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S06.E07: Shattered

paulvdb

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Helena Dax

Helena Dax

I don't think Serena knows, and tbh, I don't want her to know. She doesn't deserve a redemption arc anymore.I mean, I believe she's able to kill all the Commanders and Wives, since she didn't hesitate when it came to kill the US Government, but she would do it because they have disrespected her, not because she wants to end Gilead. In my opinion, if she made a face when Wharton mentioned the handmaids it is just because she thought that the Wives would disapprove.

I never thought Aunt Lydia was dumb, but I'm starting to change my mind. Did she honestly think that Janine would be happy to be a handmaid again? Also,I had the impression that Aunts had certain kind of power when it came to Commanders and Wives, meaning if there was a Handmaid in their house, she had the right to go there, talk to her etc. At least, it seemed so back in season one. Besides, as far as I know, Commanders can be severely punished if they have sex with a Handmaid outside the Ceremony, 

And btw, I thought women working at Jezabel had been sterilized. 

Is a bit of narrative coherence too much to ask?

At least I like the new plan. Not sure it will be a total victory, since there's a new show coming, but I'll be glad if they manage to rescue Janine and kill Serena.

 

 

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Maurina

Maurina

(edited)

I'm having trouble with the idea that June et al really think that 'they'll never see it coming' in terms of attacking the wedding.  OF COURSE they'll see it coming -- every single important leader of Gilead and their families (and their handmaids), all gathered in one place?  That wedding will have massive security.  Come on, June would also think so - what are the writers setting up here?  That June is stupid, or that Gilead's leaders are?

Edited by Maurina
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Brn2bwild

Brn2bwild

2 hours ago, AntFTW said:

It seems like she doesn’t like the idea of handmaids at all anymore.

What I find ridiculous is that everyone acts like having handmaids there is fine and handmaids provide the perfect cover for insurgent action because they're so passive.  Does no one remember a few seasons back how one handmaid literally blew up a major public center and caused hundreds of deaths?  If anything, the commanders and their wives have the most to fear from handmaids.

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AntFTW

AntFTW

Fuck this show for making Janine a handmaid again.

10 minutes ago, Brn2bwild said:

What I find ridiculous is that everyone acts like having handmaids there is fine and handmaids provide the perfect cover for insurgent action because they're so passive.

I also find it ridiculous that no one is watching Lawrence. The other commanders dislike him and they have no one spying on him?

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PurpleTentacle

PurpleTentacle

So yeah, Nick told them "to save himself". The writing on this show really is that dumb. There were quite a few other ways out of there and Nick used to be smart to think of them. But I guess not when the writers want a certain outcome...

Why would Janine have to be read into the plan? If the asshole commander goes to the wedding, he'll be killed regardless, right? What better place for Janine to be than safe at home, blissfully unaware?

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PurpleTentacle

PurpleTentacle

4 hours ago, Helena Dax said:

I never thought Aunt Lydia was dumb, but I'm starting to change my mind. Did she honestly think that Janine would be happy to be a handmaid again? Also,I had the impression that Aunts had certain kind of power when it came to Commanders and Wives, meaning if there was a Handmaid in their house, she had the right to go there, talk to her etc. At least, it seemed so back in season one. Besides, as far as I know, Commanders can be severely punished if they have sex with a Handmaid outside the Ceremony, 

Yeah, but the writers don't remember what they established in season 1. We've seen it quite a few times now.

A commander so blatently abusing a handmaid would also get in big trouble. Girls in Jezebel's have no protection, handmaids do. Of course there was always the occasional rape outside of the ceremony, but nothing this obvious and undeniable. Season 1 Lydia would have the guy on the wall.

21 minutes ago, AntFTW said:

I also find it ridiculous that no one is watching Lawrence. The other commanders dislike him and they have no one spying on him?

I guess I can fanwank that with them underestimating him. They all seem to think he is a baffoon with delusional ideas about a more liberal Gilead.

They seem to forget that he was the architect of the Gilead they currently live in and is probably the smartest one of them. But that tracks with the bunch of narcissists they are.

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crashdown

crashdown

4 hours ago, AntFTW said:

It seems like she doesn’t like the idea of handmaids at all anymore.

