[THT Spoilers]

5 minutes ago, ClaireS said:

No I meant there’s no ceremony or anything else.  He’s REALLY cool...?

Thanks for posting this because now I can watch next week without covering my face and watching between my fingers while I wait for the show to dash my hopes for him. I'm so glad he's a good one.

[THT Spoilers]

6 minutes ago, mamadrama said:

I'm not into playing coy-this is a spoiler thread, if you have spoilers then spill! :-) There's a summary farther up. It should still be there. Basically,though:

- Emily stabs Aunt Lydia

- Serena Joy gets he finger cut off after she starts reading from Eden's Bible

- A house fire starts across the street. During the pandemonium, a truck pulls up to June. It's got Emily and Commander Lawrence. Apparenty, the Marthas created an escape plan. Serena Joy begs June not to go but, in the end, releases Holly. Rather than leaving herself, June gives Holly to Emily and they leave. 

- Fred tells June that they'll try for a boy. 

Thanks for that summary!

Also, what the......

There better be a good reason why June doesn't go too. She can't rescue Hannah from inside Gilead because look how well that's worked out so far. She needs to get out. I'm not one for victim blaming, but unless the show convinces me this is 100% the right choice I can feel my sympathy waning for June.

In addition, say goodbye to that finger, Serena. Somehow, still not enough.

[S02.E12: Postpartum]

15 minutes ago, chocolatine said:

This episode was so full of needless misery and suffering that it made me numb to the final scene. Whatever the show wanted me to feel, I didn't. I also don't care if Serena finds a cure for cancer and ends world hunger, she's beyond redemption.

Commander Lawrence is one sick bastard. He was the one who came with up with the colonies and other inhumane punishments, and now he "collects" the people who were subjected to said punishments like it's all just a social experiment to him. Notice that his Martha was missing an eye, that's why she kept bumping into things.

Maybe, or maybe it's an attempt at redemption to find the ones most brutalized by the system that he now regrets creating? I don't know yet, he's a weird one and I'm not sure. But I get the feeling he's not happy with the outcome of his choices.

In other news, I liked that his house was sort of different and interesting, BUT I want to know if it's required when you join Gilead that the interior of your home steps back a hundred years along with your beliefs. Because all these houses are damn depressing. The furniture, the wallpaper, the art (even Lawrence had some old man painting on his wall, in the hallway), the colors are sad, the vibe is sad. How did they find all these fancy houses that hadn't already been renovated to look like something out of Fixer Upper with Joanna Gaines shiplap and open floor plans? You know half the places on these blocks probably got that treatment. Unrealistic, show.

[S02.E12: Postpartum]

Commander Lawrence's household is the viewpoint I feel like we've been missing out on til now. We get shown all the true believers, but never the ones that just aren't feeling it.

No one in that place is happy with the system and I'm enjoying the snarky Martha and the Commander being sort of jerk but in a...different way? I like him. Even the crazy wife is okay, she doesn't seem nuts so much as haunted by what her husband has done. I hope he's haunted by it too, maybe that's why he's got such an attitude about the whole thing. I dunno about him literally tossing his wife into the room, but I'm reserving judgement til we know more. My 'what if he's a good one' radar is pinging for him.

I feel like next week Emily is going to find out Lawrence is on her side. I really hope I'm right. She deserves to be somewhere safe and I think if the Martha in that house can tell the commander to "try it old man" then maybe this is Emily's best option right now. I wonder if he's part of the resistance. Working to bring down what he helped create from the inside. That's a storyline I'd be happy to watch, I was already wishing we'd go back there every time they cut away.

But watch me hope for this and then the show is gonna open with him raping her next week and I'll have to flip a fucking table. :/

[Lost In Transition - General Discussion]

Cindy needs to just buy herself a good vibrator and let Troy go. It's really weird to see her so concerned about sex every damn second and then see Troy just being so happy that she might not leave.

Seems to me that she just doesn't want to lose the penis and will do whatever to keep it.

[S02.E11: Holly]

2 minutes ago, chocolatine said:

 

I found the episode really hard to watch because it was telegraphed that any of June's attempts to get the car out of the garage would be futile. And even if she'd gotten the car out, she was already in the middle of labor. You can't drive while giving birth, and you can't drive with a newborn without a carseat. At least both the baby and June made it through the birth alive, so that's a positive.

