Umbelina

Looks like Nick dropped Fred back in Gilead, the former handmaids all had cars in that forest. No crossing the border for them. As for why Nick could be in Gilead? There was a prisoner exchange going on, Canada would be stand down in that area, for the spies to do their thing.

When June was playing Fred in his room, and asked for that drink? I really thought she was going to break the glass and go for his jugular vein. Well acted scene by both, really well done.

Just confirmation that he is dead. The wifi is apparently not fast enough for Serena, now that she's getting so many media requests. Honestly it's one room with one large window that looks out at a cement wall. Beyond that is barbed wire and armed guards. The double bed, two chairs, a coffee table and a desk, with presumably a basic bathroom somewhere is not exactly child rearing friendly. They had relatively nice accommodations, but they were still under cameras, microphones, locked in, under guard, and they only had those because they were trying to get information from them, and that is better facilitated that way, since they don't really condone torture in Canada, or under international law. Serena and her demands will make her comeuppance so much more enjoyable.

Yeah, I expect a time jump soon, into Testaments territory, and the new show. I honestly don't know what they will do staying with Handmaid's Tale for another season. It seems it would be the perfect time to make the jump. I do think Lydia's a better foil for Serena than Tuello though, so I expect her butt back in Gilead soon.

nah. Tuello didn't know June was going to kill him. He specifically put him into Gilead custody, even stated it with Lawrence, knowing he would probably die, but in Gilead, with Gilead justice. He was killed in the "no go" zone, so sooner or later, someone will find his body. Also, several witnesses, not all mentally stable, all trauma victims. June's days in Canada, openly at least? Are over. If nothing else, Fred never ARRIVED in Gilead, so there will be an uproar. ETA AND they have his finger and his wedding ring. Forensics will know if that was taken while he was alive, or already dead.

I think it will have something to do with Fred's finger. I wish it would be delivered, as addressed, to Serena, but I doubt that. I think it's going to depend. Who do they want to pair Serena with, in the inevitable head to heads? June looks like she's leaving. That leaves Tuello or Lydia. I'm rooting for Lydia, after Serena begs Tuello and everyone in sight not to send her back.

I honestly don't know why there will be a season 5 of Handmaid's Tale, or what they can possibly do next. Obviously Serena is being bumped up to main villain, but honestly, how long can that last? They should jump to Testaments now. Personally, I think they've already put their foot in, but really? It seems like it's time. Wait, perhaps next season will involve time jumps? Nicole growing up enough for Testaments? Any ideas?

Not a preview, this is the "inside the episode" for Wilderness.

Talking about the season finale.

I think Serena will know she's screwed pretty damn fast, and I'm here for that! That oncologist that was given the name Riley in Jezebels. I feel like we already knew of her death, but I can't remember it, which makes me sad. Does anyone remember how she died? A B&D "game" that went to the ultimate conclusion? ETA some cool videos out today, I just posted one interviewing Joseph Fiennes. I'll probably post more.

Me too! I've really enjoyed this whole season, but especially the back half! This was completely satisfying to me, and normally I close my eyes during violence like that. This time? I was as "bad" as those handmaids. I wanted to see and enjoy every single moment. Those "moments" started long before the actual execution of Fred, and they were all perfection. Her kissing "boy" Nick in front of Fred was out there, but in the end, that was perfect as well. I loved seeing the additional scenes of Jezebel's mixed in too, showing even more of things June, and all the other women were made to suppress and fake. I'm watching it again.

So, Tuello didn't know June planned that particulation, right? He turned Fred over Lawrence to guarantee safe passage of Fred to Gilead or something? I loved the whole finger being delivered to Serena. It wasn't through the mail, and the courier was probably one of the women involved in the particulation.

Moira just wanted Fred "gone." She didn't get her hands dirty. She was never a handmaid, didn't participate in particulations.

Nope. First reason? They would never leave that offscreen. Second reason? The timing of the pregnancy fits with her sex with Fred. Third reason? Tuello is not completely stupid. Exactly, and June is one of those 5%. I've read a few books during lockdown, OK, WAY more than a few, but a couple were on female spies who lead resistance fighters in France. They were already fighting, but the female spies coordinated with outside forces for supplies, food, weapons, directions of the most effective places to fight, how to blow up a bridge that would be crucial to D Day, and they risked their lives daily to do all of that. There were many close calls with the Gestapo, and one was "most wanted" for quite a while by Nazi high command. In some ways they did remind me of June. Idealistic, acting fearlessly, all the while knowing they would probably die sooner or later, but believing in the cause, and fighting until the wars were won. Some didn't survive of course, but the books I read were specifically about those who did. You never know who will be a freedom fighter, and risk all for justice. June will, and has. Luke is like the 95%. I doubt he will, but he might surprise us all in the end. ETA Emily is in the 5% as well, and always has been. She was the one who recruited June into Mayday, and had been working with them. She was the one who stole that car and drove it over soldiers. She was the one who killed that wife in the colonies. She was the one who stabbed Aunt Lydia and tried to kill her. She also carried a baby, Nicole, during her escape to Canada. She's a fighter too. I'm not at all surprised she was with the others who particulated and then hung Fred.

