[Trials and Tribulations of Juicy and Tre...]

So, how does this work?  Does he get placed on a plane?  Does he get to go pack a bag?

Does Tre file for divorce now or later?

Inquiring minds...

[S01.E04: The Table Read]

I'm going with Jamie Walters- the stop acting like I'm not even here is a direct line from his character during one of the most famous scenes in the show.  Furthermore, the character of Ray Pruitt kind of ruined Jamie's career, didn't it?  One of those bizarre cases of where the fans couldn't distinguish fiction and reality.  If they are playing heightened versions of themselves, perhaps Jamie Walter's is playing a character who went on to exact revenge on a cast/show that ruined his life, when in reality I think he went on to be this really upstanding guy.  

Just my theory. 

[Kardashian Kids: Cuz they’re cute despite the circus]

Cheeto Chi!!!  😁😁😁

[Amber Marchese]

Conspiracy theory:  I always thought Jim was gay and just never came out.

[S03.E13: Mayday]

1 hour ago, greekmom said:

One thing I forgot to mention is how did Moira, Emily, Luke and company know that there were going to be a mass amount of refugees on the flight?  I feel like there was a Canada scene cut somewhere between the plane taking off and landing. 

Forgot to ask. Anyone know if baby Charlotte made it out?

I'm going to guess that the pilot radioed ahead that he was arriving with women and children.  When Moira was helping with the organization, she said "we don't know what we're dealing with" which was pretty vague - but they could have added a simple sentence of "we have a plane with refugees, but we don't know who or how many, so let's be prepared for anything!" and still have her go onboard and be stunned by the number of women and children on there.  Or perhaps the Canadian authorities had the pilot land and stay out on the runway, took him in for questioning, and then towed the plane in and in the chaos there were gaps of communication to the volunteers in the hangar?  

But you're right, there's still a gap.  Somehow the volunteers got to the airport and got organized.  They could have shot a simple scene of Emily, Moira and Luke sleeping when they got a call that a plane had radioed ahead and see them run out the door to get to the airport.  I have no idea how close the Toronto airport is to downtown.  In NYC it takes a while to get out to the airports, I remember being shocked one time being in boston for work and it only took me about 15 mins to get to Logan.  

But we'll never know.

[S03.E13: Mayday]

Re: the kids and their memories, I think you would get a mixed bag of kids who remember and who don't (of those who are in that 10/11 range).  I lost my mom a few years ago, and my son was only 3 at the time and he still has memories and brings up things I assume he's long forgotten, even stuff that he hasn't heard us talk about, so it is legitimate memory (not things he thinks he remembers).   So I can buy that girl remembering that her name was Rebecca and recognizing her dad, even if she doesn't remember "life" fully before. I'd imagine that kids remember flashes and blips.  Not to mention, they are probably conditioned not to talk about before because in Gilead, you aren't supposed to talk about before.  

Does Serena's plea deal include actions BEFORE gilead?   I can assume that it must because otherwise, they could nail her on treason, easily.  

[Hey Bruce Miller: Speculation and Ideas for THT]

I have a tough time seeing how these Martha's and handmaids can go back to their stations in Gilead after all of these women and children are discovered missing, so I'm kind of wondering if we are seeing the start of the 

Spoiler

Underground Femaleroad?

We know it exists, according to the book, it would fit the progression of what we know is June's story, and it would get us out of the Gilead rut.  It could give us an insider look at how the resistance works, perhaps open some kind of line of communication between these women and Canada, keeping our favorite characters relevant to the story, bring Nick back into the story, and honestly doesn't seem to compromise marvel-June while opening up storyline potential for the other handmaids.  

[Kardashian Kids: Cuz they’re cute despite the circus]

On 8/9/2019 at 12:06 PM, nexxie said:

Cheeeese!

Dream's lashes are to die for.

[S03.E13: Mayday]

I liked it.  Table for 1.

We left Atwood's Gilead and writing a long time ago.  Even before season 3.  The book was brilliant, the story was brilliant, but I decided to stop expecting Atwood and it makes the show significantly more enjoyable.  

