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The Handmaid's Tale
Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2018 3:30 pm
by dlbpharmd
We've just started this series.
I've never read the source book, but I'd heard enough about the show over the past year to suss out the premise.
I've watched through episode 8 of Season One. I've found it be very dark and disturbing.
I've not been a fan of Elizabeth Moss. I disliked her character in Mad Men and thought her acting was very dull. But I have to say, I've been very impressed by her so far in THT.
I'll post more as I go, just wondering if anyone else is watching.
Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2018 3:49 pm
by Cail
I watched the first season, haven't bothered with the second.
The book is.....okay. The central conceit is just a bit too fantastical, though it's fleshed-out better than in the series. It's the only Atwood I've read, and it was so, "meh" that I never picked up anything else she wrote.
The Duvall film does a good job with the source material, but it's carried by its exceptional cast.
The series is beautifully shot. Seriously, it looks fantastic. The acting is pretty well-done as well, and the writing is relatively gripping. But....
The conceit of the show....That this happened over the course of 4 or 5 years.....Is utterly ridiculous. Granted, I find very dark irony/humor that it's Boston and New England where the show occurs (because of course it's Boston), but that's about it.
The reality is that religious affiliation is dropping rapidly, recognition of and practicing of equality for women is increasing exponentially, and with modern communication, this crap wouldn't stand for a second. The show's basically saying that in a few short years, New England becomes The Caliphate. That's ridiculous.
Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2018 9:41 am
by Skyweir
I love it .. the books and the series are both really good. But as everything its horses for courses
I agree it is well shot, the acting is good and it is dark and quite seriously twisted.
I think its fun .. in an odd way .. I agree in reality religious affiliation is losing ground and broad appeal .. but I think tis similar in this dystopian reality as well .. the backlash in the form of the Sons of Jacob movement and the eventual formation of Gilead, or the Republic of Gilead.
But Cail is right .. Gilead is a little unlikely given the militant power of an insurgence of this kind... and somehow they get sufficiently organised to take down the POTUS and most of congress. Not really a believable or likely successful conspiracy.
But I am ok to set that aside, as the story is good, and compelling. Atwood focuses on the impact of her religious patriarchy on women, including her handmaids. I think its quite clever, and the story is sufficiently intriguing to keep my interest.
Weve just watched the most recent season and still good.
Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2018 9:13 pm
by Icarus Unfallen
How do I contemplate the prospect of this sort of theocracy becoming real?
Pence-ively...
Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2018 10:37 pm
by Cail
Icarus Unfallen wrote:How do I contemplate the prospect of this sort of theocracy becoming real?
It is real....In several Middle Eastern countries.
Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2018 12:28 am
by Skyweir
Icarus Unfallen wrote:How do I contemplate the prospect of this sort of theocracy becoming real?
Pence-ively...
And aint that a scary thought
"pence ively"
Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2018 4:32 am
by Savor Dam
Paraphrasing the rabbi from Fiddler on the roof, May G-d bless and keep the theocrats...far away from us!
Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2018 5:22 am
by Skyweir
Amen to that
Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2018 2:55 am
by Sorus
I watched the first season - second wasn't available on iTunes, though I just checked and it is now. Will be curious to see where it goes, as the first season ended more or less where the book ended.
Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2018 4:40 am
by Avatar
Yeah, 2nd season departs from the book entirely (obviously). The GF enjoyed it IIRC.
--A
Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2018 6:02 pm
by dlbpharmd
We've watched through Season 2.
I had been warned by several people of "torture-porn" style events but, as a fan of SRD, I didn't see anything that really put me off.
We enjoyed the second season, until a couple of twists bordered on jump the shark type moments.
We'll be glad to pick this up again next season.
Posted: Tue Sep 11, 2018 11:52 am
by Skyweir
Yay glad you like it dlbpharmd
Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2018 5:27 pm
by dlbpharmd
Some thoughts now that I've had time to dwell a bit on them:
1. For Season 1 through about half of Season 2, it seemed the villain was Serena, then somewhere in Season 2, there was an effort to make us sympathize with her more. I found that odd. So, then through the end of Season 2, and a) she participates in June's rape, and b) has a finger cut off for reading - are we still supposed to feel sorry for her? How could June feel any connection with her, as evidenced by putting her escape and all of the Marthas in jeopardy by letting Serena hold the baby one last time?
2. On the other hand, Fred seemed to be so weak - just a wimpy guy, almost as if he had been caught up in the revolution as an unwilling participant.
3. But then, again about halfway though Season 2, it became clear that Fred is the big bad. And when he whipped Serena - well, make believe or not, I was furious.
4. I couldn't help but laugh when we were supposed to believe that June survived the hemorrhaging and childbirth. Come on!
5. I also couldn't believe that she sent her baby away and then turned from her escape. She was all too willing to escape back at the beginning of Season 2.
6. So, what's the direction of Season 3? I predict that June will become the leader of Mayday. I have to admit I would be intrigued by that plot line.
Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2018 8:18 pm
by Cail
Finally finished Season 2. Just when you think that the show can't get any dumber, it says, "hold my chardonnay and watch this!"
Don's spot-on with his spoilered questions....They're maddening. I laughed out loud at the ridiculous final episode. The show's trying too hard to be woke, and it just comes off as silly and patronizing.
Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2022 10:54 pm
by Fist and Faith
Today's episode had a great line: Do you have an irony deficiency?
Holy cow, talk about the perfect line for the situation!
Posted: Wed Nov 09, 2022 11:37 pm
by Fist and Faith
Well now, I did not see that ending coming. Which is funny, because the whole episode I'm wondering, and then didn't see that coming. Shame on me. But anyway, holy cow.
Dlb,[spoiler]No, there is no feeling sorry for Serena. Anything that ever happens to her she has coming. Not only for what she did to June, but for her rather large role in the creation of Gilead. If everything had gone her way, she would still be there, living the life, raping handmaidens. Just because bad things happen to her that we wouldn't want to happen to a good person, and just because the people doing bad things to her are also evil, doesn't make her sympathetic. You can't punish her enough, and she's getting plenty of punishment. [/spoiler]
The Handmaid's Tale
Posted: Tue Mar 21, 2023 2:35 am
by Skyweir
So now reflecting on Season 5 ~ June has become something quite extraordinary and not all in a good way. Parts of this and previous seasons I’d thought she’d entirely lost the plot.
The ending leaves open ended questions unanswered. So hopefully there’s a season 6.
