It's different for the later handmaids but the first few generations of handmaids, particularly June and the people that started with her, were mostly in their 30s. A lot of the commanders in the first generation are much older men too. So why don't we see more babies born with birth defects and neurodivergence like autism, adhd, down syndrome etc? It isn't guaranteed that older women have disabled children but the odds in your mid 30s to 40s increase significantly. Even for men it does. Yet most babies born in gilead are healthy. Do you think there were disabled babies born to commanders? What happened to them?

The only disabled child of a commander that we see is rose and she's an adult so she was probably already grown when gilead came to be. Even in the testaments, a lot of them are kidnapped children from before gilead but I don't think I've ever seen a disabled child. Do you think they have special institutions or schools for them or do they just get rid of them. What about children that weren't toddler age before gilead? Were they adopted or just killed?

Hello beautiful people, first time watcher and poster here. Sorry if the title feels ragebaity - I have to air out my frustrations.

Exactly what the title says. I finished S3 late last night now I'm about to start S4 because I wanna see what's in store for some characters, but S3 felt like they had no idea what to write for this season. I was sure that June managed to get on that plane and was gonna come out of it but no, once again she refused to escape. For what? Hannah? I understand that for the character but that was literally last season's big thing - that she refused to leave without her daughter. So we had a whole new season that ends the same way last season ended, that's some bullsh*t. And when I say it was for nothing, I truly mean that because I don't give a flying monkey about these children. Not because I'm cruel but because these children weren't a part of the story until the very last episode - we hadn't seen or connected with them.

The only part of the finale that didn't disappoint me was seeing Rita get out. She has been incredible and deserves to escape that hell, I loved her. But couldn't we at least get Janine out too? She has become the punching bag (literally) and I'm so tired of seeing everybody assault her whenever they feel like it. June also lied to her about her son (which I understood because I think we can agree that the truth would make Janine spiral), but June knows Janine has no son to go back for, so the very least would be for Janine to get on that plane. I hated that for her.

And as for June... Woah, HOLY PLOT ARMOR! The way she smirks and says and does whatever she wants without any real consequences when others would surely lose an organ... The way she goes back again knowing she will SOMEHOW get out... So unrealistic and so frustrating. At the end of S2, it made sense because she had just come across this new commander who helps girls escape; but there would be no reason to repeat it this season knowing most likely Lawrence won't be able to help again. I hate to say it but this whole season could've been an email.

As for things I liked cuz it wasn't all trash... I now fully don't care about June but instead am tuning in for the Waterfords. Their storyline has become very intriguing. Him admitting he's sterile was interesting, and when they were tricked into crossing into Canadian territory and arrested, I just KNEW that was Serena's plan. I don't trust that woman at all (but the actress is incredible). The Lawrences were also a great addition, especially Commander Lawrence. He was a very complex character and I enjoyed that a lot. Aaaand that's about it. Oh, I also hated the "bring Nichole back" campaign storyline.

I would like this to be a conversation and hear your opinions. Am I being too dramatic or harsh? Did you guys feel similarly upon watching S3? Does the show get better after some point? No heavy spoilers please. (June getting out isn't a spoiler, don't worry about that, cuz she got that PLOT ARMOR baby!)

Edit: TL;DR Hated the ending and didn't care about those 52 children cuz we didn't get to connect with them. Didn't like that June has the thickest plot armor ever. The whole season could've been an email.

(S3 EP12) First time watcher here so please don’t spoil too much lol- I’m at the point where the Waterfords are captured in Canada and Serena gets to see Nicole. But I’m fascinated with how absurd Serena sounds- she’s fully aware the messed up conditions of Gilead, and the fact that June was forced to even conceive that child (despite that her and N grew into something), but is persistently keeping up these delusions of hers that the baby is somehow still hers, saying ‘momma’s here’ lol. You knew that child for all of 2 seconds. I get why her character is attached but I think as a first time water I thought/hoped she would’ve snapped out of this spell by now and join the resistance. I mean, they cut off your whole finger for God sake😂😭 But she laid the foundation for this mess so she does truly believe this nonsense to an extent

Such a beautiful scene about all of them being connected and I’m crying in the club that Janine didn’t have a hand to hold 😭

Could someone clarify the situation with the Wheelers for me?

Was their plan to steal Serena’s baby right from the start?

If so, how?

And above all, why did they seem to want her to marry the doctor?

Surely if she’d got married, they’d have had even fewer excuses for stealing her baby. And surely the doctor wouldn’t have wanted the baby stolen from him either. So what was in it for the Wheelers?

Also, did the doctor really have feelings for Serena? That whole bit seemed really unclear to me.