Even the opening scene didn't have her subtlety.  Those guards herding the women into trucks and cages wouldn't have been cursing and yelling bitch at them.  They would have been doing their job with a stone cold precision and barking military like orders without the profanity.  Speaking of that opening scene, seeing them separate those women with special needs literally made my stomach turn. 

My favorite part of the episode was Rita arriving in Canada, especially her excitement to meet Luke. 

I'm still processing a lot of the show but I just wanted to say that I liked it.  

And shout out to Stone Harbor - the best shore town in NJ!

Oh.  And was anybody besides me irritated by the eastern university ads in the commercials?  I don't need a real ad for highly conservative university with courses "rooted in christianity" when I'm watching tv show based on what happens when a twisted brand of christianity takes ahold of and brings down the US.  

[S03.E12: Sacrifice]

Season 1 Aunt Lydia never would have given permission for her handmaid to go stand with the widowed husband.  She is to serve as a vessel, and then move on, that is it.  The idea that these handmaids are part of a family unit with relationships with the commanders and their wives that would afford such a closeness is bizarre and never the intention in the book, if memory serves.  Even if Lawrence is the "exception",  Lydia doesn't know that and would have forced her into her handmaid lineup at such an emotionally intimate request.  

Do the directors know that they do a zoom-in closeup at the end of nearly EVERY single episode?  They have forever killed the impact of that shot.  I mean, all I thought last night was that it looked like Moss needs a deep pore facial cleanser.  Somehow I don't think that's what they were going for.  

So.  What's the plan for saving these kids?  Get them on a bus and then just drive over the border?  A plane?  How does this work exactly?  What do they say at the checkpoints, that they are going on a field trip to the Museum of Natural History?  Once they are over, are Lawrence and June going back in for round 2?   

I know people are frustrated that Luke just hauled off and punched Fred, when he could have talked.  But honestly, talk about what?  In what world should Luke ever trust anything that Fred had to say?  Luke punching Fred and Moira's verbal attack on Serena joy were the only 2 satisfying parts of this episode.

[S03.E12: Sacrifice]

Holly/Nicole is not Baby M. Why does Serena, who was her "mother" for all of 2 months max, get to see her?  She has no biological claim to that child.  Her husband has no biological claim to that child, and Serena knows that.  Granted neither do Moira or Luke, but Luke is the legal husband of the child's mother.  He has more right to her than the rapist and his accomplice.

Other than that I was bored.  I'm not drawn to Eleanor, I didn't find her that interesting.  

When I saw June with that gun in the beginning it hit me that Commander Lawrence didn't give it to her to defend herself.  He gave it to her to kill herself.  Right?

[S01.E01: The Reunion]

I will give it this, it was REALLY good to have that group on screen together or not.  At the risk of sounding like a squeef, they are like a warm blanket.  I'm not a naive and bright eyed teen anymore, the world is pretty bleak these days, so  this gave me a much needed dose of familiar escapism.  I'm certainly not getting that from the Handmaids Tale.  

[S01.E01: The Reunion]

I'm not crying at young Luke Perry, you're crying.

Other than that, I can't decide...it had some laugh out loud moments.  I know enough about Tori, Jennie, and Brian in real life to get their lives in this version.  I don't know enough about JP or Ian. 

[S03.E11: Liars]

5 hours ago, greekmom said:

The first time that Fred came into Canada was on invitation from the Canadian government.  This time he crossed the border with authorization.  In this case, it's all bets are off. 

Serena's situation reminds me of killer Karla Halmolka. She got a sweet sweet deal to convict her husband, minimal jail time for the crimes that were committed by both of them and is now living a great life in Montreal. 

Not to mention, the first time he crossed the border, it was on invitation from the Canadian government, on a "diplomatic assignment", with security detail, etc.

This time he drove over the border as a private citizen with his wife.  

[S03.E11: Liars]

Quote

I think Serena has been on the edge for a long time.  She's also snapped a few times.  She loved writing, and when Fred was in the hospital, she was happier than we'd ever seen her, until Nicole.  Then Fred was released, her limited freedoms and authority were gone again.

Her finger is cut off, she's beaten in front of June, and now, she doesn't even have the baby.  She left Fred and ran to mommy's and he sucked up until she took him back, but that's no marriage.  I think she took him back just to get Nicole back.  Fred doesn't even have sex with her, his only use is as a shield, or to get that baby back.

