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S02.E08: Women's Work


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Ugh. I have a very icky feeling about what is going to happen in Fred's study. Offred's 'jump' at something made me remember a scene from the S2 trailer that hasn't been shown yet. I really, really hope I'm wrong.

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23 minutes ago, AllyB said:

Ugh. I have a very icky feeling about what is going to happen in Fred's study. Offred's 'jump' at something made me remember a scene from the S2 trailer that hasn't been shown yet. I really, really hope I'm wrong.

 

 I know the scene you're talking about and I do believe it fits into this episode, when he calls June and Serena into the office. 

He is going about his so called "godly husband duty" keeping his household in line and well disciplined. 

It would be such a Fred thing to do really, he is truly a monster and hypocrite. 

I also ponder about how far Nick is willing to go with Eden to keep her in check.

She knows being caught reading is against the rules and certainly snooping isn't permitted either.

I think he is going to have to get a early crash course in parenting to try and keep them both safe from her childish behavior. Her missteps could spell the end for them all. 

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I'm wondering if the fact that Fred won't intervene for baby Angela is another form of punishment for Serena.  He knows how she feels about children. He knows that she is jealous of the Putman's and that she wishes that she had the baby. 

I wouldn't put it past Fred.

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6 hours ago, AllyB said:

Ugh. I have a very icky feeling about what is going to happen in Fred's study. Offred's 'jump' at something made me remember a scene from the S2 trailer that hasn't been shown yet. I really, really hope I'm wrong.

I don't think you're wrong.  It fits, the lighting is the same, and...yeah, they're going to do that.  And as much as I can't stand SJ...I also can't stand watching that either.  

Are they trying to make SJ likeable?  Sympathetic?  Highlight her role as a victim of the regime she created?  Are we supposed to forgive her for her sins?  I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do with this.  The Commander was 100% impressed with the role she played with the delegation from Mexico.  Her actions last episode were just another example her intelligence and wits.  "Never mistake a woman's meekness for weakness."  

Spoiler

So why punish her this time?  I'm not just thinking Fred, but rather the writers overall.  Is it the fact that she conspired to do so with Offred and Nick?  Because she didn't just use her mind, but pen and paper?  Is it because she did so for the sake of her "family" as opposed to something for the greater "good" of Gilead? 

 

I'm not sure if the above counts as a spoiler, but rather speculation, but I'm hiding it just in case.  

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9 hours ago, AnswersWanted said:

 

 I know the scene you're talking about and I do believe it fits into this episode, when he calls June and Serena into the office. 

He is going about his so called "godly husband duty" keeping his household in line and well disciplined. 

It would be such a Fred thing to do really, he is truly a monster and hypocrite.

Not to mention he will be angry about the bombing at the Rachel & Leah Center, which was HIS project, and keen to punish any woman for standing up to him Gilead.

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(edited)

The Israeli trailer for this episode shows things from this episode that the American one does not show. If you want to be spoiled a little more, it definitely gives no doubt as to what Fred is doing to who in the season 2 trailer...

 

Spoiler

 

Edited by mamadrama
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(edited)

Wow, their trailers look so much better than ours like damn good stuff.

 

Spoiler

At least they didn't have Serena stripped and flogged, but I have no doubt that her pride will be severely wounded and with her temperament ... June may not wish to sympathize too much with her.

 

I am convinced Fred is just a sick minded sadist that has been denied getting his kick offs in the real world before Gilead but now he has a free pass to pleasure himself at will with anyone he wants to. Creep ass sicko.

 

14 hours ago, greekmom said:

I'm wondering if the fact that Fred won't intervene for baby Angela is another form of punishment for Serena.  He knows how she feels about children. He knows that she is jealous of the Putman's and that she wishes that she had the baby. 

I wouldn't put it past Fred.

