The Handmaid's Tale 5x8

[silverstarry]

Mother to mother. Will June and Serena finally see eye to eye? #TheHandmaidsTale pic.twitter.com/guRsSohOpM
- The Handmaid's Tale (@HandmaidsOnHulu) October 25, 2022

5x8: Motherland
June considers a tempting but risky offer from a surprise visitor. Serena hits rock bottom and searches for allies.

sourceSerena with surprised Pikachu face last

Comments

[ishi_chan]

I feel guilty about it but I'm kinda rooting for Serena. I can't help it lol. I blame Yvonne strahovaki.

I really felt for June when she talked about abandoning Hannah but girl... Pls consider your other daughter and do not take her back to Gilead FFS. I mean just look at the fucking pure stupidity of Serena thinking she could just go back (when instead she could have pulled a Karla Homolka and accepted asylum in Canada and probs have that sweet suburban life with Tuello to warm her bed).

Also that last scene was ominous af esp since Tuello saying there was going to be a military operation made me think Hannah was gonna end up like Prim from the Hunger Games.

[silverstarry]

I get her guilt about leaving Gilead without being able to get Hannah out BUT I think she needs to realize Nichole needs safety and protection too. Taking her to New Bethlehem puts Nichole at risk.

Who’s to say that Gilead will keep their word and let June live there peacefully? NB is Lawrence’s thing. What if he’s murdered, overthrown, overruled, or just dies naturally? Will all the men in Gilead who are totally fine with raping and abusing handmaids, forbidding their wives to read, and generally being sexist control freaks continue to let people in NB do their own thing if Lawrence isn’t there to talk them into it? Or will they decide at some point to take back former handmaids like June and their kids like Nichole? I don’t trust any of the commanders to give up the power they wield, especially the ones who are true believers and feel justified/morally superior that they are right and everyone else in the world is wrong.

[la_loony]

I'm with you, I don't want the Wheelers to win. Don't necessarily want Serena to just sail into the sunset with her son either, but June did so well breaking the cycle would be nice to see Serena continue that.

I felt the same about the last scene, the happiness in the house felt too cheerful and bright for this show to last and end in something actually happy.

[laurondo]

I have such conflicting feelings regarding Serena. On one hand I'm like HA HOW DO YOU LIKE IT and the other part of me is pissed it's also happening to her.

[little_vienna]

Reading vague BTS spoilers for episodes 9-10 has me reaaaal nervous. Apparently [Spoiler (click to open)]there is a "bloodbath." I can only imagine what goes horribly wrong.

[little_vienna]

Also loved what we got of Lawrence in this. It's nice to get, presumably, something closer to his true thoughts (his usage of "religious nutjobs" to achieve his social & economic goals) instead of the vague passive stuff we normally do.

[silverstarry]

Even after his talk with June, a small part of me still questioned if it was all an act he put on just to convince her to do what he wanted. I don’t think I can ever 100% trust him.

[little_vienna]

I don't think he can be 100% trusted, but I do feel like we got a glimpse of the real him for once. Particularly in the last conversation with June, when he finally dropped his demeanor for once.

[ritaamber]

I love that picture with the leopard comment. It reminds me of the woman who voted for trump and kept talking about law and order and the border. when they caught on that her husband was undocumented and he was deported she was screaming that trump said he would get rid of the bad ones and the gangs and her husband was a good one. I think of that dumb bitch often.

[emerald_soul]

June telling Serena that she's a better Christian was amazing lmao

[beesknees7]

Serena getting roasted by June and Lawrence was hilarious. His delivery of "Do you have an irony deficiency" was gold.

[silverstarry]

“I’ve been grooming Nick - not sexually.”

[poisonapple73]

This show is a mess but the best thing they've done in awhile is this plotline with Serena. I was dreading 2 seasons of her glaring at June in slow motion. This role reversal is interesting, keeps her much more dynamic.

I end up laughing at her predicament a lot, and then feeling terrible for laughing at what is a miserable, unacceptable situation (probably even for Serena). It's some of their best writing in a long time and Yvonne is killing it.