I think if given the chance she would have tried to pop that baby out with her foot still on the pedal and then held it in her lap while she drove to canada ;)

I wonder why she didn't use the shovel to get some leverage under the door, but that's just me thinking up reasons for why it maybe could have worked when there are none because that was never the writer's plan.

Also, I agree with whoever up there said it sounded like Oprah on the radio. It's somehow comforting to think that Oprah prevails even through Gilead, sending uplifting songs to those still stuck and giving updates on the status of what's left of America.

[S02.E11: Holly]

I couldn't even get interested in this episode because I knew she wouldn't escape. Why bother hoping when there's no chance and one thing this show does really well is strangle any ounce of hope I have. I need one good thing to happen before I start wondering why I torture myself every week.

If it ends out this season with everyone miserable I'm gonna flip a table. 

[Gordon Ramsay's 24 Hours To Hell And Back - General Discussion]

I just wanna know how Gordon stays so wide awake and on the ball after 24 hours of no sleep, or if he's secretly napping in the trailer for six-eight hours while the staff does the work. Because I've been awake for that long and it's awful. No amount of coffee helps. Also, seems like they're setting the staff (the ones who are forced to stay up) up for failure by expecting them to do well with the changes being that tired.

[Season 3 Discussion]

2 hours ago, Vandy10 said:

I must be living in a strange world, because in my world, it’s well known and normal for immigrants to send money back to their families in poor countries. It’s also normal for adults, even married ones, to password protect their phones. Either this is for the cameras, or this PI is stupid as hell.

Chantel’s family still sucks.

I live alone and my phone is password protected and I have no idea way. Who is looking? My cat? This show is making me question my life choices.

Family Chantel is nuts and paranoid, but Pedro's sister knew exactly what she was doing riling up Chantel and her obnoxious laugh is like nails on a chalk board.

 

Azan has gotten better at acting. He's fairly convincing by now that he wants all this. High five, dude.

[S05.E12: Gone Girl 2018.06.21]

I think Craig has a good heart and I find him endearing, usually, but he's not making it easy to root for him. He seems to be lacking direction even more than before. He's young enough to still be able to do whatever he wants, even if that's not being a lawyer, but he isn't putting forth real effort into other areas either. I think he's probably bullshitting around because he can live off the bravo paycheck and he's not thinking further ahead yet.

 

Cameron looks amazing so soon after having a baby.

[S02.E10: The Last Ceremony]

9 minutes ago, whoknowswho said:

I just had to come and see if anyone had the same thought I did. So far, no one has.

June told Waterford--he'll never know what it's like to have a child. I think HE staged this entire thing--he doesn't want another man's kid. When he said she deserved it (the drive, to see Hannah)--he meant what's going to happen to Nick.  Waterford's doesn't get stuck with a kid he didn't sire.  This is about Waterford's control.

Fuck him, fuck Serena. May they die slowly and painfully.

Nick, hope you can hang on somehow...

The completely remote location would fit with this theory. There’s no reason to go out to the actual middle of nowhere, they could have met somewhere closer to civilization and still taken precautions.

If Fred set this up to strand her out there then of course they’d be in the sticks where she could just die of exposure or childbirth, or even if she escapes maybe he doesn’t give a shit.

The only thing I’m wondering is didn’t Serena tell him already a while ago that the baby wasn’t his? So this wouldn’t be a surprise now, right? Also, it seems odd to actually have her kid there if he did plan this, rather than just having Nick drive her out unaware, then shoot Nick and leave her behind. No kid. Or, kill them both.

Hmmm.

[S02.E10: The Last Ceremony]

I take back every single halfway good thought I ever had about Serena. That bitch needs to go. Someone kill her. Then kill Fred. Actually, I'm good with either order.

Things are not looking good for Nick and I really hope he survives all this because I've grown to like him and June needs someone kind and good to her in this awful world. If they take him away too that's like kicking her while she's down, after they've already kicked her 100 times. Not sure my heart could take that.