Fred and Winslow trying to play her about Nicole though?  Serena's always been the smart one in the family, not Fred, as the point out in this episode a few times.  I think she saw right through the "no forward progress with Nicole" bullshit. 

It made her reflect even more on her current life, and she was also greatly moved by watching the women in Canada longingly last time...with their friends and non teal clothing, and cell phones, and freedoms.

Serena wanted a "better" world and old fashioned "values" and to have a baby, and she loved her power and fame.  Once the coup happened though, she was shut out of having any power at all, but she stuck it out for at least 5 years, trying to make it work, and for the promised and rare baby.

Spy Guy gave her an opportunity to get out, and after the only thing she had left, the baby, was taken from her...she was over Gilead.

Then Fred made a fool of himself, showing his obsession with June to the world during that inspection, and the promised Nicole was put off and put off, and Serena saw right through Fred allowing the use of Nicole as a political tool, and lost whatever remaining hope Serena had left.

Yes, I agree with everything on this, and I tried to explain it and couldn't so simply deleted it.   You captured her arc beautifully.  Especially her realizations that Nicole as nothing more than a political tool for her husband, her visit to Canada and her realizations about how perfectly pathetic Fred Waterford truly is (and that's just one description in a long list of adjectives).  

However, I still don't get how I'm supposed to feel about her?  I don't know that the show is portraying her as a character we're supposed to have sympathy for -  because she's ultimately not sympathetic, no matter how many regrets she may have.  Especially when those regrets come from a completely selfish and egocentric point of view.   

[S03.E11: Liars]

For people debating what made June snap, I thought that the answer was much more basic than that - I figured that Meloni was going for anal rape - one that would be violent, painful, and potentially injury inducing.  And yes, June has been raped month after month, through a ritual, but not in this way - to our knowledge.  That was my guess about why she snapped and fought like hell.

When Lawrence handed her the gun and said "they're coming for us, are we certain that they mean June and her commander?  Not Lawrence and his wife?  I feel like they set the stage for it to go either way.  

And regarding Serena, are we supposed to see Season 2 and 3 as a sweeping awakening/redemption arc?  I still don't get what I'm supposed to think and feel about her.  

Also, I realized that if I separate this show from season one a bit -- acknowledge that the distorted world that Atwood created is now a bit of a different world all together, I find it much more tolerable.  Otherwise, I get stuck on details like dancing and singing.

Is next week the finale?

[S03.E11: Liars]

So Serena traded Fred for coconuts, immunity, and future opportunities to become a mother I'm assuming?  I don't think she will get Nichole back, but she did get confirmation from Fred, that he is shooting bullets and that he was the problem, not her.  

As for how they crossed that border, we have family in northern VT and they say it is easy to weave on through the local mountain roads and be in Canada and not realize it.  It looked like they had veered of of major roads and onto a dirt road in the mountains, as opposed to crossing over on NY87.  

I loved how they shot this episode. And oddly one of my favorite scenes was Serena driving down the highway.  The music selections were excellent, too. 

Was the Martha in commander Lawrence's house the martha from Jezebel's in season 1?  Am I the last to figure that one out???  The former chef?  She made that comment that she would be lucky if she got sent back to Jezebels.

And as for June - she has a very specific set of skills...

[S03.E10: Witness]

I just have to say, if I were June, surrounded by a large group of handmaids, and I saw Fred and Serena enter a room - after ALL that has happened - you can bet your white bonnet that I would dip my head down low, murmer my words obediently and take full advantage of the opportunity to thoroughly blend into the crowd.  You know what I would not do?  Keep my head up, stare at them, with my mouth gaping open like I'm trying to catch a fly for dinner, just asking to draw their attention.  Why?  Because LITERALLY NOTHING GOOD HAPPENS WHEN THEY COME AROUND. 

[Kylie]

22 hours ago, carolinagirl81 said:

So Kylie is on this girl's trip/promotion of her KylieSkin line and she shared this picture of her and it looks her friend Stasi and is it me or does Kylie look to have a little pooch? Too many cocktails? Or baby number 2?

She looks pregnant. 

I'm surprised they didn't photoshopped that while they can.