No, she certainly doesn't--that's come up several times, and it's directly because of Serena's driving desire to have June forgive her (and love her too, really, but the "forgive her" part is more concrete). I think the blowup between her and Wharton is going to start from his introducing her to her new handmaid. His idea of the "big, beautiful family" that the two of them are going to produce together included handmaids, and she had no idea that he had any intention toward that at all. Just a theory, but I think I'm right.

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bettername2come

bettername2come

(edited)

Nick, you stupid, self-serving idiot! Though, I will admit, I also didn't think they'd kill all the Jezebels. I was so worried about Janine dying, but I didn't think they'd kill everyone but Janine. But to act like he's just doing what anyone would do in his position is ridiculous. Like there aren't plenty of people rebelling with varying levels of secrecy around him all the time. 

Rita sounded so sincere saying "We were friends way before June came along." 

"It is refreshing hearing you give the matter so much consideration." Ever Carradine can certainly deliver a burn. 

Ugh, Commander Wharton talking about a "traditional Gilead wedding." Dude, y'all've had a country for 10 years.

Ann Dowd is such a great actress. I know we all know this, but it always bears repeating.

I'm so pumped for this giant attack at the wedding. Oh, Rita's in on it? Yes! "Her narcissism brought down one nation and is about to bring down another." I'm glad they didn't bring in D'Arcy Carden just to be a random Aunt. "Let the revolution begin." I cheered. 

Edited by bettername2come
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chaifan

chaifan

oh, so many thoughts... sorry this is going to be a long post...

First of all, I will admit to being 100% wrong in my theory of why Nick blabbed.  Last week, I was really hoping that there would be a good explanation, that maybe Wharton already somehow got wind of the Mayday plan and Nick was actually doing Mayday a favor by tanking the whole plan.  But nope.  I was giving the writers a bit too much credit for making Nick look not only stupid, but a horrible liar (which we know he's not).  

So, in the end, Nick got accused of adultery, and to "save himself" (from what??? an angry father in law???) he sold out Mayday.  I never liked Nick, thought he was dull as wallpaper paste, and never got the Nick/June twu luv story.  So I'm actually glad I was wrong, and I hope this story ends with Nick dying at the wedding, a moral coward with no convictions other than his own self preservation.

One thing I'm not clear on...  when we're seeing the scenes of the women at Jezebel's being rounded up and shot, is Wharton actually telling Serena about this?  Is June hearing this from Wharton in the moment?  If so, why in the world would Wharton tell Serena this?  It's barbaric, even for Gilead.  Serena would have been horrified to learn a dozen women were shot in a bathroom.  Especially given her plan with Lidia to let them "retire" to NB.  Wharton could have simply said they were rounded up and sent to the colonies, or put back in service.  

13 hours ago, AntFTW said:

It seems like she doesn’t like the idea of handmaids at all anymore.

I think that her chat last night with June finally made her realize that it's not "service", it's not "god's work", it is rape and it is torture.  

As to whether or not Serena is in on it... if she is, I think Wharton telling her about the slaughter at Jezebel's would be what it would take to make her flip to the resistance.  But given June's voice over, especially Serena's self importance being her downfall, it seems pretty clear Serena is not part of the plan.

14 hours ago, Helena Dax said:

And btw, I thought women working at Jezabel had been sterilized. 

Is a bit of narrative coherence too much to ask?

The women at Jezebel's get birth control.  I remember that being mentioned in whatever season we first saw Moira at Jezebel's.  

As for Lydia vs. Bell, I have no problem believing that Bell simply makes up his own rules, and knows no one will challenge him on not letting an Aunt in.  He didn't just say "no" and slam the door in her face, he made up a plausible excuse.  Lydia really didn't push it, she didn't "demand" to be let in.  

So I think the writers have been consistent in these instances.

I really liked this episode.  I really wish the last 4-5 episodes had as much movement as this.  

And OH, The Twist with the new Aunt (D'arcy Carden)!!!  I just squeed when she turned out to be a good guy!  

I think June & Moira being part of the Handmaid Brigade is stupid, given how easily identifiable they are.  I hope they come up with something to work around that giant plot hole.  

