Women's World
Related: About this forumAnyone want to watch S6 of The Handmaid's Tale w me?
Don't Forget 🚨 spoiler spaces! 👍
I just spent ?4 days or 4 1/2 days rewatching (binging) all 5 season's of THT. Just finished S5/E10!
Silly me for thinking in old TV schedule terms - thinking I'd have to wait till ?9PM tonight (Tues) to see the 3 new episodes. Then I thot - it's Tues- now.
And yes new eps!
I'm going at least leave the 3rd one for later at night.
I'm excited! And steeled for terrible stuff, but go, Team June & friends!
[I read it once it came out in paperback back in the 1980's. Still to read The Testiments]

sinkingfeeling
(55,287 posts)electric_blue68
(21,593 posts)major surprises
🚨Spoiler Zone🚨
.
.
.
.
.
.
One reviewer said "you know June was going to throw Serena off the train" (Well, I didn't) "bit the surprise was it was to save her life.".
The second was, and soooo unexpected, and wonderful was at the welcome area in Alaska. There were cars to pick up arrivals and take them to this place. Everyone got sent to medical first.
It turns out the doctor was Holly, June's mom!
The third (actually second) as June left the little "stop" where the car left her just before someone got close to greet her - was her looking up at the US flag which: while having the red & white stripes, and the field of dark blue...
had only 2 stars! Jarring!
They would stand for Alaska, and Hawaii.
One more... I might have been a bit slow on this...but Nick, and Mr Tuello meet up to share info
Tuello says to Moira in regards to getting Luke out that they (The US) can't do much bc their army has been depleted. Mayday is mentioned, and Mark tells Moira they work w them bc they have so few allies left. Moira,wants to help.
electric_blue68
(21,593 posts)A mostly quiet episode with set ups for extra bunch
🚨Spoiler Space🚨
.
.
.
.
.
.
June & Nicole settle in with her mom. They trade stories of what happened to each other. She's able to call Luke, and talk w him, Moira & Rita.
Serena stays with this faith community that takes her in.
Some High Commander (Wharton) from DC Rose's Dad (who's Nick's wife) stays with Nick who's now living in New Bethelem. Meanwhile Lawrence s setting up New Bethelem on an Island; a kinder, gentler Gilead where women can read, write, and do business; but are still in submission to their husbands. Though whom ever said they don't trust it - what happens after Com Lawrence dies, do they get all Putnam types, again.
Mrs Putnam gets married to Com Lawrence.
DC Com says to Lawrence they have get Serena back so she can be the face of New Bethlehem.
June (everyone gets a once-a-week phone to call whomever) suddenly can't get through to Luke. Finds out he and Moira have been captured. June will leave Nichole w her mom to go rescue Luke & Moira.
Lawrence & Mrs Lawrence visit Serena, and convince her to return to New Bethlehem threatening that the extremely restrictive Wheelers will otherwise find her at some point, since The Eyes know where she is .
June meets Tuello at a semi abandoned
big house where Gilead resistors are.
electric_blue68
(21,593 posts)Last edited Tue Apr 15, 2025, 03:23 AM - Edit history (1)
June heads off to Gilead (US flys her back the Boston area) to help rescue Moira & Luke.
Serena becomes the poster girl for New Bethlehem. While holding her son she meets with other countries ambassadors.
Aunt Lydia is horrified to find Janine and 3 other of her former HTs at Jezebels. Aunt Lydia tries persuade Mrs (former Putman) Lawrence to take Janine back in, but refuses.
June, and Nick rescue Moira and Luke. Problem arise when Nick has to kill 2 Guardians who show up before they escape the abandoned amusement patk.
They do get out.
At the end we find out one of the guardians is not dead, and nay come out of a coma.
electric_blue68
(21,593 posts)Relatively Quiet but lots of set up.
(Yawn sleepy) might be shorter, or mix up in chronology.
🚨Spoiler alert
.
.
.
.
.
.
Luke is planning w others to deliver bombs.
Mark Tuello arrives to tell Luke, June that charges were dropped after Luke severely injured the guy who rammed June, then ran over her arm; and guy later died. Luke was waiting on a hearing 2 months ftom then. Luke traded Intel, Nick helped, and defense argument accepted.
MT's going to arrange a flight to Alaska. Luke wants to stay until he can deliver the bombs.