 

Fred lacks a soul, that is for sure, so I absolutely agree. Everything he does is calculating and selfish, he is rarely thinking about anyone outside of himsel

It does appear as if this episode is all about giving us an insider's view into Fred's controlling mind that we have yet to see, just how domineering and dangerous, or should I say deranged, can he become?

 

12 hours ago, Shangrilala said:

Are they trying to make SJ likeable?  Sympathetic?  Highlight her role as a victim of the regime she created?  Are we supposed to forgive her for her sins?  I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do with this. 

 

I feel the exact same, last week definitely concerned me that they might be testing the angle of redeeming her. I really really hope that is not the case just because she can work against the monstrous machine she helped bring to life changes nothing for me.

Edited by TV Mercenary
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(edited)

Baby Angela lives!  So she was dying of unhappiness...

Overall, a mixed episode.  Nice to see Serena and June/Offred still working together, but of course it couldn't continue.  Serena seemed really naive, the way she thought Fred would be okay with her ghostwriting his work.  Even in a far more equal world, that's a big faux pas.  

I know Eden is supposed to be secretly evil and all, but I actually feel sorry for her.  She wants so badly to fulfill her role, and everyone is dismissive of her, and it's clear she's unhappy.  She thought she was making Nick happy with redecorating, and probably didn't think anything of the letters until he had his freakout.  Now she'll probably run to the nearest guardian and tell all.

Spoiler

The promo for Episode 9 looks soooo good.

Edited by Brn2bwild
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(edited)

Emily is still defiant. Yay!

There was so little of her. Boo!

Janine gets to hold her baby and comfort her. Yay!

She will have to  hand back her baby. Boo!

Handmaids and others lower on the totem pole have been severely punished for lesser transgressions. Serena got off easy so she can miss me with the tears. 

Edited by Deputy Deputy CoS
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7 minutes ago, Umbelina said:

He must suffer first.

 

Someone needs to figure out a way to bring people back from the dead after they die from torture. I offer Fred as tribute for that, he would make the perfect guinea pig. He definitely has the pig part down pat.

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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.

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(edited)

I don't know if it is an attempt at a redemption arc for Serena, or an awakening.  If it's the later, she could be a powerful force, if it's the former?  Well, it will depend on what she else she does for me.

Janine and that baby, OMG, thank you for a little bit of joy at the end.  Nothing medically wrong with Charlotte, I think it's failure to thrive, from lack of love, and touching, and care.

June going to apologize to the Commander was so powerful.

Very well done episode.

Oh, and Hulu, quit switching me to other shows you want to promote, damnit.  I'm also annoyed (but pleased for the show) that we have SO many more commercials this year.

Edited by Umbelina
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I am all for SJ getting a beatdown, but I want it to be from June, Rita...hell, I'd take it from Aunt Lydia or even Eden. I want it to be from someone she's somehow "wronged" or put into a position of subordination.

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8 hours ago, rachel is awesome said:

I'm still not sure what was wrong with baby Angela/Charlotte. Was she experiencing failure to thrive from lack of touching/holding/loving? I can see Momma Putnam not being super maternal. 

Yes, I do think that baby Charlotte/Angela has been literally showing failure to thrive because she hasn't been touched or loved enough by Mrs. Putnam (who hasn't shown any signs of maternal attachment, just frustration with and distaste for the child). It's a genuine and tragic pediatric diagnosis - anybody else remember Harlow's monkeys and their wire vs. cloth-covered 'mothers'? https://harlows-monkey.com/home/why-harlows-monkey/

I'm not surprised that the baby responded to Jeanine/Ofwarren, but the transition from NICU to happy healthy baby overnight seemed a bit too magical. I guess it was all those pious prayers pouring out of Gilead.

