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S06.E06: Surprise

paulvdb

By paulvdb
in The Handmaid's Tale

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Anela

Anela

I knew that she trusted him, one too many times. 

Serena playing hostess felt odd. It looked like she was still singing her own praises in her diary. I wish that Rita had stayed where she was safe. June trying to get her involved in Mayday again, was wrong. She will probably help, but she has her family to think of, too. 

I loved both of the arguments - Janine standing up to Lydia, because she doesn't give a fuck anymore, and Lydia isn't in charge of her. June reminding Serena that she can only trust her when she is forced to do so. 

Wharton showing a temper, finally. He's powerful enough to get jezebel's shut down, so he could always have done so, if he was really a "good" commander. 

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AntFTW

AntFTW

(edited)
45 minutes ago, Anela said:

Wharton showing a temper, finally. He's powerful enough to get jezebel's shut down, so he could always have done so, if he was really a "good" commander. 

"Good" would including freeing the women from their sex slavery, and also not making them handmaids again.

I guess Lydia will probably get her wish after all that the women go to this fertility center.

I wanna scream "GET AWAY FROM HER!" every time Lydia goes to see Janine.

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Edited by AntFTW
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crashdown

crashdown

33 minutes ago, Anela said:

Serena playing hostess felt odd. It looked like she was still singing her own praises in her diary. I wish that Rita had stayed where she was safe. June trying to get her involved in Mayday again, was wrong. She will probably help, but she has her family to think of, too. 

I loved both of the arguments - Janine standing up to Lydia, because she doesn't give a fuck anymore, and Lydia isn't in charge of her. June reminding Serena that she can only trust her when she is forced to do so

I doubt very much that was a diary—Serena is writing a book. 
 

When did June tell Serena that she can only trust her “when she is forced to do so?” What does that mean exactly?

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Anela

Anela

(edited)
4 minutes ago, crashdown said:

I doubt very much that was a diary—Serena is writing a book. 
 

When did June tell Serena that she can only trust her “when she is forced to do so?” What does that mean exactly?

When she has nobody else to turn to. Serena was surprised that June would trust her, and June basically said it wasn't by choice, that she was the best that she could do.

I saw someone else refer to it as a diary. 

Edited by Anela
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crashdown

crashdown

4 minutes ago, Anela said:

When she has nobody else to turn to. Serena was surprised that June would trust her, and June basically said it wasn't by choice, that she was the best that she could do.

June said, roughly, “I must trust you, because this is where I landed.” That’s quite different—it’s an expression of certainty laced with wonderment.  I thought it was an interesting line, because I think the way June feels about Serena is genuinely baffling to June. She wants to be done with her but is continually assaulted by those inconvenient “I didn’t want to” feelings. 
 

Just because someone called it a diary does not make it a diary. It wasn’t written like a diary; it was written like a memoir meant to be published. It might be THE HANDMAID’S TALE referenced in the title of the last episode. 

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Anela

Anela

(edited)
5 minutes ago, crashdown said:

June said, roughly, “I must trust you, because this is where I landed.” That’s quite different—it’s an expression of certainty laced with wonderment.  I thought it was an interesting line, because I think the way June feels about Serena is genuinely baffling to June. She wants to be done with her but is continually assaulted by those inconvenient “I didn’t want to” feelings. 
 

Just because someone called it a diary does not make it a diary. It wasn’t written like a diary; it was written like a memoir meant to be published. It might be THE HANDMAID’S TALE referenced in the title of the last episode. 

I don't care whether or not it's a diary. And I still took it as that she took a chance on Serena, because it is where she landed. And Nick was the one to stab her in the back. She doesn't fully trust her.

I don't care if it's a diary, or her book written out in longhand. It's still a reference that will be edited, if it does turn into a book.

Edited by Anela
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chaifan

chaifan

9 hours ago, Straycat80 said:

Geez Nick couldn’t you have thought up a good lie to tell your FIL why you were at Jezebells? Idiot. 

I don't think this was simply that Nick couldn't think of a lie.  I have 2 theories: 

1) We've seen signs that Nick has been turning away from Mayday and more towards Gilead since he tossed Tuello's sim card into the fire. He's willing (to an extent) to help June, but maybe killing all the Commanders was going too far for him.