Rita arrives in New Bethlehem and meets w Serina. They're waiting for Rita's sister which is why Rita went there. Sister arrives, wonderful, tearful reunion. From quick conversation; apologizing they might have tried to escape before/as things got crazy bc they both mentioned trying to find each other. Her sis mentioned she heard she was a Martha. Just grateful each is alive!
Big meeting, led by Ellen. They're planning to scope out Jezabel 's penthouse. June thinks they don't know enough. "Going in guns blazing? What about poison? Food is now taste tested. June asks about the women there. Almost implied not that big a concern, but June counters "they're people.". So something about warning them on the dry run. Mention then and later things can be un predictable. To Ellen later what if Moira panics, she'll be dead. Ellen asks what about you? June replies I can take care of herself.
June finds out Moira's going into Jeezabel's to do the dry run. Confronts her later, not to go. You don't know what it's (having not been there in good while), plus June's been there a lot of times. Go in Moira's stead. They (she & Moira) just reunited) Moira refuses, saying she grateful she was saved, but she can't live June's life anymore.
Lawrence gets a drawing from Mrs Putnam's "daughter" Agnes (Janine's daughter- Charlotte). Delighted, then MrsPurnam showe up and scoots her away. At some point Kawrence reads "Little Princess" to her, saying someday you'll read it yourself.
While looking at print out outs of the
Jezabel women to June and Moira's horror Jamine's print out shows up.
Rita meets Nick. Look at you! He was a kid when she first met him; now he's a Commander. She wants him to get her whole family out. Might take a year+. Nick will there to keep NB on the right (relatively) track.
Ceremony w Comnanders: Lawrence is promoted to a High Commander. They go off to celebrate at Jezebels.
Some extra scummy commander is "here kitty, kitty" to Jainine. She walks over. "Next time you crawl on all fours yo me when I call you.". Laughter.
Then he "gives" Janine to Lawrence as a reward for his promotion.
Up in a suite: Lawrence "I'm not going to do anything to you". Gives Janine the draeing Agnes/Charlotte made. Janine has a smoke. "What's going to happen to my daughter." Lawrence promises he'll do his best to protect her.
June meets up w Luke and Moira. They argue. She found out Ellen switched June for Moira's dry run after June spoke to get. "You wrnt behind my back!". . June- You don't know what it's like. You lied to me about working w these people.
(Not sure all Mayday, got impression Mayday was better planned, skills etc idk. )
June- I know better. Luke wants to deliver the bombs he did the strategic planning on. His way of fighting for Hannah. You want to fight too he says to her.
She keeps arguing w Moira. Moira's like, "You think so little of us.
June wants to protect them.
Moira walks away disgusted. "Don't follow me!".
[I sure hope nothing happens to Moira before they reconcile!]
Rainy night at the big mansion, old hotel?
Luke & June. She talked about thinking she was wad sometimes getting closer rescuing Hanbah, then not. How it hurt. Maybe she was trying progect Luke. When we lost Hannah we became a broken family .
electric_blue68
(21,593 posts)omg
🚨Spoiler alert
electric_blue68
(21,593 posts)Last edited Tue May 20, 2025, 04:55 AM - Edit history (2)
Didn't get around to posting, gets tiring.
What do I remember. 🚨 Spoiler space
.
.
.
.
Wharton visits NB, Rose and Nick. Serena is around NB. Meets up w Wharton somewhere in there. At some point late in one ep they dance together at night in the street after he "apologizes" for "coveting" her. Aunt Lydia sees them, is that a problem I don't remember.
Mayday keeps planning.
Ep 5? forgot.... Janine shows Lawrence a sneak hole behind a picture to see which ever commander going to "visit" them. Lawrence looks and sees X Comnaders maybe Bell wants to put him on The Wall. At least one other directly concurs.
Early in ep ?7 Lydia, and Serena are talking.
Lydia wants "her girls" protected. Serena seems indifferent. Lydia gets annoyed. They preformed a "sacred duty". Serena says they can work at NB fertility center. Lydia isn't happy.
June and Moira dressed as Martha's driven by Luke and ?Ellen to Jezabels he's posing as a driver.
J & M sneak upstairs to the fancy room for the commanders. They run into Janine ?before then. Big hug June and Janine. I might be mixing the timing up. Tell her Mayday is going to bomb the place to kill comnanders, she has get her girls ready to get out in a week.
Someone gives them letters from the Jzb women to get out. And Janine gives them a paper w the route out.
A guard catches them up there. He takes the letters, and paper puts them in a safe
Throws Moria on the bed tries to rape her ,(June next) M fights him off some help from J. M manages to get an old telephone cord around him to strangle him. J gives him some extra swift kicks just in case.