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4 minutes ago, SillyOldClothCat said:

Yes, I do think that baby Charlotte/Angela has been literally showing failure to thrive because she hasn't been touched or loved enough by Mrs. Putnam (who hasn't shown any signs of maternal attachment, just frustration with and distaste for the child). It's a genuine and tragic pediatric diagnosis - anybody else remember Harlow's monkeys and their wire vs. cloth-covered 'mothers'? https://harlows-monkey.com/home/why-harlows-monkey/

I'm not surprised that the baby responded to Jeanine/Ofwarren, but the transition from NICU to happy healthy baby overnight seemed a bit too magical. I guess it was all those pious prayers pouring out of Gilead.

Harlow's Monkeys popped into my mind immediately (psych degree here).

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9 minutes ago, SillyOldClothCat said:

Yes, I do think that baby Charlotte/Angela has been literally showing failure to thrive because she hasn't been touched or loved enough by Mrs. Putnam (who hasn't shown any signs of maternal attachment, just frustration with and distaste for the child). It's a genuine and tragic pediatric diagnosis - anybody else remember Harlow's monkeys and their wire vs. cloth-covered 'mothers'? https://harlows-monkey.com/home/why-harlows-monkey/

I'm not surprised that the baby responded to Jeanine/Ofwarren, but the transition from NICU to happy healthy baby overnight seemed a bit too magical. I guess it was all those pious prayers pouring out of Gilead.

Yes! That's what I thought of too. I also thought of that orphanage where the caretakers weren't holding the babies, they were doing the bare minimum to keep them alive and the babies were dying. 

I do agree that the magical transformation overnight is unbelievable but I'm willing to let that one slide for the sake of being in a tv show. 

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(edited)

Oh, Serena...  I wanted to see her punished, but not by Fred, never by Fred, and not for that, I agree with you, @LittleRed84; he wanted to drive a wedge between June and Serena, and that's one of the reasons he did what he did. I didn't feel sorry for Serena but it wasn't satisfying either: I was too focused on hating Fred. I really thought things wouldn't go there. They all have dirt on each other and Serena and June could bluff that if they go down, he'll go down as well. But boy, was I mistaken. Now I'm just worried that Fred's death won't come soon enough. 

And well, tbh, I still don't feel sorry for Serena.  I feel sorry for the female doctor, for baby Angela, for Janine, June and the Handmaids. I'm sad for Serena, though. As I said in a previous thread,, that's why I can't dislike women who support patriarchy as much as I dislike men who do the same. At the end, most women like Serena end up learning that supporting patriarchy didn't save them from its horrors. Although I must admit that I hated her when we saw the female doctor, a brilliant woman reduced to a house elf because of Serena and her pals. 

Everything about baby Angela was beautiful and sad. The special ambulance for babies, Janine's plea... Warren and his wife shouldn't be allowed to keep the baby, they almost killed her. And I don't care if they didn't want her. If they are Commander and Wife is because they helped to create Gilead, so the least they could so is take good care of a baby they stole from her real mother. Omg, send them to the colonies, I can't even. 

Also, it's stupid to keep the handmaids "working" in the same zone, assignment after assignment. 

Aunt Lydia surprised me. She's such an hypocrite and so honest at the same time. I have no doubt that she was honestly worried about Janine and wanted to protect her from pain, but at the same time, she would be able to punish Janine in terrible ways. I need so much to know more things about her... Where do Aunts live? What was her life pre-Gilead? C'mon show! We know about June, the Waterfords, Nick, Emily, Moira.... But Lydia's still a mystery!

Edited by Helena Dax
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So most of us were thinking about Harlow's Monkeys yet the top baby specialist didn't? I get that her brain and spirit have been broken by peeling potatoes all day and witnessing the horrors around her but she ruled out everything else how did she not then say well there's nothing physically wrong with her and not think there may be failure to thrive due to neglect?

The scenes with her were for me the most heartbreaking in the series so far. The actress is incredible and I loved how the younger male doctor was Stanning hard.

Yvonne Strahovski is a genius. Her face completely changed in this episode, it opened up like a flower all dewy and sweet at times. 

Am very nervous about what Emily is going to do next. 