The reunion scene between June and Hannah was heartbreaking and I almost cried. And I don't even like kids. And my heart is basically made of stone and ice. So thanks, show, for thawing that out for a hot minute.

I really wanted Nick to take out the guard and then they could escape together. This might have been the only chance June would have with her child and it felt like a waste if there was no escape attempt. Just emotional torture. I'm not saying my opinion here is legit or that they would even succeed, just that I needed to see that on my screen.

Somehow, even being stuck in the woods with wolves at her door seems like a better place for June to be than in the rape house.

[Season 3 Discussion]

Luis seems like the type to go full psycho on that family while they're sleeping. I don't trust him.

Having said that, I used to feel like she was to blame for the majority of their situation because all she does is try to force him to be a parent to a child he doesn't know and he didn't sign up for that. However, he seems weirdly unhinged now and I just want her to call the cops and have him removed or she's gonna have a crazy squatter forever.

[Season 3 Discussion]

1 minute ago, spankydoll said:

Nicole and her family have repeatedly mentioned sending Azan money. This came up last season also. 

I guess I assumed whatever amount she could afford to send him wouldn't be worth the hassle of dealing with her. She's not a high roller by any means. It probably adds up over time, though.

[Season 3 Discussion]

Just now, RichiesOlderBro said:

Money. Azan is sticking around for the money.  

Nicole is broke, but if you mean money from the show, then yes, that does make sense. I wonder how much they get per episode.

[Season 3 Discussion]

Jessica from central casting is not fooling me. Good job reading those cue cards, though.

Also, how has Azan not jumped off this ship yet? I am so confused about why he's let this go on so long.

[S05.E11: Beer and Trembling 2018.06.14]

5 hours ago, Gem 10 said:

OMG .. Is Cameron the only female on this earth to have a baby?  Some women would do anything to have a baby like that.  Disposable diapers, ready made formula, etc.  what else does she want?  Chill girl.  Count your blessings.

I would guess that a lot of new moms feel the same way as she does but are too afraid to admit it. Society doesn't really take kindly to any sort of negativity after having a baby. Not a single ounce of it.

I know a couple of my friends have confided in me (the childless one) how upset they've been afterward, how awful childbirth was, how their lives feel not their own anymore, and how they didn't realize exactly what it would all be like until it happened and now they have regrets. That doesn't mean they don't love their kids, or that Cameron doesn't love Palmer, just that maybe some parts of it suck as much as other parts are great. But no one says it...except Cameron. Good on her, I think.

[S10.E11: Faux Weddings and a Funeral]

Not trying to body shame anyone, I swear....but....is Carol really that thin or does she just have no ass? Half the time I'm concerned and the other half I'm not quite sure. She's confusing me.

Also, that first dress Tinsley tried on was hideous. Does anyone know if she and Scott are still together? If they are and not engaged yet he's probably cringing at this episode.

[S02.E09: Smart Power]

Just now, Pachengala said:

And also bullshit to that because just last episode we saw a baby dying and she did nothing, so fuck you Aunt Lydia and your protecting babies bullshit.

Wait what, how did I forget this already, lol. Do I just have a bad memory? (not unheard of, it actually is swiss cheese)

I only remember the baby almost dying from unknown causes (or at least the doc would not outright say) but I don't remember Aunt Lydia doing anything weird. What could she have done in that situation anyway? It's not like someone was actively hurting the child, she was in the hospital, she was apparently getting care. I'm not saying Lydia is golden just that I'm not sure she's to blame for any of that.

[S02.E09: Smart Power]

Aunt Lydia is such a mystery to me. She obviously has the capacity for kindness and compassion, but she does such horrible things. I have no doubt that she would protect that baby if she was ever in a situation that called for it, yet she will have a woman's eye removed like it's no big deal.

How?! I just...the mind...it boggles. I want to know more about her and how she got where she is.

[S02.E08: Women's Work]

@Callaphera That's an interesting perspective on Nick.

I think both Eden and Nick are victims here in different ways. He’s been indifferent toward Eden but what else should we except? She’s a stranger to him and he’s already emotionally invested in another woman.