2) Nick wants New Bethlehem to succeed.  He knows that if there's a large scale attack on the Commanders, Gilead will abandon NB and go full on war against Mayday.  He's comfortable where he is, and wants to keep it that way.  He wants to raise his child in NB, not Gilead Gilead.  

I don't think Nick is going to pop out of the closet and start shouting "She's in here! June's in here!" to Wharton.  Serena has no choice but to keep her mouth shut.  She'd be on the wall if Wharton learned she harbored June.  So I expect the next episode to pick up exactly at this point, have Serena get Wharton out for that walk, and we're left with June trying to figure out how to kill Nick in that closet.

My big question is...  did Nick rat Lawrence out?  Part of me wants Lawrence to go full Mayday, but it would be more fun to watch him continue to destroy Gilead from the inside.  I love the scenes with him, Angela and Naomi.  We lose that if he flees to Alaska.

I liked the scene between Serena and June, especially as it got close to June and Moira's comparison of who had it worse.  I'm glad they addressed that Serena marrying Wharton is a step back in her freedom.  

Diary vs. book:  I thought it was clear that Serena is writing her memoirs, that wasn't a diary.  And from the few snippets we got + June's eyerolling reaction, she's giving herself a very good edit.  

I loved Serena's pajamas.  Very 1940's glam, especially in the pink.  But I was surprised no one else was in the house.  I had previously assumed her housekeeper was a live-in.  It would be weird for Serena to not have live in help.  

 

 

 

 

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Anela

Anela

22 minutes ago, chaifan said:

I don't think this was simply that Nick couldn't think of a lie.  I have 2 theories: 

1) We've seen signs that Nick has been turning away from Mayday and more towards Gilead since he tossed Tuello's sim card into the fire. He's willing (to an extent) to help June, but maybe killing all the Commanders was going too far for him.

2) Nick wants New Bethlehem to succeed.  He knows that if there's a large scale attack on the Commanders, Gilead will abandon NB and go full on war against Mayday.  He's comfortable where he is, and wants to keep it that way.  He wants to raise his child in NB, not Gilead Gilead.  

I don't think Nick is going to pop out of the closet and start shouting "She's in here! June's in here!" to Wharton.  Serena has no choice but to keep her mouth shut.  She'd be on the wall if Wharton learned she harbored June.  So I expect the next episode to pick up exactly at this point, have Serena get Wharton out for that walk, and we're left with June trying to figure out how to kill Nick in that closet.

My big question is...  did Nick rat Lawrence out?  Part of me wants Lawrence to go full Mayday, but it would be more fun to watch him continue to destroy Gilead from the inside.  I love the scenes with him, Angela and Naomi.  We lose that if he flees to Alaska.

I liked the scene between Serena and June, especially as it got close to June and Moira's comparison of who had it worse.  I'm glad they addressed that Serena marrying Wharton is a step back in her freedom.  

Diary vs. book:  I thought it was clear that Serena is writing her memoirs, that wasn't a diary.  And from the few snippets we got + June's eyerolling reaction, she's giving herself a very good edit.  

I loved Serena's pajamas.  Very 1940's glam, especially in the pink.  But I was surprised no one else was in the house.  I had previously assumed her housekeeper was a live-in.  It would be weird for Serena to not have live in help.  

 

I thought she said that Rita was staying with her. 

She's living in her house, and she got her a job at the bakery. 

Anela

Anela

(edited)
52 minutes ago, crashdown said:

Rita is not living with Serena—it was just ambiguous wording. “Here” meant New Bethlehem, not literally in Serena’s house. 

I read it in a recap when I looked it up, to remind myself. 

I don't mind being corrected, by the way. The sneering over calling her writing a diary, was a bit much. My first reaction was almost from a scene from Gilmore Girls, where Lorelai responded to her mother with "floggings shall be administered." 