Not really. I've been doing cancer support for over 20 years. I've heard many, and much more inappropriate and unhelpful "positive thinking" crap relayed from extremely upset cancer patients. Luke's just your average guy really.

I am SO very glad they revisited this and Jezebels in this episode. Those looked like outtakes, the scenes with June and Fred, and they were so much more powerful NOW, especially with the story of Dr. Martina Burnell as their lead in. Also, thank you for doing all of these quotes every season!

Exactly.

Luke, in this story, has always been a "regular guy" who allowed bad things to happen, because they were not happening to HIM. From the very first episodes, that's been Luke. He laughed when June's money was taken from her bank account and given to him. "I'll take care of you, no big deal!" He would NOT leave when June wanted him to leave, because it was not happening to HIM. He is the very essence of "when they came for the ......, I did nothing." Now, he's a bit better, but he still believes that justice will take care of things, that wrongs will be righted, while some other people somewhere actually fight in wars to bring down corruption, or protest in the streets while machined gunned down. June knows that she has to fight, especially now, after her one hope Tuello and what's left of the USA completely let her and justice itself down. Justice doesn't just happen. Revolutions and down and dirty fighting make it happen.

Very true. I think they have one common goal though, getting Hannah back. The issue is the methods to do that. Luke's tried everything he can from Canada, and as hard as he's worked, he's not made any progress. He THINKS he knows what Gilead is like, but he hasn't lived it, and he's never been a woman, so honestly? He doesn't know much, he kind of closes down at the horrors, wants to cap it, put it in a box, leave it behind and move forward. That just isn't possible for June. Luke saying 'Well, now I know everything so we can move on." was an example of this. No, dude, you don't know 1/20th of it, and how dare you decide when June, or any woman who lived in hell in Gilead should "move on?" June may face justice herself, and I don't think she will want Luke tainted with her actions. Also, she's not done, and I don't think she will be "done" until Hannah is back and Gilead is "done.' Luke can either join the fight, or stay safe in Canada and ignore it. June's made her choice. I honestly think she'd prefer he stay put, stay safe, and keep Nicole safe. I'm not sure what choice he will make there.

That's why June was not alone in that forest. She wasn't the only one who finally got some justice that night. Well, not watching any June scenes will not get you any of the answers you want. It's called The Handmaid's Tale, and June is the narrator and main character of this story. They have addressed the birthrate questions throughout the show. There is a bit more in the books, but honestly, not much. That tale really has been told in the show. As far as actual battles and winning the wars against Gilead? That would be a different book. Luckily we have a sequel out there now, and Hulu has bought the rights to that book.

Fred's dead, but Gilead is still going, and Hannah is still there. There is not a chance this is over while either is true. Oh, and as for why she didn't get Janine or Hannah out? Those rescues were people already in custody, undoubtedly facing horrific deaths, once all information was tortured out of them. Joseph seemed to run or command detention centers (at least he did when he had June pick a few to be saved.) Even if he no longer runs them? He obviously has connections with the Eyes that manage them. Basically, moving those 20 in the very short time period he had was much more possible that going to Colorado to get Hannah out, or getting Janine out of the red center. Time was critical, and short. Also? Looks like Nick is not the only Eye who is working against Gilead. That's a hopeful sign.

This was one of the best lines of the show, ever. The words, the setting, the inevitable end, all of it, just made this line perfection.

Serena screwed herself. I'm thrilled about that. Now? She hasn't got a chance. The only negotiating tool she ever had was Fred knowing the structure in Gilead, which Commander ran what, how decisions are made (and no, not all of that has changed in less than a year, that is silly.) Making her demands, we saw the old Serena, the vicious, nasty, horrid woman who abused June, the egotistical bitch who pretty much dreamed up a world like Gilead, and then lost all her power when it was created. Demanding a large house, security, for them to address Fred as "Commander" and be respectful? She's done. Hoisted by her own petard. I hope they deport her to Gilead. I want to see the same terror in her face that we got to see in Fred's, as he ran, chased through the forest, and then faced Gilead's justice. Particulation, something he and the other monsters devised. A circle of handmaids ordered to beat and tear a person completely apart. Then his dead body hung, bag over his head. He got Gilead justice. I loved it.

I love that show! Yeah, I remember that episode, he sounded exactly like Commander Lawrence, which made me question his range as an actor, but he was very effective as a self centered asshole, and I believed he was into child porn and more. I loved the resolve on that episode too.

First season, he was a Son of Jacob, we watch him recruited, and also as an Eye. The season with the Swiss, we find out he was instrumental in the murders that overthrew the USA, and they would not even talk with him. He's pretty stuck in Canada, a war criminal everywhere else. Now how they KNOW about him is problematic for me, possibly other defectors, possibly had footage from CCTV before Gilead took down all electronic stuff, possible UN people who then fled, possible spies in the then USA, that fled after the coup.