Could I hate Fred more? 

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HOLY SHIT! Just when I think it can't get even more emotionally draining....they up it a level. 

Seeing June want to comfort Serena (which is insane and how freaking stockholm is she now) and could be my wishful thinking but it seemed like Serena was using every fiber of her being to resist. 

 

Janine always being the bright spot in this show is what is saving me from having a damn breakdown. "Blessed be the fruit"... "May the force be with you?" giggling...I almost spit. How are the Guardians not freaking out over their conversations and ignoring and ripping away from them? The Handmaids getting chirpy over Janine showing her pregnancy off got them all yelled at and now they are all chatty Cathy's and no one is saying a word? Loved seeing the old spark back in Emily's eyes! 

I feel like Janine, besides being a tad nuts, is at the point of...what else can they do to me? Took an eye, took my baby and sent me to the colonies..fuck it, I'm going to do what I want.  Standing up to June was amazing and I think it helped snap June out of her compliance.  Could be nothing but Janine's guardian really stuck out to me...the way he looked back at June at the same time as Janine did? hmmm.  

The camera work on the beating was everything! I flinched and balled during the whole thing.  How dare you  make me feel for Serena. 

I need a damn  hug after this one. 

I'm going to go back and rewatch the preview for this but wasn't there a scene were Fred was closing a door, covering his mouth and crying? 

1 hour ago, Helena Dax said:

 

Aunt Lydia surprised me. She's such an hypocrite and so honest at the same time. I have no doubt that she was honestly worried about Janine and wanted to protect her from pain, but at the same time, she would be able to punish Janine in terrible ways. I need so much to know more things about her... Where do Aunts live? What was her life pre-Gilead? C'mon show! We know about June, the Waterfords, Nick, Emily, Moira.... But Lydia's still a mystery!

I so agree!!! I hate her then there are these moments where I get lost. Her face when talking to June about holding her responsible and June agreeing...I'm so confused! Everyone is out of their lane lol. Is it just women and their love of children that is changing everyone in this situation? 

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28 minutes ago, DiabLOL said:

So most of us were thinking about Harlow's Monkeys yet the top baby specialist didn't? I get that her brain and spirit have been broken by peeling potatoes all day and witnessing the horrors around her but she ruled out everything else how did she not then say well there's nothing physically wrong with her and not think there may be failure to thrive due to neglect?

She did tell Serena on her way out the door that they couldn't find any physical cause for the baby's decline.  She also advised unhooking Charlotte/Angela from the machines and "help her feel safe and warm. And pray."  I suppose that could be read as failure to thrive not occurring to her.  It also could be read that she's been imprisoned as a martha talking to an obviously high ranking wife and realizes telling her that another commander and wife are shitty parents neglecting the baby to death may have some blowback for her she doesn't want.

The neonatologist turned martha is another one of those characters I wish we could get to know more because the actress was tremendous in selling that loss of her identity in such short scenes, but since getting her required the transfer from somewhere? that set good old Commander Fred off, I'm guessing we won't see her around the neighborhood. 

I'll concur that it's stupid to keep handmaids "servicing" the same general area for exactly the reasons we saw in this episode.  These women have precious little to do but gossip about the smallest things they do know, so it was unrealistic for Lydia to think that the news about the baby wouldn't get back to Janine.  I'd chalk it up to the bombing-induced shortage of handmaids and you have to work with what you have except that we already know from the bridge incident last season where Janine was obviously reassigned close enough to go snatch the baby back that they apparently never considered it beyond their policy of not telling handmaids news of the children that had been stolen from them.

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I had to check and make sure I didn't miss an episode. They made quite a jump from the last scenes of Episode 7 to Serena and June working together as if it were the "new normal." They could have easily devoted an entire episode to their covert work... The flippant remarks that the handmaids were exchanging and the interactions between marthas-handmaids-wives without any men around also seemed out of continuity. We devoted most of an episode to Aunt Lydia breaking June from wanting to be called by her name, but she will casually call Janine by hers? (Did she always do that and I didn't notice?)