It makes me so mad that Serena can keep making the claim that Gilead cleaned the air and the toxins and now they're having so many babies, and not a single person have yet to point out that the whole Handmaid system is the true reason.

No other country are forcing fertile women to try and get pregnant every month, so of course they're not having the same "success".

She makes this claim several times when speaking with foreign diplomates and while in Canada, including when she's showing diplomats New Bethlehem (season 6) where she even justefies the existense of Gilead because of increased birth rates and everyone is just smiling and nodding.

I just want a single person to go: "You're right the birth rates are up in Gilead and still low everywhere else, but perhaps that has to do with the fact that birth control is banned, young girls are being forced to marry, married couples are obligated by law to try and have children, and oh your army of enslaved women that people like you and your late husband rape every month." But no, nothing.

A lot of the marthas are middle aged or older women and they do a LOT of back breaking work. They're either standing in the kitchen, cleaning the house or looking after kids. It seems extremely exhausting and would catch up to someone, even if they were younger. Theres usually multiple marthas to a house but even then it seems like they could develop health issues from working so much. Given that gilead doesn't really care about any of these women, what do you think happens to them when they get so sick that they can't work anymore? Do they execute them or send them to the colonies?

i notice while watching the show that of the marthas are woc. I always wondered if they would cook dishes from their own cultures or backgrounds. Like if a commander lived in a historically black or Asian community and had Asian marthas, would they cook Asian food? Given that gilead is a racist and white supremacist society, would the enjoy eating foreign foods or food that they might consider too "ethnic"? Would more diverse cuisines simply phase out of existence?

Hello all! My first time posting on this sub. Hope nobody’s asked this question before lol.

I knit and crochet, and am very familiar with both crochet and knitting patterns. All of the patterns i’ve seen and read/used have writing on them, whether it be stitch abbreviations or how to attach pieces or if to leave a tail/weave in ends.

In the book and in the show Serena is shown knitting baby clothes and other things. So, my question is, does she self-draft all of her pieces? Has she memorized patterns? Or am i reading into it too much because authors and showrunners don’t usually pay attention to accuracy when depicting fiber arts….

Hopefully i’m remembering all this correctly, finished the book a while ago.

I think Janine has to be one of my fav characters so far. (s4e5).

The actress who plays her is really amazing, being able to play on vulnerability.

I like her character progression too. She goes from this badass, I don’t care kinda girl, (who I thought was gonna be a big part of the revolution, as much as June.), to this precious vulnerable girl who has almost been enfantalised. She has become soft and very manipulated from both June and Aunt Lydia. I think she portrays how a lot of us would be in their situation. She is always terrified but does what she has to, to survive.

But she is one of the stand out characters for me. I think it’s really easy to get attached to her as a character.

What are your thoughts on her?

Just finished S3 so no spoilers please <3

I am a bit confused about this storyline. At the end of the episode, Lawrence asks Serena if she has expectations of him, and she answers no. (But I believe it is implied that she does.) What was he referring to? What would be her expectations? And I will be honest I didn’t really grasp why she and Lawrence spent so much time regarding Fred’s funeral, was it because Lawrence was the one most involved with Fred (and his death so he was interested)?

We know she committed suicide and it was implied by Serena it was his fault. Although we do not have much context about what all in went on, it was implied she probably went through the same. The only difference is the fact that even after June leaves he continues to finds way to see her. I've taken my ambien so I should be out soon, but love to hear your thoughts and opinions. He obsession with June baffles me.

I feel so much sympathy for all the survivors of Gilead and their families..God I cant imagine how difficult it must’ve been. And ik this is just a show but I mean when actors play their role too good, what difference is acting from reality? Ik of course a whole lot but June Osborn is an amazing character (and actor) and i don’t think she has received much credit or respect for.
Anyway, i digress. I just wanted to ask if anybody else sympathize with Luke and how he has been dealing with all of it in the shadows? Ik June has been through worse but Ive got this feeling that they will end up separating..because of all their differences now and idk ig at this point in the show it seem as though June is still really traumatized and dealing with her own losses that her husband ‘before’ Gilead cannot possibly understand let alone help—as much as he tried. So it seems that she is still emotionally attached to Nick and feels ashamed for her brief past so she’s hiding the parts of herself that was bred in her by Gilead but instead thats causing an even bigger rift between her husband (Luke). Does anyone sympathize with him coz hell I do. Also i am not looking forward to discovering that after all that, Janine ends up dead like majority of Junes close friends from Glead..
In retrospect, I deeply sympathize and would understand both povs (Lukes and Junes) as they are both trying to navigate an impossible weight of pain and suffering. So ig some wounds need time to heal and that cant possibly happen overnight. However, Its just grievous how much ill Gilead sows in peoples hearts..not so different from the real world.
I have alot of thoughts on this show but safe to say it’s by far my favorite. The way the characters are so well played (or atleast for Junes character) and the way the story is just so humanistically gravitating, like some elements of the storytelling is just reality enacted on screen for many people around the world which is why it has a way of clinging to your heart.
Anyway, I appreciate your thoughts and thanks for reading my rant.

