The Handmaid’S Tale … Information For Anyone Who’S Interested

[naomi24]

If anyone is, like me, itching to read the book but reluctant to do so because they don’t want to spoil the television series for themselves ….. good news. I am reliably informed that the book covers only the first series …. so we won’t know the real ending until we’ve watched the complete production. Buying the book as we speak!!

[naomi24]

Ladybirder, what to say?!! Horror ...anger .... disgust .... tears .... confusion....

[ladybirder]

That's about it LOL. Wasn't it terrific?

This post came up just as I was going to switch of my computer. I can go to bed now.

[naomi24]

I think I'm what is known as gobsmacked!

Sleep tight. I'm onwards with the book.

Subscribe to this thread, Ladybirder and update me with any thoughts you might have. That applies to Cassa and to anyone else who might be looking in too. Gosh! What an extraordinary tale!

[ladybirder]

Will do. My head's still spinning from last night though. I did love it when that handmaid kicked her abuser in the you know whats as he lay dead. As there is another series Offred can't escape Gilead yet can she? Love to hear what other ABers thought as well. Was it Nick who got shot? Did Fred rape Offred again because he now knows the unborn child isn't his?

[fender62]

its an excellent series indeed, another good one is.. sharp objects
it's a thriller and very well written.

[hazydaisy]

Not watched it

[naomi24]

Ladybirder, //Did Fred rape Offred again because he now knows the unborn child isn't his? //

I think so. That was done with vengeance.

Do you think he's arranged for Nick to be taken, leaving Offred about to give birth and alone? Is he planning for the baby - and her - to die?

What a gruesome pair we are! I'm not a violent person but when she kicked him, I was with her all the way! I so wanted to help!! Go girl!

Thanks Fender, I'll have a look at that.

[ladybirder]

You may well be right about Nick, but isn't he protected by someone senior to Fred? Fred will have guessed whose child O is carrying so who knows. Wouldn't be surprised though if Fred had arranged things as you say. But if N is protected then F could have made a big mistake. Is Eden going to make a move? What's Serena going to do? What do you think of Aunt Lydia Naomi?

[AuntLydia]

This last episode asked a lot of questions and I too only watched it last night due to doing other things on Sunday. I may be biased ha! ha! but I think Aunt Lydia is doing her best... We saw a vulnerable/empathic side of her when offred asked her to watch out for her baby but I'm pretty sure Aunt Lydia is not working for the Eyes, nor will she facilitate any actions contradictory to Gilead. I did have a moment when ofred was being raped of thinking 'tell Aunt Lydia' so am maybe warming to her as a character. The thing is, apart from the horrendous Fred, most leading characters do have some redeeming qualities. I am not often intimidated by fictional characters, especially male ones, but Commander Waterford ( just typing that...shiver) truly frightens me, what an actor!
The ending of Sunday's episode was not expected ( as usual). I thought there was some ulterior motive for the meeting with ofreds daughter. My view is that Nick is not dead , this is a set up, though I doubt Nick knows about the conversation about the paternity of Offreds' baby. How Serena Joy fits into this scenario is any ones guess. Nick was told to get offred back before Serena Joy came home, indication perhaps she had no knowledge of what was going on, but I'm not sure. Whatever happens Serena Joy will want that baby...what ic coming next? Can't Wait!!!

[naomi24]

I think Aunt Lydia has sympathy with the Handmaids. Perhaps she will prove instrumental to the outcome. I’ve often thought she wavers. Do we know what she did before? I thought it strange when she said (last week I think) that she’d been a Godmother to someone’s child and that it wasn’t her fault the child had died. I wonder what was going on there?

Who knows what the Commander is up to? Has he hatched a scheme to get rid of Offred and the baby, somehow implicating Nick in their disappearance, thereby killing three birds with one stone? I don’t think he’s in any doubt about who the father of the baby is.

I can’t imagine he arranged for Offred to see her daughter out of the kindness of his heart and like you, AuntLydia, I don’t think Nick is dead and I don’t think he is aware of Offred’s decision to tell her master just what he will never have either. Wasn’t that bit brilliant! Wow! I love her when she gets feisty and determined! A verbal kick right where it hurts the most! What an utter brute that man is!

Nick does seem to have a special relationship with that senior figure, Ladybirder (can’t remember his name). I wonder if he’s his illegitimate son or something like that? Maybe Nick has been assigned to Waterford’s house as a spy? Eden, I think, will never forgive Nick for not loving her … and could prove trouble.

What next? I think we might see Offred giving birth and trying to survive, with her baby, alone until they’re rescued – or more likely she’ll give birth and the baby will die. If the baby survives she has to leave the Waterford home immediately which is a good reason for the writers to kill the baby off - ensuring that Offred remains the Handmaid there. She’s not going to get away from the Commander or Serena that easily.

[ladybirder]

Offred could now have put Nick's life in danger; perhaps she should have kept quiet? I think it is established that Nick is an "Eye" in the Waterford household. I don't think he's dead either. I hope he isn't.
I also warmed a little to Aunt Lydia over her promising to keep an eye on the baby and I think our AuntLydia has it right in what she has said about her above. She's an interesting character and I can't take my eyes off her when she's on screen. Whatever I say will probably be wrong so I shan't make any predictions except Serena Joy is going to go potty when/if she finds Offred's missing. Roll on next episode I want to see if any of your predictions come to fruition Naomi.

[naomi24]

The more I think about it the more I think the baby has to die. Serena knows her husband is a dud, she’s desperate for a baby and she knows the baby is Nick’s because she arranged the original liaison. Offred has to remain in the house and with a living baby she’s not going to be able to do that. Probably completely wrong.

[ladybirder]

Naomi somewhere over the last few days I have seen a picture of Offred cuddling a baby. Of course it could have been someone else's ...

[naomi24]

As I said, I'm probably wrong. She was told that she would have to leave the house as soon as the baby is born so I just don't see how she can remain.... unless the story takes a very unexpected turn .... which would never surprise me ..... or you, I'm guessing. Oh my! This really is something else.

[ladybirder]

Blessed be the fruit;-))

Night night.

[ladybirder]

Before I drifted off to sleep last night I was wondering why Serena "set up" Offred and Nick. Do we know? Is it perhaps because Fred is firing blanks and Serena realised this and wants a (any) baby. Or have I forgotten something, which happens a lot nowadays?

[naomi24]

I think Serena realised, that's why she set Offred up with Nick. She does want any baby. Who was it said the week before last that it's the men of Gilead who are infertile - not the women?

[naomi24]

Just found this:

//It's not women who are infertile. Serena Joy may be infertile because she took a bullet to the ovary, but in reality, most women are just fine. A small surgery could give her a child of her own.

It's the men who have been rendered infertile. Gilead and the religious fundamentalists are just blaming women because they can't handle hearing their manhood is compromised. It makes for an interesting twist, and one the show can explore further in Season 3 come next year.//

https://www.elitedaily.com/p/why-is-there-infertility-crisis-in-gilead-heres-your-the-handmaids-tale-breakdown-9549511

[naomi24]

Interestingly (to me at least) everything I've come across so far in the story carries a biblical reference. Very impressive research by the author.

[AuntLydia]

I watched an interview with Margaret Atwood where she states that everything in the original book that happens to the women has happened somewhere at sometime to real women, usually in the context of Religious derogation. Frightening!