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BattyKiara posted:What happens to wives when commanders die? Is there a special institution for venerable widows? Where they are expected to pray around the clock like nuns? Game of Thrones doesn't start back until next month 
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Jun 15, 2017 13:35
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BattyKiara posted:What happens to wives when commanders die? Is there a special institution for venerable widows? Where they are expected to pray around the clock like nuns? Maybe the Aunts are widows found to be especially strong believers? Or are widows more or less supposed to want to follow their husbands to the grave? I guess their children would be taken from them and placed with new commanders? Well, the wife only got what she wanted because the other dudes on the council generally agreed with her. If they had all been opportunists like Waterford, instead of true believes, he probably would have gotten off with a couple of Hail Marys or whatever they do in Gilead. I'm not sure about widows, I don't remember anything about them in the book. It might be Gilead is still new enough that there's very few widows running around. But logic would dictate there's either some sort of retirement home type thing, or they just transition into being Marthas.
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Jun 15, 2017 13:54
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Escobarbarian posted:lol that Feeling Good scene felt really misguided. you're still rape slaves with no agency but at least you didn't have to kill your friend! empowerment! It was tremendously empowering because it was the first moment where the Handmaids realized the power they had through unity; Aunt Lydia could have ordered the Guardians to just shoot Offred or Ofglen in the head and by Gilead's rules probably should have, but she didn't because she understood how hosed up the entire scene was. That open defiance was not stopped. Sure, "there will be consequences" but it still happened. That's why it was so important, and most likely a callout to Season 2: Resist
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Jun 15, 2017 15:09
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succ posted:is this a book spoiler? what conference? The book ends with an epilogue describing an academic conference 200 years later discussing the events of the book. A good deal of background detail in the series (such as the Commander's name and how various parts of Gilead were established) is explained there.
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Jun 15, 2017 15:13
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That was a strong finale. Excellent first season. My thoughts: I liked when Moira reached Ontario that the show didn't feel the need for a shocking swerve, like the farmer being a Gilead sleeper agent. I feel like Mr. Robot would have pulled nonsense like that. Great to see that the Waterfords are high up in the leadership, but aren't untouchable and Gilead has real accountability for leaders who publically stray. My takeaway is that there is a major distinction between the cynical leadership of Gilead and a fanatical military. For example, Putnam's abuse of Jeanine didn't concern the Waterfords and likely would have been ignored, except she made a huge scene on the bridge in front of the soldiers. Same with Waterford needing to hide June when taking her to Jezebels, and when June is being taken away at the end the soldiers don't seem scared of the Waterfords. And the Eyes (from what little we know) seem to be their own distinct agency. I hope they maintain this for season 2. The show does an amazing job showing the Haidmaids are distinct and have their own identities. A more "by the numbers" show may have populated a scene with twenty generic women in red, but the show takes the time to show they all have histories (especially with the handwritten notes). Interesting subversion with the Handmaid who had such an awful life that being put with a somewhat decent Commander was a life improvement that she didn't want to give up. Glad the show has strong pacing, and didn't feel the need to throw in a major character death for the finale or throw Gilead into revolt. Looking forward to season 2, hope they keep the same tone after this season was a hit.
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Jun 15, 2017 16:08
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I worry that the show will fall off the rails now that they will be going beyond the source material. That said, season 1 was great and I would be satisfied with that ending if it was not continued.
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Jun 15, 2017 16:37
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I don't understand why June was given the notes from other handmaids asking for help. If the resistance is trying to get the notes out of Gilead, isn't the house of a high ranking commander the last place you'd want to hide them in? How is June supposed to smuggle them out anyway? Did I miss something?
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Jun 15, 2017 16:37
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Pleasing Shape posted:I don't understand why June was given the notes from other handmaids asking for help. If the resistance is trying to get the notes out of Gilead, isn't the house of a high ranking commander the last place you'd want to hide them in? How is June supposed to smuggle them out anyway? Did I miss something? I don't think you missed anything. We're supposed to assume that for some reason it will be easier to deliver the parcel to its ultimate recipient from inside Gilead than from Jezebel's, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense but we don't really know how the Sons of Jacob state is set up and where neccesarily everything is. Just to theorycraft, perhaps some collaborator within Gilead is awaiting the package, some high ranking man who can travel without being searched. Or otherwise perhaps the entire idea is to wait for another diplomatic visit.
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Jun 15, 2017 16:41
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Pleasing Shape posted:I don't understand why June was given the notes from other handmaids asking for help. If the resistance is trying to get the notes out of Gilead, isn't the house of a high ranking commander the last place you'd want to hide them in? How is June supposed to smuggle them out anyway? Did I miss something? June was just supposed to pick up the package. Wasn't she also not supposed to look in it either? We never got to see the next phase of what to do with it though. She never spoke again to the Handmaid who told her to get it.
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Jun 15, 2017 17:00
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I was sincerely in suspense during the stoning scene as to whether June would comply to keep surviving or not. Very well done.