 

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AntFTW

AntFTW

41 minutes ago, chaifan said:

As to whether or not Serena is in on it... if she is, I think Wharton telling her about the slaughter at Jezebel's would be what it would take to make her flip to the resistance.  But given June's voice over, especially Serena's self importance being her downfall, it seems pretty clear Serena is not part of the plan.

I don’t think she’s in on the plan as of this episode, but my thinking is that she could be in the future… and even her involvement could be purely on impulse. Serena just decide to kill her new husband amidst the chaos because she suddenly believes Gilead must fall.

I’m speculating hard AF right now but it would be an interesting twist.

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chaifan

chaifan

18 minutes ago, AntFTW said:

I don’t think she’s in on the plan as of this episode, but my thinking is that she could be in the future

It's possible.  If Wharton hadn't told her about the handmaids being killed at Jezebel's, I could see Serena learning this to be something that could turn her to the resistance.  But if she already knows that and is still planning the wedding of the season, I just can't imagine what would make her go against Gilead.  

I said this in an earlier episode thread, but I really don't want a redemption arc for Serena.  I'd rather see her die, either due to her own delusions about her role in this new Gilead, or, as cliche as it may be, dying to save June.  So I'm really hoping that for the next 3 episodes we just see Serena in full Gilead Bridezilla mode, she's never looped in, and we get to see the horror on her (hopefully dying) face as everyone is slaughtered at her "perfect" wedding.  However, I have -0- confidence that the writers will give us that.  

Also, I really want this plan to play out.  I want to see the pomp and pageantry of Serena's wedding.  (Sorry, I'm a sucker for a wedding scene.)  I want to see what a Gilead wedding dress looks like.  Will it be white or pink?  Do the bridesmaids still all to have to wear teal?  

When I was watching this episode, I thought we only had 8 for this season.  But now I see there are 10.  I'm almost afraid that's too much time for the writers to really fuck this up.  Just let the plan continue, kill everyone off, and end this show already.  

 

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Brn2bwild

Brn2bwild

4 hours ago, Haleth said:

It looks like she’s going to poison the cake. I worry that the handmaids are only supplied with knives; hopefully the poisoned cake will weaken the commanders enough to aid the maids.

This is a whole new red wedding. 

I'm worried they'll make Rita try the cake first.  Hopefully she'll either make herself tolerant of the poison beforehand or create a section that isn't poisoned just to be safe.

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kitkat343

kitkat343

(edited)
19 hours ago, Helena Dax said:

 

And btw, I thought women working at Jezabel had been sterilized. 

 

 

 

That was definitely in the book.  June ran into Moira when her commander snuck her into Jezebel's and Moira told her about her escape attempt and how she was given the choice of Jezebel's or the colonies.  She said she had a little operation to prevent the complication of pregnancy.    I can't remember if they mentioned it in the show, but it doesn't actually make much sense for a society as awful as Gilead to sterilize the women in Jezebels - in the show, when June was pregnant and rebelling, they showed her the pregnant handmaid who tried to kill herself who was  locked up in the Red Center until she gave birth.  Given the fact that stolen children were routinely assigned to Commander families, it would seem better for the population growth for the women in Jezebels who become pregnant to have the babies in a colony somewhere and then give the babies to Commander families.  

Edited by kitkat343
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circumvent

circumvent

21 hours ago, Helena Dax said:

Is a bit of narrative coherence too much to ask?

For this team of writers, yes.

I don't think Bell is raping Janine - although he would break the rules and not care a bit - I think he is beating her up. The writers also decided that Janine has to be tortured in all manners possible, every season. Why can't the girl catch a break? And I am not sure where they are going with Aunt Lydia

Spoiler

In the next series, she is supposed to have gone rogue and is helping ending Gilead. they could be making her each day more unsatisfied, more worried, more enraged, more anything but how she is being portrayed. But they are not building the arc, they are just going to drop that in the new series without any real meaning

I don't think Serena knows anything either. She is too worried about being a new cult leader, she wants to be the hero but she doesn't want to destroy Gilead. 

Spoiler

Another miss for the writers (as if there aren't enough). Noah will be in the next series but there is nothing so far indicating the building up of that arc

If the cake is going to be poisoned, I am sure that June will run back to save Serena. How many episodes left? Are there 8 or 10. Can they kill June soon? I can't stand the character, or how the actor portrays the character. Why is she the only one who can come up with the ideas to save the day, only to see more people die because of her whims? She is so powerful, she wants Hannah back so much, why can't she be working on getting the girl back?