[Kardashian Kids: Cuz they’re cute despite the circus]

I love that the let Saint's hair be curly and natural.  They should do the same for North instead of pulling it so tight all the time.

[Scott]

6 hours ago, Rescue Mama said:

Every time I see a picture of Penelope, my mind instantly thinks "Ramona Quimby".  

Yes!!! Perfect!

[S03.E08: Unfit]

I'm trying very hard not to hate June.  She is, afterall, a victim.  She is, like all others, trying to figure out how to survive this world.  She has, in the past 5 years (or so) experienced multiple episodes of major emotional and physical trauma.  She has every right to be angry and make some colossal mistakes.  She is not yet a survivor, but she clearly does not come across as a sympathetic victim.  So I am not sure how to react to her because when you consider all that she had had to endure, why am I expecting her to be careful, thoughtful, pragmatic, and likeable?  Why do our female leads have to be likeable?  If this was flipped and this was a man, would we cheer when he attacked the male version of OfMatthew?  Would we love him for verbally and physically dishing it out to his oppressor, in his face, Jack Bauer style?  Would we cry at him desperately running along the perimeter of a schoolyard just to hear his daughter voice?  Or would we be pissed off that he was being careless, getting people killed, and annoyed at his invincibility?  

So yes, with that in mind I'm trying to be patient with the character of June.

However, if I thought for one moment that she was being written this way with intent and a nod to all that had happened in her recent life, then perhaps it would make more sense.  But right now the writers are just being downright sloppy.  And Moss's interpretation is suddenly so one-dimensional (is that a word?).  Is it because of the writing?  Who is directing her?  Where are the layers and nuances of June? Is Moss doing her best with crappy material or is she being directed to "be angry!!!" and therefore she can't give us her best work?  I don't love Elizabeth Moss but I do think she is better than this.

I stand by my earlier statements about the scope being too narrowed through June.  Yes the story is about June, it is her tale, but somehow it is now too narrow.  I can't figure out how else to describe it.

And as for Aunt Lydia...insert giant eyeroll.  I mean, that was some seriously dumb elementary shit.  Girl gets rejected and becomes evil?  I felt like I was watching that old BH90210 spring dance episode where Andrea is feeling jilted and sorry for herself and daydreams about attacking her classmates at the dance with a chainsaw.  

What I wanted to know?  How did Lydia become involved with the Sons of Jacob?  How did she become Supreme Aunt around these parts?  I'm assuming she didn't answer the ad in the Gilead Times.  How did she grow to hate herself so much?  At what point did her religious indoctrination begin?  And how do you mentally go from an "I'm not ready for sex" rejection to "I will torture hundreds of younger women who clearly have gotten laid in their lives because they have had children."  I mean...that's a stretch by any psycho means.

And to the poster who commented about Alma, yes!  I want more Alma!  She is clearly smart, part of the resistance, has a certain ability to get information from her commander, and better informed than June.  Why can't we have more of her with June?  I don't need her in place of June, but why not with June?

[Friends, Romans, Jonathans: The Storm Troopers of the Kardashian Empire]

That little snippet of video was creepy.  Too quiet, too white, and Chi just still seems so spacey.  

[S03.E07: Under His Eye]

Have these writers even READ the book?

Dinner and dancing?  A handmaid and a wife together for a walk? Wives checking out real estate together?   This is The Handmaids Tale, not Mad Men.

And am I to believe that Fred came up with this Nicole plot to force an extradition treaty and elevate his status?  Freddie ain't that smart.

[Season 16 Discussion]

That actually concerns me about True - Khloe is hardly the best judge of character, and she seems to think that a man telling she is beautiful and sexy somehow defines his character as decent, honest, and loving.  Yet look at who she has attracted over the years?  Are these really the types of men she will bring around True?  Or worse?  Khloe has the self esteem of an ant, at this point she needs to be REALLY careful about who she lets into her life.  

Not to mention, she even said to MJ "we all knew what Tristan was capable of" but she still let him come around.

Khloe, get yourself into therapy.  REAL therapy.  Not some guy paid for by Kris for the cameras.  Get off social media, take a break from the public eye, get into therapy, and take care of your own daughter who was getting DEATH threats as a result of this entire debacle.  When is it enough?