I'm imagining they were going for a reference to kangaroo care with Janine and her palliative effect on the baby...

Did anyone else get a sense of foreshadowing from the interaction between Eden and the Commander? Wondering if his disgust with the other women in the household is going to lead him to try something with her. She seems to fit his perfect, submissive womanly mold.

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I

16 minutes ago, DiabLOL said:

So most of us were thinking about Harlow's Monkeys yet the top baby specialist didn't? I get that her brain and spirit have been broken by peeling potatoes all day and witnessing the horrors around her but she ruled out everything else how did she not then say well there's nothing physically wrong with her and not think there may be failure to thrive due to neglect?

The scenes with her were for me the most heartbreaking in the series so far. The actress is incredible and I loved how the younger male doctor was Stanning hard.

Yvonne Strahovski is a genius. Her face completely changed in this episode, it opened up like a flower all dewy and sweet at times. 

Am very nervous about what Emily is going to do next. 

Could I hate Fred more? 

I don't blame the doctor. Gildead was built on the premise that babies were the most important thing in the world. I'm not surprised the doctor couldn't even imagine that after everything they've done, a Wife could despise a baby so much.

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(edited)
1 hour ago, LaChavalina said:

Did anyone else get a sense of foreshadowing from the interaction between Eden and the Commander? Wondering if his disgust with the other women in the household is going to lead him to try something with her. She seems to fit his perfect, submissive womanly mold.

Oh my goodness, I didn’t even think of this!?! That’s totally possible!

 It also makes me flashback to the season two trailer in which

Spoiler

two people are being weighted down/drown in the pool? I always thought the woman in that scene looked very tiny – too tiny to be Serena or June. I always thought it might be Eden... But the man with her? Nick... or Fred?  Please not Nick!!! (although it would not surprise me if he was willing to risk himself or sacrifice himself for June and the baby).

What do we think??

Edited by LittleRed84
Spoiler tag added
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(edited)
13 minutes ago, LittleRed84 said:

It also makes me flashback to the season two trailer in which

Spoiler

two people are being weighted down/drown in the pool? I always thought the woman in that scene looked very tiny – too tiny to be Serena or June. I always thought it might be Eden... But the man with her? Nick... or Fred?  Please not Nick!!! (although it would not surprise me if he was willing to risk himself or sacrifice himself for June and the baby).

 

What do we think??

I think that should be spoiler tagged, no? I purposely don't watch trailers or previews.

Edited by SDVegas
Added spoiler tag!!
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16 minutes ago, SDVegas said:

I think that should be spoiler tagged, no? I purposely don't watch trailers or previews.

I apologize.  I actually was reminded of it myself from someone else’s post in which they did not tag it as a spoiler. Same for his using a belt. I was told that was in the preview. I figured anything in a preview was fair game? Since it’s content directly from Hulu? But I went back and edited my post. 

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(edited)

Did anyone else find themselves kind of doing a double take whenever Janine was on screen, and asking yourself the question "OK, who is really the crazy one here?"  Janine wasn't really "crazy" at all.  She was making perfect sense, but, for me at least, it's almost as if I've also been so indoctrinated into that world at times, by watching the show, and caring about these women, that Janine's perfectly normal responses and words struck me much as they struck June (in some ways) as "bad, dangerous, nuts."

"May the force be with you" and the giggle is exactly how anyone not terrified might respond to the rote pseudo-religious things allowed to be said.  This happened a few times in this episode, and long before she held, cuddled, sang to, and loved that baby back into wanting to stay in this world, I found myself thinking, "she not nuts, she's just lost her fear, and is finding her own hope and joy where ever she can."  She's embodying and living with her own kind of faith and version of “Nolite te bastardes carborundorum.” 