I hope there is someone out there counting how many people died because of June's actions and decisions. Seriously, the woman should be shunned and they should just lock her up when they go out on a mission. She will always find a way to mess things up

Spoiler

Can someone remind me if June is dead or alive in The Testaments? I really hope she dies a terrible death, although she will obviously become the greatest martyr that ever lived and all her failures will be celebrated as victories. 

Lawrence is an ass, still a commander walking up to everyone and ordering them, or manipulating them as if he has all the power. Let the man die, already

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Anela

Anela

(edited)
41 minutes ago, circumvent said:

For this team of writers, yes.

I don't think Bell is raping Janine - although he would break the rules and not care a bit - I think he is beating her up. The writers also decided that Janine has to be tortured in all manners possible, every season. Why can't the girl catch a break? And I am not sure where they are going with Aunt Lydia

  Reveal spoiler

In the next series, she is supposed to have gone rogue and is helping ending Gilead. they could be making her each day more unsatisfied, more worried, more enraged, more anything but how she is being portrayed. But they are not building the arc, they are just going to drop that in the new series without any real meaning

I don't think Serena knows anything either. She is too worried about being a new cult leader, she wants to be the hero but she doesn't want to destroy Gilead. 

  Reveal spoiler

Another miss for the writers (as if there aren't enough). Noah will be in the next series but there is nothing so far indicating the building up of that arc

If the cake is going to be poisoned, I am sure that June will run back to save Serena. How many episodes left? Are there 8 or 10. Can they kill June soon? I can't stand the character, or how the actor portrays the character. Why is she the only one who can come up with the ideas to save the day, only to see more people die because of her whims? She is so powerful, she wants Hannah back so much, why can't she be working on getting the girl back?

I hope there is someone out there counting how many people died because of June's actions and decisions. Seriously, the woman should be shunned and they should just lock her up when they go out on a mission. She will always find a way to mess things up

  Reveal spoiler

Can someone remind me if June is dead or alive in The Testaments? I really hope she dies a terrible death, although she will obviously become the greatest martyr that ever lived and all her failures will be celebrated as victories. 

Lawrence is an ass, still a commander walking up to everyone and ordering them, or manipulating them as if he has all the power. Let the man die, already

Someone on another site, suggested that might have been a sedative, not poison. 

Spoiler

I think June was still alive in the Testaments. It’s been almost six years since I read the book, and I thought she was reunited with her daughters at the end of it  I think Luke was there, too. But I wasn’t a big fan of the book. It felt too much like a summer blockbuster movie, with the murder of Holly’s fake parents, and the smuggling of her into Gilead, of all places. 

 

Edited by Anela
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PurpleTentacle

PurpleTentacle

9 hours ago, chaifan said:

As for Lydia vs. Bell, I have no problem believing that Bell simply makes up his own rules, and knows no one will challenge him on not letting an Aunt in.  He didn't just say "no" and slam the door in her face, he made up a plausible excuse.  Lydia really didn't push it, she didn't "demand" to be let in.  

So I think the writers have been consistent in these instances.

When the Waterfords tried something similar. Lydia wouldn't take no for an answer. Why would she?

Even if she would, then she saw Janine black and blue in the window. At that point she would have gone back or reported it up the chain.

There is nothing consistent about this.

 

 

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SharonH58

SharonH58

1 hour ago, Haleth said:
  Reveal spoiler

As I recall, yes, June is alive in The Testaments but we don’t see her until the very end. There is going to have to be a huge time jump if we are going to have Nicolle be a protagonist.

Other than the writers wanting to save Aunt Lydia I can’t imagine why Lawrence would send her to DC right now.

He wants to save her from being at the wedding with whatever is going down.  But since June is involved will be screwed up.   I'm so glad this show is ending.   Why is Janine constantly tortured, and June has no consequences.  

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AntFTW

AntFTW

(edited)
1 hour ago, SharonH58 said:

He wants to save her from being at the wedding with whatever is going down. 