Edited by Anela
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Anela

Anela

https://www.elle.com/culture/movies-tv/a64611104/the-handmaids-tale-season-6-episode-6-recap-review/

Quote

 

There is a great deal of history between these two women, and Serena thinks she can wave a wand and make the past disappear. “I know I was awful once,” Serena says. Understatement of the year! Serena thinks trying to make amends is enough and wants June to forgive her. “I can’t forgive you. You don’t think I wish I could. If I could, I’d finally get rid of you,” says June.

In the morning, Serena acts as if none of this conversation had happened. Instead, she reveals that Rita (Amanda Brugel) is living with her. When Serena goes to tend to the baby, June tells Rita she is there for Mayday, not Nick. June says they could use Rita’s help, but Rita wants to focus on keeping her family safe, and June respects her decision. “You deserve peace,” June says.

 

I didn't see any wonderment when it came to trusting Serena, either. 

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Hanahope

Hanahope

It looks like Lawrence did not tell June/Moira everything that he heard, only that the high commanders at Jezebels (the one's on Mayday's list) wanted him on the wall.  Lawrence did not tell June that they wanted to torpedo NB or use NB as a trap.  He also did not tell June that other commanders may feel the same way (which is very likely, though probably not Wharton). 

So June did not tell that to Nick either.  She probably only told Nick of the plan to kill these high commanders, not necessarily all high commanders.  We don't know if she told him that these high commanders want to put Lawrence on the wall.  

The big question is whether June will understand why Nick told Wharton, because he had no choice when Wharton confronted him.  If Nick is going to continue helping her (and maybe Mayday/Mark/US), he had to keep his position (and life) and he's not that good a liar (though why not tell Wharton he was investigating the missing guardian/eye?)

And how much power does Wharton have?  Could he keep NB alive with Lawrence, or would the other high commanders out vote them?

 

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marinw

marinw

1 hour ago, Hanahope said:

The big question is whether June will understand why Nick told Wharton, because he had no choice when Wharton confronted him.  If Nick is going to continue helping her (and maybe Mayday/Mark/US), he had to keep his position (and life) and he's not that good a liar (though why not tell Wharton he was investigating the missing guardian/eye?)

It's not clear if Nick betrayed the Mayday plot to save his own butt or because he was an Eye this whole time. I hate him either way.

Oh Aunt Lydia, redemption is hard! You are going to have to do more than bake cookies.

Spoiler

I think they are setting her up for The Testaments.

 

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Pepper the Cat

Pepper the Cat

3 hours ago, marinw said:

It's not clear if Nick betrayed the Mayday plot to save his own butt or because he was an Eye this whole time. I hate him either way.

Oh Aunt Lydia, redemption is hard! You are going to have to do more than bake cookies.

  Reveal spoiler

I think they are setting her up for The Testaments.

 

And better cookies than oatmeal raisin!

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chaifan

chaifan

(edited)
5 hours ago, Hanahope said:

It looks like Lawrence did not tell June/Moira everything that he heard, only that the high commanders at Jezebels (the one's on Mayday's list) wanted him on the wall.  Lawrence did not tell June that they wanted to torpedo NB or use NB as a trap.  He also did not tell June that other commanders may feel the same way (which is very likely, though probably not Wharton). 

I'm not totally sure about that.  Granted, none of that was on screen, but I don't think it's unreasonable for us to assume that Lawrence, Moira and June had a full conversation about everything.  Likewise, we saw almost no discussion between June & Nick, but I think it's fair to assume she filled Nick in what she knew and what Lawrence told her during the car ride.  

57 minutes ago, Pepper the Cat said:

And better cookies than oatmeal raisin!

Hey now!  Those are fightin' words!  😁  As much as I love chocolate, damn, I love a good chewy oatmeal raisin cookie!  If I were in Janine's position, yeah, I would have been throwing things around the room, but doing so with an oatmeal raisin cookie in my mouth!  

Rita:  I think the recap writer was wrong.  If Rita were staying at Serena's, Serena would have gotten her as soon as June showed up.   I am glad they figured out how to have her in this season, though.  While I don't necessarily want her joining Mayday, I hope they give her more screen time.

