The Handmaid's Tale 5x08 "Motherland" Promo & Inside 5x07 "No Mans Land"

[la_loony]

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June considers a tempting but risky offer from a surprise visitor. Serena hits rock bottom and searches for allies.

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This was a good episode, they really had me on an emotional ride for Serena here and I liked the growth moment for June and countering it with Lukes actions (which are cold but understandable

Comments

[little_vienna]

This was my favorite episode in awhile, because I think they let the characters and the acting feel natural and ugly and raw.

Something I thought was really interesting was in the flashbacks, June and Serena's actresses in particular feel like they did in the earlier seasons. There was a sort of quiet vulnerability to both of them, without the bitterness and anger that came from the later events. It was neat to see that both actresses could slip back into that place.

"That is God's will. Do you understand?" was such a beautiful moment.

I hope, boyyy do I hope, that they actually let June and Serena keep this development instead of slipping back for what... the 4th time? Their relationship is so complex and terrible and fascinating, let it be that again, instead of just smirking faces.

[little_vienna]

Also someone on reddit noted that Luke's actions are related to him being "in stasis all these years" and I definitely agree. He doesn't have the complex history with Serena or with Gilead that June has. All he has is the anger and helplessness and terror he felt for years, with bare trickles of information now and then to confirm that June's alive and not much else

[svexsal]

I really hope they keep this going as well. The writers seem to have an excellent handle on June and Serena's trauma bond and their cycle progression.
June couldn't let go of her abuser, neither driving away from the barn nor killing Serena in the street and Serena couldn't shoot June as she was praying. It's very rare that you see the trauma bond written so accurately in popular media. June decides to end the cycle by keeping mom and baby together.
And then Luke fucking destroys the progress he doesn't know is made by getting immigration involved.
He won't understand why it was more important for June to come to an understanding with Serena than it was to punish her. Or he probably could've, but now it's too late.

[l_a_r_m]

Given how the season closed out, this comment is really hilarious now.

[little_vienna]

You're not wrong!