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Jun 15, 2017 17:02
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Maybe the package was meant for the Handmaids to make them not feel so alone? Who can resist opening a mystery package?
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Jun 15, 2017 18:50
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Lum_ posted:It was tremendously empowering because it was the first moment where the Handmaids realized the power they had through unity; Aunt Lydia could have ordered the Guardians to just shoot Offred or Ofglen in the head and by Gilead's rules probably should have, but she didn't because she understood how hosed up the entire scene was. That open defiance was not stopped. Sure, "there will be consequences" but it still happened. That's why it was so important, and most likely a callout to Season 2: Resist it was empowering but was just undercut by the inclusion of the song. i like the song but man did it take me out of the moment. whoever's doing the scoring is hopefully replaced for the next season.
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Jun 15, 2017 19:00
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Skizzzer posted:it was empowering but was just undercut by the inclusion of the song. i like the song but man did it take me out of the moment. whoever's doing the scoring is hopefully replaced for the next season. I've always thought the jarring soundtrack was intentional. It highlights the absurdity of the whole situation.
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Jun 15, 2017 19:03
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i would disagree because i don't think the setting is absurd, but if that's the point than i guess the scoring is working as intended.
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Jun 15, 2017 19:07
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Skizzzer posted:i would disagree because i don't think the setting is absurd, but if that's the point than i guess the scoring is working as intended. What about the setting isn't absurd?
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Jun 15, 2017 19:19
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Skizzzer posted:it was empowering but was just undercut by the inclusion of the song. i like the song but man did it take me out of the moment. whoever's doing the scoring is hopefully replaced for the next season. I've heard Reed Morano and Bruce Miller are doing some kind of supervising of the sound design and editing so probably them. There Bias Two posted:What about the setting isn't absurd? I mean it's essentially about WASP ISIS so it's probably not as far-fetched as it should be.
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Jun 15, 2017 19:20
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Todd VanDerWerff at Vox surmises the score is meant to reflect Offred's internal feelings/emotions, not the overall situation. That would make more sense of the ending of Episode 4 with the power walk, the power walk near the end of the finale, and her walk out of the house at the very end. She's just made a tiny stand in an oppressive climate which doesn't tolerate defiance of any kind so it feels triumphant even though the actual act is so minor.
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Jun 15, 2017 19:22
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"Oh man, I hate stonings."
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Jun 15, 2017 19:39
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There Bias Two posted:I've always thought the jarring soundtrack was intentional. It highlights the absurdity of the whole situation. i can see it if they used one or two popular tracks as callbacks to life before Gillead, maybe crossfading over a memory/retrospective sequence, but it's in like every loving episode and really out-of-place for what is otherwise a very self-serious series
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Jun 15, 2017 19:47
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I thought the soundtrack was pretty effective at anchoring - a reminder that this is our society about five minutes in the future, and not just some abstract hosed up setting.
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Jun 15, 2017 20:02
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There Bias Two posted:What about the setting isn't absurd? just off the top of my head, but 1) some kind of nuclear/environmental calamity affecting the world, 2) a fragmented USA, 3) canada as the great north hope, 4) a group of ultra-conservative white men deciding what rights, reproductive and otherwise, women should have, 5) an increase in religious belief, 6) women forced to wear certain types of clothing, 7) a revolution (or not sure what to call it) against the current political system, and maybe more that i can't think of right now. fantastical, sure, but absurd? disagree.
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Jun 15, 2017 20:08
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Cactus posted:I recall one bit where he was talking about the victims of the regime and said something with a tone like "they were educated - well, as "educated" as anyone in America could have been in the mid-1980s!" *chuckles echo from the audience* kind of thing.
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Jun 15, 2017 20:11
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Saw this tweet and immediately thought of our sweet sweet Commander Fred.
witchcore ricepunk fucked around with this message at 05:04 on Jun 16, 2017 |
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Jun 15, 2017 21:50
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Lum_ posted:The book ends with an epilogue describing an academic conference 200 years later discussing the events of the book. A good deal of background detail in the series (such as the Commander's name and how various parts of Gilead were established) is explained there. I don't think the epilogue gives too much detail that the series didn't. The book doesn't reveal the commander's name until the epilogue and even then it's only speculated on, for example. Lacey posted:The professor seems more interested in Offred's commander than in Offred herself. And he also refers to women escaping to Canada as the "Underground Frailroad". The professor in the epilogue also argues that the provenance of the story(which is described as having been found many years after the events recounted on a bunch of audio cassettes) is uncertain and that it could be a forgery or fabrication. It's a metatextual framing narrative that's not really possible in the medium of the show version, not to mention that the second season makes it impossible.
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Jun 15, 2017 23:11
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I recently started the book and read about three chapters, which were quite short. I had no idea there was a series until I googled the title. Just got done with all the episodes and I have to say, episode three messed me up the most. You all know why. I'm not sure if I should finish the book or wait for season 2.