The only thing that’s going to make Eden happy is to have a husband that seems to want this marriage as much as she does, but she’ll never have that and it’s an unreasonable request of someone that was basically married off against their will. I think to him, giving her space, telling her to do whatever she wants, etc is trying to be kind, but it’s got to be difficult to give Eden anymore than he already has considering the situation. And considering she’s a child. She’s supposed to be fifteen on the show, right? I would imagine he’s got some moral issues with all of this as well that might be filtering into his interactions with her.

I do think he cares about June much more than just liking to fuck her, and it’s not odd to me that just a regular person trying to survive and not having much interest in joining the resistance, would suddenly want to help the cause to keep someone he cares for safe. Isn’t that how people usually get involved in things? They know someone, love someone, have family, etc. that was effected by something and suddenly it’s more important than it was the day before. I don’t think that means he never gave a shit before, but that now he has someone to fight for. Not only that, but now he has a baby to fight for, too.

Anyway, I’m not trying to sing his praises here, the actor has a weird way about him that honestly makes it difficult for me too and for a while I couldn’t really like his character much just because of that, but I guess he’s grown on me.

Should I be posting this nick stuff in another thread and not the ep thread? Sorry for the off topic if it is.

[S02.E08: Women's Work]

42 minutes ago, AnswersWanted said:

 I like how horrified Nick became when he realized that he was verbally attacking Eden, even though he did need to make it clear to her that she had to respect his personal space, he was crossing a line, he was becoming a Fred, a man who would use fear and intimidation and panic on his wife to get her to bow and break.

I also appreciated that. The actor may have trouble emoting sometimes but Nick has really grown on me. He’s a good person, a normal guy that’s been thrust into all this nonsense against his will and is pretty damn horrified at what’s happening.

I think the last thing he wants is to be like one of them, in any aspect, and it’s interesting to see the difference between him and his unwanted wife and Fred and Serena.

If that child knew half of what was going on around her she’d realize she didn’t draw the short stick after all.

[S02.E08: Women's Work]

I think Serena has been under at least a partial illusion that she’s exempt from some of the ridiculous rules this new government has imposed on women and this was certainly a wake up call for her that just because she is who she is, doesn’t mean squat. If anything, Fred seems to take delight in showing her the rules still apply, so much so that he dug around in a musty book to find one that gave him permission to beat her.

This episode forced my hate for Serena to the background so that I was able to hate Fred even more than I already do.

Does she deserve some sort of punishment or poetic justice for all the crimes she has committed against humanity? Yes. But not like that and I didn’t take any sort of satisfaction in seeing her beaten by her husband. In that moment I wanted the two women in the room to band together and protect each other. Even knowing that was impossible and even knowing they know it’s impossible.

Shit. I don’t know. I’m not interested in an outcome where June and Serena braid each other’s hair and drink coco by the fire while watching netflix, that’s not what I’m saying. What’s happened over these two seasons has crossed so many lines that there’s no coming back from it. Having said that, I wouldn’t say no to the two of them taking out that asshole together either. They’re both crafty as hell they could make it look like an accident. They don’t have to be friends after, but they have a common enemy now and if the show might let them work together to reach a common goal I’m down for that.

I’m also ready for him to go to Canada. Get on that plane, bitch.

[S05.E09: Hilton Head-Ache 2018.05.31]

I've watched a lot of reality tv and I'm not sure the last time I've seen someone get so completely unhinged with so little prompting before. Ashley went from zero to sixty in point two seconds. It looked like she was just grasping at anything that came into her mind as a reason to continue the argument. She came there to fight and she was gonna get her wish even if she had to stumble over her words and flip her hair fifty times, by golly she was gonna tell kathryn what an awful person she was.

Shep hit the nail on the head when he said she had an irrational amount of confidence after that fight, which shows me that her view of the whole situation is pretty warped. She thinks she won. It's the oddest thing.

Not surprised Thomas didn't step in to stop all that, he loves women fighting over him, and despite claiming to be the boss he seems very easily manipulated and docile (when he's not raging about something at random). Who knows what goes on behind closed doors but that might be the one thing I would agree with ashely on. She probably is the boss is some respects in that relationship, at least until he gets sick of her for the last time.

[S10.E09: Holidazed and Confused]

Luann slipping the cuffs in the back of that police car like a magician was the best part of this episode for me. Don't underestimate a drunk countess.