They plucked her eye out because she exhibited rebellious behavior. They tried to stone her to death because of her obvious rebellious behavior. They sent her to the Colonies because of her obvious rebellious behavior. She got punched in the face for her obvious rebellious behavior. True, she does seems to receive the…

They’re not brilliant people. In fact, they’re idiots. The idiots are trying to run a government, and failing miserably.

It was a wonderful bit and a stern reminder that Gilead is not America. They may occupy the land, but Gilead is not America. I look at our Bill of Rights to remind me of what an incredible Country it is.

What about all the true-believer handmaids who drank the Gilead kool-aid? Is it rape to them, or do they believe they’re truly doing God’s work? Is it still rape?

You’d assume when Gilead is finally put down, they’d all be lined up in the basement of the Boston Globe and shot. Should it be that way? Depends on your estimation of justice and what it can bring. Perhaps all the men of Gilead should be castrated and raped. Perhaps all the women of Gilead should be mutilated and…

It’s funny to me the American dude read her like a book, trying to convince her to flee, because she is amenable. She can be coerced.

Why would the Canadians give her a schedule with no words on it? Were they informed beforehand - “Oh, by the way, in our storied, historic five-year run, we have a proud tradition of forbidding women to read, so pictures only, if you please?” If they were informed, wouldn’t they have a couple of questions? The refugee…

If the writers were honest about the situation, Serena would’ve escaped and would be sitting on a beach right now. That’s reality, however much it stings. True justice doesn’t exist in the real world, nor should it in this highly-manufactured world.

The more I watch the show, the more I get the feeling that Gilead isn’t a government, but a group of people who want babies and don’t care how they get them. If you took away the ideology (and whatever agency they possess), this could be a routine abduction narrative. There’s too much going on (too many secrets and…

This was a better episode, for the “abundance” of logic in the story. There were some problems (for me). Canada would’ve had to know at least a smidge of the atrocity going on in Gilead. I don’t see how the letters would put it over the top and then cause the Government to cease any diplomatic dealings with Gilead.…

Props to the writer not using the term, “mansplaining.”

Well put, but I also think that cults tell you what you want to hear. They promise the gates of Heaven, so to speak. They don’t promise oppression and subjugation, monthly rape sessions and public executions, nor the death of freedom and personal liberties. Combining that with an inexplicably powerful fascist…

It suits the story. I’m sure, statistically, you’ll find the privileged few (not wealthy - this society isn’t about wealth, it’s completely Socialist) who can reproduce, but it’s better for the story (some form of reparation for “historical injustice”) that the privileged cannot conceive.

My problem is Atwood thinks you can put all of these people (with identical beliefs and interpretations) under one enormous roof and overthrow our Government. I agree you can mine fruitful interpretation from any source, whether it’s the Bible or a box of Cheerios, but you’re never going to see eye-to-eye with another…

I think he’s perfect. He’s an over-educated neurotic who doesn’t understand effective governance. He presents the personality of a person who never thought in his wildest dreams he could pull off this Gilead thing.

Agreed, but spanking sort of fits in more with treating women like unruly children. It was a horse-whipping. My point remains. Fred should be horse-whipped.

There are plenty of abandoned dumpster babies who’ve thrived in addition to all the forsaken and ignored children out there. Children thrive regardless of circumstance. That is a child’s particular strength. They thrive. A doctor would never utter those words. It was a cheap set-up to the “Tinker Bell” ending.

I couldn’t disagree more.

Because it’s obvious there are no medical advisers or technical consultants worth their salt on staff. This is akin to clapping your hands to make Tinker Bell come alive.

Spanking! For crying out loud. Spanking. Incidentally, Fred-O blamed himself so shouldn’t he be the person getting spanked?