I don't think he wants to save her from the wedding. He wants her to go away because Lydia would recognize June, and maybe Moira too, because they definitely shouldn't be there with the other handmaids. Lydia seeing June would spoil the plan.

The other Aunt hid June and Moira in the basement. She was hiding them from Aunt Lydia.

Edited by AntFTW
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Maurina

Maurina

The more I think about this episode the more annoyed I get.  So many things don't make sense.  Why, on the information of one person, would they immediately shoot all the women at Jezebel's?  C'mon, they would take them, separate them, and interrogate them before killing them.  That's what paranoid, violent regimes do.  They wouldn't just get rid of them without getting every piece of information about how the attack was planned, who on the inside was involved, and how Mayday managed to infiltrate (they would of course assume Mayday was behind it).

So much of the writing seems thoughtless, sacrificing basic common sense just to move the plot a certain way.

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Brn2bwild

Brn2bwild

12 hours ago, AntFTW said:

I don’t think she’s in on the plan as of this episode, but my thinking is that she could be in the future… and even her involvement could be purely on impulse. Serena just decide to kill her new husband amidst the chaos because she suddenly believes Gilead must fall.

I’m speculating hard AF right now but it would be an interesting twist.

I think that's what will happen.  The writers didn't plant all those seeds (Serena on the train, at the commune, conversation with the Gilead wives, etc.) without reason.  Serena's conscience bothers her, and it will cause her to be part of the plan somehow, even if turning on Gilead is a self-preserving move.

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bettername2come

bettername2come

50 minutes ago, AntFTW said:

I don't think he wants to save her from the wedding. He wants her to go away because Lydia would recognize June, and maybe Moira too, because they definitely shouldn't be there with the other handmaids. Lydia seeing June would spoil the plan.

The other Aunt hid June and Moira in the basement. She was hiding them from Aunt Lydia.

Yeah, I think Lydia would try to intervene in their plan and they can’t have that. I got the impression all the Aunts and Handmaids currently at the Red Center are in on it, so Lydia would definitely realize something was up. And while I don’t think saving her is a goal, she definitely isn’t a powerful person they want to target.

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tennisgurl

tennisgurl

Finally it seems like something is actually happening, I am going to need to see Red Wedding levels of carnage after all of this. This plan actually seems pretty good, even though I know that this cant be the full on end of Gilead I hope we can at least see them get a really nasty hit. 

Shut up Nick, you could have covered for yourself a million other ways besides giving up the plan. Its about time that June got a wakeup call that, while Nick is on her side as a person, they are not fully on the same side when it comes to her cause. Its also not fair that Luke has to know that every time they go off to do some important mission the woman he loves is off with her fascist boyfriend having a quickie. 

So many people in Gilead are so one foot in and one foot out, just commit already one way or the other. 

I guess Aunt Lydia just isn't putting together the painfully obvious about what is happening with Janine, the old Aunt Lydia would have reported Bell in a minute if she suspected he was being inappropriate in a way outside of the Gilead system. 

Another day, another horrible trauma for Janine, this poor woman has truly had the worst fortune in the whole show, and that's saying something. 

Yes, let Serena's narcissism take down another country! I totally think that Serena will end up going along with June's plan at the last minute when she realizes what is happening, not for real moral reasons but because it benefits her. Serena always has little pangs of empathy, but at the end of the day she looks out for herself and will swap sides depending on what will benefit her. 

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captain1

captain1

I can't stand the fact that the writers ignore that there would have been security cameras covering literally every square inch of Gilead - instead Lawrence gets to stuff June and Moira into his trunk in the parking garage, etc. etc. ad infinitum with no one watching!

That being said, I've seen every episode so I'll see it through - count me in as one who wants it to make the Red Wedding look like a tiptoe through the tulips!

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PurpleTentacle

PurpleTentacle

1 hour ago, captain1 said:

I can't stand the fact that the writers ignore that there would have been security cameras covering literally every square inch of Gilead - instead Lawrence gets to stuff June and Moira into his trunk in the parking garage, etc. etc. ad infinitum with no one watching!

To be fair, I think they established in an earlier season that Jezzebel's is very light on security cameras (as in there are none), because the commanders don't want a record of them being there.

The red center would have cameras, but then they have aunts on the inside who could have turned them off or looped the footage.