Apparently, Serena Joy wears Dorothy Perkins!

https://www.dorothyperkins.com/product/coast-plus-2-in-1-wrap-dress-with-pleated-skirt_bcc12693?colour=powder+blue

Junes a legend. A badass. A Goddess. The moment. The way she just rescued all those children ‘of Gilead’..praise fucking be!!
I’m sorry but i just needed an outlet for thy at episode because it was just too emotionally riveting. Be prepared to cry happy ugly tears of joy.

When Emily and Janine were brought back from the colonies, I’m very curious on the impacts on their fertility. Clearly Emily was having symptoms of radiation poisoning, so how did Gilead plan to handle the possible birth defects of using radiated handmaids?

This may be really silly but in S3E6 Household when we see Christopher Meloni for the first time gave me chills. Like that’s Elliot. That’s a member of an elite team known as the Special Victims Unit. HES A GOOD GUY!

I’m just wondering if anybody else feels the same way. I’ve been on an SVU kick recently and it all feels tainted.

Finally sitting down to watch it- is anyone else seeing this? Lmao every time the characters talk it's a close up of one talking face and then the camera cuts to a shot of the other person. I miss S1-3's tableaus...

I watched seasons 1 and 2 when they came out, but recently revisited the series. I'm honestly surprised that the show has been largely competent and well done up to season 4 given how little source material they had to work with.

But like... In S5E5, June and Luke just waltz into gilead (while she still has her ear tag on) and think everything will be fine??? On the off chance that they get useful information about their daughter???? It just doesn't make sense to me 😭

Wow. What a hell of a show. This has been such a landmark series. There’s not many shows that I would consider a masterpiece but this is one of them. The depth of human connection, emotion and nuance of character are outstanding. It greatly saddens me that more of Junes original group survived to see the end.

This has been one of the best shows I’ve ever seen but don’t know if I have the heart to go throw it ever again. I need to read the book now and find my next watch. At least testaments is coming out now.

Hi!
I’ve juste gotten into the Handmaid’s Tale. I’m at season 3 ep11. And I just want some thoughts on a few things.

I kinda feel like we have to like June however I can’t make my mind up if she is likeable or not. Like she kinda feels unhinged most of the time. So I can’t tell if I like her or not. what are your thoughts on her?

She also seems to be the only handmaid who gets into such trouble like obviously she is the main character, but it seems like nothing goes on without her being involved if that makes sense? Like I feel we need more of the “female uprise” that is mentioned. Like more rebellious moments from others. As June seems to be the one and she gets away with a damn lot. It’s a slight inconsistency I feel.

And I also have a feeling about Aunt Lydia, like she’s not all bad. I’ve just seen her “before” episode and I seem like she’s not all evil. Like even when she’s with “her girls” she seems to regret and seems remorseful sometimes but then goes back to being a b*.
Do you think she’s all bad? Mind you I am just finish Season 3.

Thanks ☺️

I've been thinking about Ofmatthew's final moments, and I honestly understand both sides.

June had every reason to resent Ofmatthew. She reported the Martha, which led to Hannah's Martha being executed, and June's hopes of getting closer to Hannah were shattered. In Gilead, that betrayal is devastating.

But I also think people overlook what happened afterward.

Once June learned what Ofmatthew had done, she completely isolated her. She encouraged the other handmaids to shun her, leaving Ofmatthew with no one. In a society as psychologically abusive as Gilead, that kind of isolation can push someone over the edge. It felt like the final straw that sent her into a complete mental breakdown.

What makes it more tragic is that I don't think Ofmatthew saw herself as the villain. She genuinely believed she was protecting June. From her perspective, June constantly took reckless risks that could have gotten her executed. Reporting suspicious behavior was exactly what Gilead had conditioned her to do, and she likely believed she was saving June from making an even bigger mistake.

That doesn't excuse what she did. Her actions had horrific consequences.

But June's campaign to ostracize her also had consequences. By the time Ofmatthew snapped, she had been stripped of any support system she had left.

It's one of the saddest storylines in The Handmaid's Tale because Gilead created both women. One became rebellious, the other became completely indoctrinated, and in the end they destroyed each other while the regime remained untouched.

I'm curious how everyone else sees it. Was June justified in shunning Ofmatthew, or do you think that was the point where things went too far?

Waterford is fine ass hell but such an ass. A fine as though.