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Jun 16, 2017 01:00
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Skizzzer posted:just off the top of my head, but 1) some kind of nuclear/environmental calamity affecting the world, 2) a fragmented USA, 3) canada as the great north hope, 4) a group of ultra-conservative white men deciding what rights, reproductive and otherwise, women should have, 5) an increase in religious belief, 6) women forced to wear certain types of clothing, 7) a revolution (or not sure what to call it) against the current political system, and maybe more that i can't think of right now. Wait, you think #4 isn't going on right now?
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Jun 16, 2017 01:10
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Dienes posted:Wait, you think #4 isn't going on right now? yeah of course I see it happening, literally saw a picture of it
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Jun 16, 2017 01:52
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Wizgot posted:I recently started the book and read about three chapters, which were quite short. I had no idea there was a series until I googled the title. Just got done with all the episodes and I have to say, episode three messed me up the most. You all know why. Season 1 finishes the story of the book, so you can just go ahead and read.
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Jun 16, 2017 02:08
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Pinterest Mom posted:I thought the soundtrack was pretty effective at anchoring - a reminder that this is our society about five minutes in the future, and not just some abstract hosed up setting. It's Mike Pence's wet dream. Maybe he'd add horse loving.
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Jun 16, 2017 02:33
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There Bias Two posted:I worry that the show will fall off the rails now that they will be going beyond the source material. That said, season 1 was great and I would be satisfied with that ending if it was not continued. There really isn't anything they added outside of the book that I had a problem with. Luke's escape, Nick's involvement in the Sons of Jacob, etc were pretty well done I thought. I'm optimistic that the quality is maintained and we get to see firsthand a lot of the events that were only referred to in the epilogue.
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Jun 16, 2017 03:02
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It was kind of sad when Mrs. Waterford brought up scrabble and the guy brings up the law and she says "I know, I helped write it." But she's terrible, so that wore off pretty quickly.
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Jun 16, 2017 03:07
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Any Toronto/Ontario goons know where the stoning scene was shot? It looks familiar but I can't put my finger on it. I loved every episode of this season and I think Atwood's input all but guarantees the second season will be great as well.
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Jun 16, 2017 03:59
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Ah man this was the Season Finale. gently caress... In a way it ended how it should have. I know they want a 2nd season but really they should just not. Hollismason fucked around with this message at 05:17 on Jun 16, 2017 |
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Jun 16, 2017 04:38
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Thwomp posted:Todd VanDerWerff at Vox surmises the score is meant to reflect Offred's internal feelings/emotions, not the overall situation. This is obviously the case, but like with the voice over, I sometimes wish they could be a little less heavy handed. The show is blunt enough as-is most of the time, and I wish they could trust us and be a bit more subtle. A good example of using music to this kind of effect but more subtly is Mad Men, which often used closing credit songs to great effect.
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Jun 16, 2017 07:49
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Hollismason posted:Ah man this was the Season Finale. gently caress... Well you could just not watch the second season you weirdo. I don't get TVIVs obsession with ending shows as early as possible. I'd much rather see some new ideas than just one season of almost everything I've read before.
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Jun 16, 2017 11:25
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BlackJosh posted:Well you could just not watch the second season you weirdo. I don't get TVIVs obsession with ending shows as early as possible. I'd much rather see some new ideas than just one season of almost everything I've read before. It's not that bizarre, did you never consume some form of media that was awesome to begin with but ultimately ended with a wet fart? I mean, Game of Thrones aside... the second season of Unreal completely soured my perception of the show. It's not a big deal cause you can really just 'not watch' but we tend to judge works of art on the terms their creators present. But anyway, I actually have high hopes for season 2.
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Jun 16, 2017 12:41
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I just hope the whole second season isn't about getting June out, and they expand the scope of the show a little to depict what's going on outside of North America (or at least the US/Canada), even if it's only for an episode or two. I think it'd better drive home the desperation that leads to a Gilead rather than being told about it secondhand from the Mexican ambassador. I don't remember if it was discussed in the book but does Canada have the same issues with the plummeting birth rate?
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Jun 16, 2017 12:54
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I want to know more about the war, how congress was eliminated. Maybe they could do a whole season based on the plot to kill congress.
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Jun 16, 2017 13:00
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Wizgot posted:I recently started the book and read about three chapters, which were quite short. I had no idea there was a series until I googled the title. Just got done with all the episodes and I have to say, episode three messed me up the most. You all know why. If you've seen the series, nothing in the book will be a spoiler as the first season and the book end at literally the same scene.
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Jun 16, 2017 16:34
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Letters in the package make no sense except for the cheap emotional shot of listening to their words and seeing June spread them on the floor. And then she falls asleep with them all out like that? Come on, she knows she has to watch her back so hard. The soundtrack is bad use of contemporary music and completely heavy handed. Ofglen's Martha was vastly superior to anything else this season. I hope for next season they come to understand that the most powerful scenes are about the lack of autonomy and feelings of utter futility.
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Jun 17, 2017 00:15
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