The more I think about it, the more I think the "Nick betrayed June" bit is going to turn out to be not what it appears to be.  I think this a bit of a misdirect.  Yes, he ratted out the Mayday plans to kill the Commanders, but I think there's a strategic reason behind it.   Maybe not what I posted above, but something.  I think they left it as the episode cliffhanger for a reason, but we'll learn quickly next episode why he did it.  

Also, was I the only one who thought the whole kissing Nick, let's run off to Paris scene would end up as a dream sequence?  

Edited to add:  One additional thought... what if Nick sold out Janine?  Told Wharton she was the source of the Mayday intel?  I mean, there has to be a reason for the scene with them in the hall.  I think he covered for June, but gave up Janine.  

Edited by chaifan
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tennisgurl

tennisgurl

(edited)

I really hope that this is a bait and switch and Nick has a decent reason for snitching, or else he's an utter moron. Just say that you were cheating on your wife and that your sorry, its not that big of a deal in Gilead. Its certainly better than turning over the whole plan like a dumbass. Or this could just be crappy writing because blowing up a bunch of Commanders would shake up the show too much and we cant have that. 

Did Nick give up Lawrence too? I feel like it might finally be hitting Lawrence that trying to fix Gilead from the inside is never going to work, if he wants to stop his creation he would probably do a lot more good outside of Gilead with all of the inside information he has, or working directly to destroy them.

It feels like we're just having the same conversations and doing the same things over and over, characters who really should be either dead or have long since run away from this mess are still here doing the same things, every time anyone makes progress in destroying Gilead for good something happens to stop them, no matter how contrived, this show is running on fumes and the strengths of the performers. 

I am glad that June called Serena out on trying to play misery poker with her, unlike with Moira June is going to win. In fact, most people would win while playing against Serena, for everything she's done she always manages to land on her feet. I cant stand Serena but she and June do have an electricity in their scenes. 

Edited by tennisgurl
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chaifan

chaifan

@tennisgurl, you and I are on the same page.  I also think the end of this episode is something of a fake out, a misdirect, and that Nick's going to have some credible reason for doing what he did.  At least I hope so.  And I'm wondering the same thing about Lawrence, whether or not Nick sold him out.  Again, I don't think so, Nick & Lawrence have somewhat of an alliance, and that wouldn't make sense.

I've been wondering...  where did Serena get an outfit for June?  Jeans, shirt, field jacket...  They're not anywhere close to the same size, and it wasn't Wife Teal or Serena Pink (whatever that is supposed to be representing).  But Serena was like, oh here, I've got dry clothes for you!  

Can we start a petition for a spin-off?  Some wacky single dad sitcom, featuring Lawrence, raising Angela on his own, teaching her how to read, how to play chess, how to bring down the system from the inside...   I'd watch that.  😁

 

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AngelaHunter

AngelaHunter

4 hours ago, marinw said:

Yvonne Strahovski is so good, she makes this prviledged, hateable person so compelling

I agree! She's always watchable.

I kind of enjoyed this episode more than most this season. I loved the conversation between June and Serena. Those two have much more chemistry and sparks than June and her errant hubby do. June seems to have forgotten about him. Hmm.

Lydia and Janine - well, we've had similar confrontations between them before. They're always the same. Lydia is living in Delululand. Those cookies looked damned good. Oatmeal and raisins!

Lawrence appears to be just marking time and waiting for the inevitable end.

I enjoyed seeing Wharton finally reveal his true self. By the time Serena sees it, it will be too late. Tuff for her.

6 hours ago, tennisgurl said:

Just say that you were cheating on your wife and that your sorry, its not that big of a deal in Gilead.

I concur. Rose's father would naturally be seriously pissed off at his son-in-law visiting prostitutes, but still, it's not the worst thing. They all do it. Except Wharton, or so he says. 

Nick has taken incredible chances and killed for June more than once, and I think his "Come to Paris with me right now!" was a fantasy or a dream, and he really wanted it to come true.

"Kill all the Commanders" wasn't going to happen anyway. June and Moira couldn't even infiltrate the penthouse and get some letters without bitching and squabbling and getting caught. June is obsessed, and I was glad when Rita turned her down.

So, yeah. I liked it. There was enough suspense to overcome my short attention span. I'm interested to see what happens next.