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chaifan

chaifan

2 hours ago, tennisgurl said:

I totally think that Serena will end up going along with June's plan at the last minute when she realizes what is happening, not for real moral reasons but because it benefits her.

One scenario I could see happening...  Serena figures things out on her own, notices Rita doing something, overhears the Marthas, something like that.  And Serena just keeps it to herself.  She doesn't join in, but she doesn't stop it, either.  She just simply doesn't eat any cake.  (I'm on board with the theory that Rita will be poisoning the cake.)  She has to go to the ladies room, or check on Noah at just the right moment.  And thus, she survives, and becomes the most senior person in Gilead.  Not what I want to happen (I want her to die by the end of this show, no redemption arc), but I could see it happening.

1 hour ago, captain1 said:

I can't stand the fact that the writers ignore that there would have been security cameras covering literally every square inch of Gilead

Correct me if I'm wrong, but from season 1 on, hasn't Gilead been relatively low-tech?  Isn't that part of their schtick?  In today's world, you'd be right, there would be video surveillance all over these places.  But I don't think we've ever seen that in this show.  

2 hours ago, tennisgurl said:

the old Aunt Lydia would have reported Bell in a minute

 

50 minutes ago, yesferatu said:

I can't get past Aunt Lydia just walking away after what she saw at the Bell house. What's changed? 

I can't point to a specific detail, but I've just felt that the Aunts have been somewhat neutered since the earlier seasons.  The Commanders have become more brash, evidenced by Bell's open conversation at Jezebel's about putting Lawrence on the wall.  I think this has been a gradual regression/progression since Season 1. There were "checks & balances" set up in Gilead, but those don't really exist any longer, and the Commanders have unfettered power.  (ugh, hitting way too close to home.)  

Lydia did not fear Waterford, because she knew the system would back her.  She fears Bell, and knows she's not protected.

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PurpleTentacle

PurpleTentacle

51 minutes ago, chaifan said:

I can't point to a specific detail, but I've just felt that the Aunts have been somewhat neutered since the earlier seasons.  The Commanders have become more brash, evidenced by Bell's open conversation at Jezebel's about putting Lawrence on the wall.  I think this has been a gradual regression/progression since Season 1. There were "checks & balances" set up in Gilead, but those don't really exist any longer, and the Commanders have unfettered power.  (ugh, hitting way too close to home.)  

Lydia did not fear Waterford, because she knew the system would back her.  She fears Bell, and knows she's not protected.

If that was the case we should have seen it. The gradual decline in checks and balances. But it comes pretty much out of nowhere.

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Brn2bwild

Brn2bwild

3 hours ago, PurpleTentacle said:

If that was the case we should have seen it. The gradual decline in checks and balances. But it comes pretty much out of nowhere.

In the earlier season with the terrorist bombing, didn't it kill Nick's mentor, who was a true believer?  Maybe since the true believers have been dying off, the ones in it for the power alone have been becoming more dominant.  With men like Wharton becoming the exceptions rather than the rule.

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AngelaHunter

AngelaHunter

On 5/6/2025 at 9:15 PM, Haleth said:

It looks like she’s going to poison the cake.

Wasn't that already attempted once, and it didn't go so well? I may be forgetting something. It seems like it was about a decade ago. Who can guarantee all the Commanders will eat the cake at the same time, and enough of it to kill them? Poisoning is pretty hit-or-miss.

18 hours ago, circumvent said:

I don't think Bell is raping Janine - although he would break the rules and not care a bit - I think he is beating her up.

That's what I thought. I can't help thinking that whoever is writing for the Janine character must have been terribly bullied, picked on, and tormented by a Mean Girl named Janine, maybe in the 5th grade or so. I'm so sick of seeing her brutalized.

On 5/6/2025 at 10:47 PM, chaifan said:

I said this in an earlier episode thread, but I really don't want a redemption arc for Serena. 

Nor do I! Not after the hateful, cruel, and even brutal acts she perpetrated on those who couldn't fight back. Yeah, it was the only power she had, so she used it, but that doesn't excuse it. I quit watching the Walking Dead when they redeemed the sadistic torturer and rapist, Negan. Ugh.

Do the writers think we forget the heinous things their characters have done?