They get to the door where the truck is beyond it. Luke gets caught (?sort of gives a weak reason he's still there) What ?happened to E.
They go down t the garage. J sees L getting into his car. She jumps in front. He's annoyed but J & M get to hide in the trunk. End of Ep.
electric_blue68
(21,593 posts)🚨 Spoiler Space
.
.
.
.
.
.
NEXT
J & M get out of the trunk . L: I should leave you here. I dididn't send those war planes. They bombed something important I forgot maaaaybe people trying to get Hannah outb of Eives School.
J: I'm sorry I let Elenor die. L: I can't forgive myself for creating this and locking her in this hellhole.
L, what were you doing there in the penthouse? They want me on the The Wall, June.
J: what if I told you by next week all those commanders will be dead... Moira: Nooo [don't tell him!]
L you have to get them all! Like a hydra. J: We will.
L: Have to go now before my guy at the border finished his shift.
Naomi (,they're in his house) comes down what are u doing here? what's the noise. L: excuses. We look at this space in the morning. OK.
J: Naomi Putman. L: Naomi Lawrence.
June is like ?!
We have to back to Jzbl. We left something important. L: no time! J calls Nick to get the stuff. Nick gets stuff but runs into Bell and Janine. Bell is snarky boyscout Blaine being there. Jin says no, he's just here later, manages to convey "May" or "April" is gone ? transfered. Lets Nck know Jn was there.
Nck te L to take Moira. He has to see June.
N gives June the letters. Stay in Nick's house till morning Wharton & Rose > DC. then over the border Flashback of N & J Waterford's.
Somewhen Lydia goes to see Janine to get her out. J says no the commanders want me on my knees. There's no way out [I don't quite get it, but maybe she means if they find she left they'd go after her, and bring her back]
Drive back but Wharton still there. Not back in 5 go to Serena's.
Wharton got a call at rhe airport [> DC] .N was at Jzbl's. Unfaithful to my daughter? N: no. Delicate investigation.
Delicate like...mW infers a "coincidence" of Nick re the guard that died in the hospital after N visited him [he murdered him].
These....Lies. Nick tells W .....
J goes to Serena 's. Tells J she's getting martied to Wharton. He's building her a library. S: you disapprove.
J: No, surprised.
There's back and forth. The Train. S's previous imprisonment. How S treated J early on.
I know I was bad once. When r u going to forgive me. J : I can't.
June sleeps over.
In morning S made breakfast. J goes into the kitchen and Rita comes in. S got R a job at the bakery. Maybe make thecwedding cake. Big hug J & R! R I found my sister! S, R J sit down. Noah cries S goes to him.
J alone with R. Interspersed Mayday help. Rita just wants peace. J let's it go; you deserve peace.
After N appears. Go to Paris right now, got arrangements. We can get Holly, and the other daughter. June smiles they kiss.
Knick on door. S runs in "Hide!" There's a closet right there.
Gabriel comes in. S ? GWharton I sent Rose ahead. I gave great news. S ?.
W: I shut down Jznbl's. Commanders to be slaughtered by Mayday. Nick revealed.
electric_blue68
(21,593 posts)Last edited Tue May 20, 2025, 04:58 AM - Edit history (2)
🚨 Spoiler Space
.
.
.
.
.
Guardians bust into Jzbls and slaughter a tge women except they take Janine.
W us telling S that while J and N are hiding in the closet. S, W & baby go out.
N They took your friend. J: The othes? N: Dead. I didn't think he would do it.
Take me back. She makes him stop before the border. N you never cared what ai when it helped you. You knew I was an Eye, a Comnander. So what does that make you. She walks away.
Aunt Lydia's walks through Jzbl. Finds the drawing that Janine showed her that Angela/Charlotte did bloodied on the floor.
Back at Mayday Luke > J You heard what happened. J nods . How did he find out. J I told him. I trusted him.
L: ?!!
Like a savior you've been pining for ever since you got back. You think I don't see it.
J: I Don't know what to do.
L: "Don't be in love with a fucking Nazi!"
Rita sees Nick. Who says he can't help her. I can't have what I want [ June? So u take it out on Rita? R: I was l counting on you. N This is Gilead you can only count on yourself.
Serena w wives. Wedding dress. No handmaids in NB except as retired, and workers in the NB fertility center. "My husband says..". S. What do you want? Your hopes, and dreams.
The wives... they don't want the handmaids in NB. S: Where are they supposed to go. They carried our children.