Yes, her version of "crazy" could get her killed, but telling June "You are turning into one of THEM!" was true as well. 

Remember, the Putnam's?  Mr. Putnam told Janine he loved her, that he was going to get rid of his wife, and make a life with Janine and their baby.  She was forced to have a lot of forbidden sex with him, including the blow jobs.  Mrs. Putnam found out of course, as did everyone else, and she had her husband punished, which ended up with the other Commanders ruling that he should have his hand removed.  Now, in this fucked up world, the wife is forced to raise essentially, her husband, and his mistress's child.  I'm not defending that witch at all, but I do wonder if this was really a Gilead Handmaid-only baby, if she would hate it so much?  Maybe not.  Maybe she would, but knowing you must raise and supposedly love your husband's girlfriend's baby? 

Another interesting thing was in the store, at least about supplies and a bit more about the situation in devastated and embargoed Gilead.  Store intercom:  "Blessed day. We have citrus.  This is the last week of the wheat bread for this season..."  I couldn't catch the rest.  So yeah, their supplies are quite limited.  That store was less shiny and bright and full than last season's as well.

Edited by Umbelina
typo
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Call me crazy, but I don't think Serena's actions of late have been out of the blue or our of character. I saw small moments of it in S1. The only difference is that S1 her positive/negative actions were probably 10/90 and now it's up to 30/70 give or take (my numbers are in no way scientific or probably accurate)....I think it'd be interesting if the trend continues and she eventually (not right away, maybe seasons down the road) leads the resistance. Or at least joins. 

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1 hour ago, I-Kare said:

Call me crazy, but I don't think Serena's actions of late have been out of the blue or our of character. I saw small moments of it in S1. The only difference is that S1 her positive/negative actions were probably 10/90 and now it's up to 30/70 give or take (my numbers are in no way scientific or probably accurate)....I think it'd be interesting if the trend continues and she eventually (not right away, maybe seasons down the road) leads the resistance. Or at least joins. 

Who knows? She’s headed towards some sort of either revelations or breakdown of some kind. I can’t wait to see her in Canada when she gets a taste of how woman are treated in the normal world again.

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(edited)
14 hours ago, ElectricBoogaloo said:

When Serena told June that she wouldn't forget her help, I found myself wondering if that was a promise or a threat. But then the music box showed up so Serena was being sincere and nice, which made me dread the inevitable shoe dropping for the rest of the episode. Later I was shocked when Serena asked June's opinion about baby Angela.

June, on the other hand, has gotten comfortable and careless. 

Yup, I said to DS that not forgetting was a double edged sword, and also used the same “waiting for the shoe to drop” phrase. And I agree about June being careless. I expected the guards to smack her in the face with their guns every time she said “she’s fine” and “I’ve got her,” mainly bc of her attitude.

One thing I miss from the book is how they talk about the words they used “before,” like even just “hello.” In the show, there is obviously “before” in terms of laws and lifestyle, etc. but aside from adding the “blessed be the fruit” etc. phrases, they still all talk the same. 

Edited by Eureka
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I’m guessing the writers have used June’s pregnancy as a useful device for the character to get away with some of the minor infractions the guards seem to ignore.  A pregnant handmaid is a precious commodity, even ones kept chained up in a solitary room.  Aunt Lydia was very frank about what will happen if she continues to act as June and not Offred once the baby is born.  

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6 hours ago, nodorothyparker said:

She did tell Serena on her way out the door that they couldn't find any physical cause for the baby's decline.  She also advised unhooking Charlotte/Angela from the machines and "help her feel safe and warm. And pray."  I suppose that could be read as failure to thrive not occurring to her.  It also could be read that she's been imprisoned as a martha talking to an obviously high ranking wife and realizes telling her that another commander and wife are shitty parents neglecting the baby to death may have some blowback for her she doesn't want.

This. I think she knew full well that it was FTT, which is why she said that. & she didn’t dare accuse a commander & wife of neglect. 

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