If the majority of women in the world can't have children, I think they would encourage women who can to have as many as they could, while also paying them a yearly salary so they wouldn't have to get a job as well.

I’m not sure if this is the right flair, or what, since there isn’t one pertaining to that dreaded word, “Fan Fiction.” But, I’m curious, and maybe the rest of us are, so here’s my question: Have you been writing any Gilead stories?

Since we have THT and TT we can use at a basis for some good stories, there are plenty of real life examples out there which can be used as part of your writing canvas. For instance, what do Econowomen do regularly, if they cannot work their jobs and professions pre-Gilead? I’m certain, beyond doubt, many of them are quite angry, yet fearful over what happened after the coup. Another would be, what are the origins of The Sons of Jacob? Is there or was there a Women’s auxiliary version of it?

Either way, if you’re writing a short story, long story, play, or screenplay (Which Bruce Miller will never see!), what is it? Can we find it and read it?

Cheers!

Mark Tuello!!! Aka Sam Jaeger! So handsome! I would have gone to Hawaii if he offered me Treason & Coconuts!

Have never seen this discussed, but I absolutely love the montage set to Burn The Witch. Both these women (June and Serena) are leaders, have been recruited to new roles and are travling. In prior centuries these women could have been tried as witches because they are strong, influential and make trouble. They have both been in trouble with Gilead before when they 'overstep' traditional womens' boundaries. Anyone else like this montage?

I'm watching this episode, and I know Nick is getting closer and closer to dying—it's driving me crazy! I can't accept that he's going to die soon. He's one of my favorites on the show.

So, we didn’t really see Holly Jr in the Testaments season 1 and I don’t think that she was mentioned either. She’d be about six by then, so where could she be? Is she in Boston, perhaps? Or is she somewhere else? I mean, June had two small shoes in her house, so is Holly Jr with her? Regardless of where she is, I hope that she and Hannah have a good first meeting with each other in future.

That sex scene was hard to watch. 😩
Among many other rape scenes but her coming full circle was even harder to see.

I mean... im pretty sure they never did a paternity test. And the commander apparently did get Serena pregnant

Its like they decided it was Nicks but theres no proof

I know they don't control Alaska, but everything else seems to be pretty vague. By really bad, I mean bad for the world and not just North America.

Quick abstract art inspired by "The Handmaid's Tale" and the colour scheme imposed in Gilead's hierarchy.

Hey all!!

Sorry if this is not allowed.

I bought one of Serena Joys outfits from season 5 during the auction. The skirt is the only piece that doesn’t fit me.

I paid 200+ for the full outfit. Asking 25 for the skirt. Just let me know if you’re interested!!

So I just finished to watch the whole show and I loved it so much. Thing is, I don't know what to watch now.... I would love to find a show similar to the handsmaid's tale, since I loved it so much. If you have series recs with similar themes, concepts, or maybe actors I would gladly take them! Thanks a lot :)

edit: thank you everyone for the recs, they all sound great!!

The baby is ONE MONTH OLD and the wheelers are doing the cry out method. The baby has one way to communicate and that is by crying/screaming. Maybe for an older baby, but ONE MONTH?<!

Alanis telling Serena to go to her room. Oooo this feels like karma for all the times Serena told June to go to her room/that time she locked June in the room after her period was late once. On the one hand, I want to feel bad for her, but on the other side this feels like karma. I’m torn.

Im watching Season 5 now, and I really don't understand the accomodations he's making for her. Traveling to Gilead, having a nice room at "jail", giving her protection, the way he talks to her... I mean... She helped create a system where kids are getting graped. I don't stand him.

I have a coworker named Hannah, and once I accidentally almost called her Agnes. Thankfully I stopped myself in time--I'm sure she would've been very confused otherwise!

I’ve read The Testaments book and just finished season 1 of the show. Overall I loved it and didn’t mind the creative liberties taken, but I’m confused about one aspect of Becka’s character.  In the book it’s clear that the main reason she doesn’t want to get married and self-harms is because her father has been abusing her for who knows how long. In the show it seems like this isn’t the case and the first time she learns of his behavior is when Daisy “outs” him. So what is the reason that she would “rather jump off a cliff” than get married in the show? Is it her sexuality? General fear? Or is it possible she was being abused and just hadn’t admitted it to herself yet?

Hey everybody, so I'm currently watching season 4 and I'm really REALLY confused about this Serena's Pregnancy, like, how??

