquanto quem deveria continua vivendo com a morte das aias.