Wives... "move on"
(fucking airheads)
A7nt Phoebe tells Lydia that Janine is with Bell. Lydia weeps that Janine is alive.
W trouble finding a house.
S to W the wives and commanders dismissed my ideas W when you're Mrs Wharton they will respect you.
S: we have have a big wedding , not in NB.
N: we'll everyone there. S Handmaid's? W it wouldn't be the whole community without them.
Moira & June talk while looking down at the group below. (L is down there) Jbi trusted N for someone I forgot who he was. M: He never gave you a reason not trust him. He was kind to you. If aI had commander trying to save me ai'd fall in love w him, too.
J & L talk. I didn't think about how I hurt you. You deserve somebody. To be happy. Can't leave each other. Together only bc of Hannah? Not only.
Lydia brings Bell a new handmaid outfit for Janine. Bell won't let her see him, she's adjusting. She won't be at the wedding. As Lydia walks away she looks up and sees Janine you can tell she's been beaten! Bell 's wife pulls her away from the window.
June's packing.
L and Tuellio drive up. Intro E.
L talks to J. Goads her you're legacy watching Serena's Boston's big wedding in a trailer park in Alaska?
Lw s3nds Lydia to DC for retired handmaid meeting ideas.
June starts to plot for the wedding. S micro manages everything. Tells E handmaids are trained not to talk. Red center hmds will slip posted hmds their weapons. Meanwhile Rita who was snubbed by Nick so decidss to help Mayday receives the sleeping powder to put in the cake from ? . We see a smiling Rita (heh) as Serena eating a piece of cake but I think it's a smaller test cake to make sure she likes it before making the real deal with sleeping drug.
Aunt Phoebe talks a guardian there's a break in fence to check it out
Lw talks to Lydia by the Red Center you're girls need you. Phoebe emwaljs over to Lw's car trunk J & M inside. Phb "Let the revolution begin".
Phoebe hides J & M. As she gets back upstairs runs literally into L. Makes up excuse for being there. L going to DC. Phb I'll watch over the girls.
M & J. M What are doing here. J: we're here for Janine, and all the women.
M: say some leadery....leader-ish.
J: The Lird is my Shepard. I shall not want. Though I walk through the shadow...."
End of Ep 7
electric_blue68
(21,593 posts)🚨 Spoiler Space
.
.
.
.
.
Everybody goes to the big church. Handmaid's last in. June and Moira are there. The Red Center HMs pass the knives to the posted ones a ?pocket in their sleeve? One drops one [tension!], but is able to scoot it w her boot under her chair. Serena & Wharton walk in. At the the front they sit down on furniture that looks like a throne. Nick gives a speech, but mentions the coming baby (from Rose) as his ? firstborn neglecting June & his child.
At the reception they roll out a big red cake. The guests eat the sedative laced cake; xcept for the HMs, and Serena & Whtn who are too busy. Lawrence tells the former Mrs Putman now his wife to have more cake; "you eat like a bird".
Serena gets the HMs together w Rita, and ? standing next to her. She makes a little speech. Wants to take photo w the HMs. June is horrified, and scoots away, but S doesn't do it.
Lydia unexpected arrives back from DC, and thinks she catches a glimpse of June [who she thinks is elsewhere]. She mentions it Lawrence who tells her she's hallucinating from her long trip back. Get her a steak and wine.
As she's eating the steak she glances to a different row, and asks a guardian who's sitting there. The HMs. She walks over looks, and finally lifts the fabric covering the chairs and sees the uneaten cake. Seyehe's furious, and stomps around, yells, "WHERE'S June Osborne!".
Over head shot of the HMs going home to their respective postings.
June finds Bell who's somewhat sleepy, but taking a phonecall. She stands there under a circle of small lights ["halo", avenging angel"]. She walks up to him Hi, I'm June Osborn and stabs him in his eye. I looked away. As he's dying, she sits down, and drinks ftom his liquor glass.
S & W arrive home. Guard opens car door, says .a gift from his father has arrived. W rwplies- I think I know what it is. High Commander Wharton carries Serena over the threshold. She's set down, and beaming. Looks around, then suddenly sees a HM kneeling on the floor in the ?parlor. He goes over to her - she's the most fertile HM in Boston.. She gets angry. Will not have a HM in her house. S waljs over to her - What's your name? -Ofpaul. No, your real name. He's like 'We have to do our duty to God". [As many children as possible]
Serena grabs _______, and runs out into the front yard heading further away.