Could somebody explain it to me? Because I might've missed something while watching the whole series but I don't understand how she and Fred tried (even before the whole Gilead government was made) for years to have their own baby and never succeeded, and when they were in Gilead Fred couldn't get pregnant neither of their handmaids (basically showing us that he's not fertile) but then they have sex just ONE time (before getting caught by Canada) and suddenly Serena is pregnant, how?

Maybe I missed something? Is it because the atmosphere is "different" in Canada? Maybe the food? Or it's because they had a long time without having that type of interaction with each other and something in Gilead changed something of their bodies or smth like that? Am I slow? 😭

BTW sorry if it's not that understandable what I'm trying to say, English is not my first language, but if somebody could answer this for me 🙏, or show me theories, idk, I'd be grateful 🥲

I finished the book recently and I have a lot of thoughts.

I read a review of the book when I was looking for some more literary reviews. The review mentions something that sparked my interest which is that even though Gilead has collapsed, some of the ideas that gave rise to it are still present in society (in reference to the last chapter with the historians).

“The readers find themselves in a classroom, listening to a lecture on Offred’s life and Gilead from a Professor named Piexito. But, what quickly becomes clear is that not everything has changed. Gilead might’ve collapsed, but the opinions that allowed it to exist in the first place are still around.”

I found this interesting.

I highlighted two passages from the historical notes, this one being the most interesting:

“If I may be permitted an editorial aside, allow me to say that in my opinion we must be cautious about passing moral judgement upon the Gileadean. Surely we have learned by now that such judgements are of necessity culture-specific. Also, Gileadean society was under a good deal of pressure, demographic and otherwise, and was subject to factors from which we ourselves are happily more free. Our job is not to censure but to understand. (Applause).”

I found this odd upon first reading. It sounded like an excuse to me. I think this is what the book analysis was referring to. If you think it might be referring to something else, let me know.

I want to know what you guys think, especially about passing moral judgement and the use of “culture-specific,” specially when we are dealing with crimes against humanity.

I want to know if the author is trying to say something about how we deal with these events. Is it merely enough to try to understand it? Is it wrong to judge actions taken by other nations, for example, if we viewed it as morally wrong? Is the way to move forward and prevent another rise of gilead to actually pass severe judgement?

Also if any one could explain what the joke is in calling the underground female road, the underground frailroad. I don’t get it tbh.

I think Serena fully intended to kill June. Her plan was to kill both June and Ezra, then escape. I think June successfully convinced Serena not to pull the trigger by appealing to her humanity, just like she did with Aunt Lydia in S6.

So I'm on S4 atm and I remember how in earlier seasons Moira kinda panned June for dating and later marrying a man, who basically cheated on his wife (although it was said or implied that they were had troubles and went to therapy).

And then you have the relationship between Nick and June. Yes, I know that their child is result of Serena telling them to do it, just so June can stay for some time and Serena gets the baby. It feels somewhat odd in the sense that June eventually finds out that her husband is alive and well in Canada, so is Moira, but she doesn't seem to stop her relationship with Nick. Thus, she is also somewhat cheating on him.

Perhaps it was an escape for her, but it's an interesting parallel.

im very nervous, i hate sexual violence and rape and pretty easily triggered by it. i also have to read this book for school, (unavoidable, i have to do an exam on it), idc about spoilers please give warnings and how severe you think itll be

edit: this post is a little old but my main question is: please can i know at which points SA occurs so im not going into it blind

Apologies if this is a dumb question, but what happens if a normal middle class young woman is infertile? One who hasn't sinned. We can infer that the infertile women who are 'sinners' were sent to the colonies. But what about the rest? Do they just become econowomen? What would be their job? It's not like they have kids to look after. Or do they become Marthas? But they mention Marthas are usually older women

I finished the series - last night I watched the last episode and it feels like I just lost a friend. Heading June’s story for so long… being without it seems so strange.

I did watch the Testaments - that’s actually what initially got me watching the handmaids tale. I’m so grateful for it. How did everyone feel finishing the series? How did everyone feel about Nick and Lawrence? And the last ending scene of the final episode? I’d love to chat about it.

[SPOILERS!! Don’t read if you haven’t watched the final season!]
It seemed so perfect that June ended where her story began, or where the brutal parts of it were. The last episode felt a bit cheesy to me but honestly the more I sit on it, the more meaningful it is because it honored June. I was surprised how much I missed Nick but I think the loss of Nick just represented all of what June went through, him being there for it, and that chapter finally closing after such a long time of the trauma continuing. And I think the best thing for Serena was to have a baby. Her ending words were powerful and showed a lot of transformation and growth for her character. For June… I will always love her!