3 hours ago, chaifan said:

I've been wondering...  where did Serena get an outfit for June?  Jeans, shirt, field jacket...  They're not anywhere close to the same size,

I think that may be a trope, with the one-size-fits-all outfits. It might go all the way back to "The Big Valley" when any stray, fugitive, runaway, or shady woman ended up at the Barkleys' house, Audra's dresses always fit them, even if they were 6 inches shorter, 20 lbs heavier, or were packing some double-Ds.

On 4/30/2025 at 2:53 PM, chaifan said:

As much as I love chocolate, damn, I love a good chewy oatmeal raisin cookie!  If I were in Janine's position, yeah, I would have been throwing things around the room, but doing so with an oatmeal raisin cookie in my mouth!  

Me too! Those are my favorite cookies, especially if they're chewy!😄

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HerkyJerky

HerkyJerky

40 minutes ago, AngelaHunter said:

I think that may be a trope, with the one-size-fits-all outfits. It might go all the way back to "The Big Valley" when any stray, fugitive, runaway, or shady woman ended up at the Barkleys' house, Audra's dresses always fit them, even if they were 6 inches shorter, 20 lbs heavier, or were packing some double-Ds.

OMG! I LOVED “The Big  Valley”!!

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marinw

marinw

15 hours ago, chaifan said:

I've been wondering...  where did Serena get an outfit for June?  Jeans, shirt, field jacket...  They're not anywhere close to the same size, and it wasn't Wife Teal or Serena Pink (whatever that is supposed to be representing).  But Serena was like, oh here, I've got dry clothes for you!  

Serena would never willingly wear clothes that casual in her New Bethlehem role. Maybe those clothes belong to a male NB resident.

marinw

marinw

(edited)
12 hours ago, AngelaHunter said:
On 4/30/2025 at 3:53 PM, chaifan said:

As much as I love chocolate, damn, I love a good chewy oatmeal raisin cookie!  If I were in Janine's position, yeah, I would have been throwing things around the room, but doing so with an oatmeal raisin cookie in my mouth!  

Me too! Those are my favorite cookies, especially if they're chewy!😄

I noticed that Janine trashed everything but the cookies. Food is valuable. I fear that the Jezebels aren't fed very much, due to persisting ideas about what a sex worker's body should look like and that Jezebels are considered expendable. Gross on both counts.

Edited by marinw
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chaifan

chaifan

16 hours ago, AngelaHunter said:

I think that may be a trope, with the one-size-fits-all outfits. It might go all the way back to "The Big Valley" when any stray, fugitive, runaway, or shady woman ended up at the Barkleys' house, Audra's dresses always fit them, even if they were 6 inches shorter, 20 lbs heavier, or were packing some double-Ds.

Or some woman has a dead or ex-husband who is the same size as the schleppy guy currently in need of a tux or suit or whatever.  Yep, it's a TV trope! 

I think it would have added a fun little bit of levity if Serna handed June a stack of Wife Teal clothes, or her whatever-pink, which didn't fit.  And after seeing June in it at breakfast, Rita comes back with a normal outfit for her.  

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AngelaHunter

AngelaHunter

6 hours ago, marinw said:

Maybe those clothes belong to a male NB resident.

But why would they be in Serena's house? I know I miss a lot because, well, who cares, so maybe there's an explanation? Yvonne Stavhovski is 5'9" and very slender, so those can't be her clothes.  Elizabeth Moss is 5'3", so this man would have to be very short, but he can't have been a boy since a boy's clothes wouldn't fit June.

18 hours ago, HerkyJerky said:

OMG! I LOVED “The Big  Valley”!!

Me too, and I still love it!

2 hours ago, chaifan said:

I think it would have added a fun little bit of levity if Serna handed June a stack of Wife Teal clothes, or her whatever-pink, which didn't fit.  And after seeing June in it at breakfast, Rita comes back with a normal outfit for her.