 

PurpleTentacle

PurpleTentacle

7 hours ago, Brn2bwild said:

In the earlier season with the terrorist bombing, didn't it kill Nick's mentor, who was a true believer?  Maybe since the true believers have been dying off, the ones in it for the power alone have been becoming more dominant.  With men like Wharton becoming the exceptions rather than the rule.

That was before the first season took place in a flashback, I'm pretty sure.

Also that is a lot of lifting we have to do there to make it work. Like I said, we should have seen more of how Gilead changed. It's potentially the most interesting thing in the show. But I guess we have to use that screen time for Elisabeth Moss to glare into the camera.

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Haleth

Haleth

7 hours ago, AngelaHunter said:

Wasn't that already attempted once, and it didn't go so well? I may be forgetting something. It seems like it was about a decade ago. Who can guarantee all the Commanders will eat the cake at the same time, and enough of it to kill them? Poisoning is pretty hit-or-miss.

No one said their plans were good or original. 😄 Rita received a package of mysterious vials of something and I doubt they were filled with imported vanilla. 

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Black Knight

Black Knight

(edited)
On 5/6/2025 at 7:41 AM, Maurina said:

I'm having trouble with the idea that June et al really think that 'they'll never see it coming' in terms of attacking the wedding.  OF COURSE they'll see it coming -- every single important leader of Gilead and their families (and their handmaids), all gathered in one place?  That wedding will have massive security.  Come on, June would also think so - what are the writers setting up here?  That June is stupid, or that Gilead's leaders are?

June's counting on that, actually. She talked about how Serena will pull security from elsewhere for her wedding. So while the wedding itself will be well guarded, it'll be much easier for Mayday to operate in and around Gilead setting stuff up and escaping afterwards.

On 5/6/2025 at 8:10 AM, PurpleTentacle said:

So yeah, Nick told them "to save himself". The writing on this show really is that dumb. There were quite a few other ways out of there and Nick used to be smart to think of them. But I guess not when the writers want a certain outcome...

Why would Janine have to be read into the plan? If the asshole commander goes to the wedding, he'll be killed regardless, right? What better place for Janine to be than safe at home, blissfully unaware?

A cynical reading of Nick's choice would be that he chose the lie that let him present himself to Wharton as a hero. Wharton was certainly full of praise for him afterwards. There were certainly other stories Nick could have come up with, but none that would make him look so good.

I expect Janine needs to be read into the plan because they want to get her out of Gilead for good. So she can't just sit at home blissfully unaware. Once everyone leaves for the wedding she's got to get out of the house and go to a pre-selected extraction point so Mayday can pick her up on their way out of Boston. Plus June and Lawrence will probably have something in the works where Janine also has to stop by the Lawrences' house to grab her kid or the kid is going to be brought to her.

On 5/6/2025 at 5:45 PM, bettername2come said:

 "It is refreshing hearing you give the matter so much consideration." Ever Carradine can certainly deliver a burn. 

I enjoyed that line too. I've never forgotten that June was Serena's second handmaid because the first handmaid suffered so terribly in Serena's household that she killed herself. Lydia had an extremely oblique reference to that in an earlier episode when she said her girls - plural - had suffered with Serena, but it still feels like on the whole the show doesn't really want us to remember the details of the first handmaid. But I do, and it makes all this with Serena's flashes of empathy feel like a big retcon. We're supposed to believe that June's stories and the stories of the women on the train have gotten through to Serena, that she never realized before that how cruel Gilead really was to handmaids blah blah. But Serena knew perfectly well before she met June. And the suicide of her first handmaid didn't make her treat her new handmaid any nicer. All Serena cared about was getting a baby. It's only now that she no longer needs a handmaid to provide her with a kid that she's "re-thinking" things.

But I agree Mr. Traditional Gilead Wedding who's already told her that he wanted five kids with his first wife will expect a handmaid in the household because of Serena's age making it unlikely she has multiple pregnancies in her future, and Serena's narcissism can't handle that. She wants her husband looking only at her, and she wants to think of herself as a good person. And she doesn't seem to care about having more children, so there's nothing in this for her anymore that would help her overlook the ickier aspects of helping her husband rape a woman every month.

Edited by Black Knight
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