Agree! I always thought this show could use some levity. I'm not saying turn it into a sit-com, but humans always find a way to eke out some humour and get relief with laughter, even in dire circumstances, even if it's just momentary. Making something unrelentingly grim is a turn-off. Don't worry, TPTB! We won't think you aren't artistes if you give us a little chuckle now and then. We needed more of Lawrence and the non-love story of him and his new, blushing bride.

When Lawrence gave Angela a chess lesson, what he said about the knights had nothing to do with chess, IMO. I'll need to watch again to grasp what he's really alluding to - quite possibly the notorious Public Enemy No.1 - June Osborne?

Something else that has me wondering:  ALL the handmaids are going to the fertility center? What will their roles be there? What qualifications do they need? Scientific and/or medical knowledge? Did Serena or Aunt Lydia specify? And won't they still be prisoners?

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Kel Varnsen

Kel Varnsen

(edited)

Even though it sucks for June I am kind of glad that Nick blew up Mayday's plan. Because it wasn't supposed to happen for another week and I am not sure I could handle another week of show time of them just talking about it.

Also interested that there was zero mention of if and how Luke made it out of Jezebel's while it was on lockdown.

On 5/1/2025 at 6:55 PM, chaifan said:

I've been wondering... where did Serena get an outfit for June? Jeans, shirt, field jacket... They're not anywhere close to the same size, and it wasn't Wife Teal or Serena Pink (whatever that is supposed to be representing). But Serena was like, oh here, I've got dry clothes for you!  

Especially the pyjamas. It actually could have been a funny scene if we had seen June try to wear pyjamas that were made for Serena (since you just know she has her pyjamas and other clothes perfectly tailored to fit her). Or a scene where they go through Serena's closet to try and find something she could wear.

Although I am not clear why June wouldn't be wearing the Martha close in the morning. Travelling in the morning in the most non-descript outfit possible is probably a good idea. Then again not making out with someone you aren't supposed to, in front of a giant window would also probably be a good idea too.

Edited by Kel Varnsen
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SharonH58

SharonH58

June is going to get everyone who tries to help her murdered.  She doesn't worry how much trouble it will cause them.   I think Nick thought he could tell about Mayday and save June.   She won't see it that way.  Of course she was screwing up the plan in the first place.  She thinks she can force herself into a plan and make it better.   Good thing Moria got out.

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RunningMarket

RunningMarket

On 5/3/2025 at 5:24 PM, Kel Varnsen said:

Especially the pyjamas. It actually could have been a funny scene if we had seen June try to wear pyjamas that were made for Serena (since you just know she has her pyjamas and other clothes perfectly tailored to fit her). Or a scene where they go through Serena's closet to try and find something she could wear.

Serena * going through closet *: Here try these.

June: It doesn't fit.

Serena: This?

June: Serena, it's all PINK.

Serena: June, you never let me help you!

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chaifan

chaifan

On 5/3/2025 at 8:24 PM, Kel Varnsen said:

Or a scene where they go through Serena's closet to try and find something she could wear.

Yep.  This is what this show needs.  A good wardrobe makeover montage, with June popping out of the dressing room/from behind a screen wearing one ridiculous outfit after the next, June & Serena making funny faces with each outfit.  Scored, of course, to a classic 80's Brat Pack soundtrack.  😂

1 hour ago, SharonH58 said:

June is going to get everyone who tries to help her murdered.

Honestly, that would be the best way to end this show.  The entire main cast, except for June, dead.  And dead because of her.  And all the remaining people just run like hell as she starts heading their way.  And the show ends with a flash forward to the future, with Angela, now an old woman, telling a bedtime story to her granddaughter.... yes, dear, everyone has heard of Typhoid Mary, but let me tell you the tale of Everything I Touch Dies June...  

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AngelaHunter

AngelaHunter

5 hours ago, SharonH58 said:

June is going to get everyone who tries to help her murdered.

Yep. Fanatics don't think clearly when on a "mission". I have to give EM credit here, as she does a good job displaying the light of fanaticism in her eyes. No wonder Rita said no thanks and was probably thinking she'd like to live a little longer. 

I'm also appreciative that the super-long, snooze-inducing close-ups of her face have been dialed back.

The one person I really want to see die a horrible death is the big, Sasquatch commander who tortures Janine.

 

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