I really wanted June to ask Ms. Mackenzie how much she’d love Hannah when she’s forced to become a handmaid or Martha. .
I sincerely doubt this is her destiny. She’ll become a commander’s wife. She would only become a Handmaid or Martha if she does something that “warrants” it and I’m certain Mackenzie wouldn’t even dream of entertaining that.
I really wanted June to ask Ms. Mackenzie how much she’d love Hannah when she’s forced to become a handmaid or Martha. .
I sincerely doubt this is her destiny. She’ll become a commander’s wife. She would only become a Handmaid or Martha if she does something that “warrants” it and I’m certain Mackenzie wouldn’t even dream of entertaining that.
That’s assuming that women have any kind of rights or determined destiny. She’ll go wherever a man determines she’s supposed to go.
If there aren’t enough Commanders or other upstanding men to marry off, her future starts to depend on her fertility. And let’s be honest, she’d be a multi-racial woman in a predominantly white system in former US. There’s be race issues involved for her as a woman even if they’re hiding them now.
I sincerely doubt this is her destiny. She’ll become a commander’s wife. She would only become a Handmaid or Martha if she does something that “warrants” it and I’m certain Mackenzie wouldn’t even dream of entertaining that.
That’s assuming that women have any kind of rights or determined destiny. She’ll go wherever a man determines she’s supposed to go.
If there aren’t enough Commanders or other upstanding men to marry off, her future starts to depend on her fertility. And let’s be honest, she’d be a multi-racial woman in a predominantly white system in former US. There’s be race issues involved for her as a woman even if they’re hiding them now.
Actually, the show has subtly been implying (it may have been that way in the book too, I don't remember), that non-caucasian people have higher fertility than caucasians. There was the AA Commander who actually got his wife pregnant (not the Handmaid), and he was promoted. And of course, June's husband is AA. Since the whole reason everything went to shit is because fertility rates fell off a cliff, Hannah would probably have a leg up in terms of marriage when she is older.
ETA: I forgot to include Nick in that list, he's Latino.
That’s assuming that women have any kind of rights or determined destiny. She’ll go wherever a man determines she’s supposed to go.
If there aren’t enough Commanders or other upstanding men to marry off, her future starts to depend on her fertility. And let’s be honest, she’d be a multi-racial woman in a predominantly white system in former US. There’s be race issues involved for her as a woman even if they’re hiding them now.
Actually, the show has subtly been implying (it may have been that way in the book too, I don't remember), that non-caucasian people have higher fertility than caucasians. There was the AA Commander who actually got his wife pregnant (not the Handmaid), and he was promoted. And of course, June's husband is AA. Since the whole reason everything went to shit is because fertility rates fell off a cliff, Hannah would probably have a leg up in terms of marriage when she is older.
This is an interesting theory, and to that end, there's also Moira, who I think we've established had a child but gave it up for adoption. I think you're on to something here.
That’s assuming that women have any kind of rights or determined destiny. She’ll go wherever a man determines she’s supposed to go.
If there aren’t enough Commanders or other upstanding men to marry off, her future starts to depend on her fertility. And let’s be honest, she’d be a multi-racial woman in a predominantly white system in former US. There’s be race issues involved for her as a woman even if they’re hiding them now.
Actually, the show has subtly been implying (it may have been that way in the book too, I don't remember), that non-caucasian people have higher fertility than caucasians. There was the AA Commander who actually got his wife pregnant (not the Handmaid), and he was promoted. And of course, June's husband is AA. Since the whole reason everything went to shit is because fertility rates fell off a cliff, Hannah would probably have a leg up in terms of marriage when she is older.
It's been years since I read the book, but didn't it imply that POC were no longer members of society? Like Gilead got rid of them?
Actually, the show has subtly been implying (it may have been that way in the book too, I don't remember), that non-caucasian people have higher fertility than caucasians. There was the AA Commander who actually got his wife pregnant (not the Handmaid), and he was promoted. And of course, June's husband is AA. Since the whole reason everything went to shit is because fertility rates fell off a cliff, Hannah would probably have a leg up in terms of marriage when she is older.
It's been years since I read the book, but didn't it imply that POC were no longer members of society? Like Gilead got rid of them?
I don’t remember that. But I’m notoriously bad about forgetting book details.
Post by thelurkylulu on Jun 7, 2019 9:41:34 GMT -5
I loved the first three episodes and was really happy to be able to watch them and not feel wrecked/hopeless AF after they ended. The last couple of seasons have been brutal in that respect.
I am really intrigued by Lawrence’s wife. She seemed to pull herself together real quick when the guards showed up to their house looking for that Martha.
Actually, the show has subtly been implying (it may have been that way in the book too, I don't remember), that non-caucasian people have higher fertility than caucasians. There was the AA Commander who actually got his wife pregnant (not the Handmaid), and he was promoted. And of course, June's husband is AA. Since the whole reason everything went to shit is because fertility rates fell off a cliff, Hannah would probably have a leg up in terms of marriage when she is older.
It's been years since I read the book, but didn't it imply that POC were no longer members of society? Like Gilead got rid of them?
I don't remember POC playing a significant role in Gilead in the book.
I do remember reading (but am much too lazy to try to search for) an article during Season 1 that talked about how much more the show was doing to incorporate POC and racial aspects than the book did.
I also think that Hanna/Agnes is at risk due to her bi-racial status even if she is the daughter of a Commander. Even if she is fertile, you're not going to convince me that such a sexist society has also overcome racism. There are very few black people at the Commander level, and I don't think that's pure chance.
I cried so hard when Emily was welcomed into the hospital. Both the first time I watched the episode and then the second time when I watched to see what I had missed.
I loved the first three episodes and was really happy to be able to watch them and not feel wrecked/hopeless AF after they ended. The last couple of seasons have been brutal in that respect.
I am really intrigued by Lawrence’s wife. She seemed to pull herself together real quick when the guards showed up to their house looking for that Martha.
I'm curious about Lawrence's wife too. She seemed to know exactly what to do and how to keep the guards away from the basement as if she's used to that role. I'm not sure if it's been covered but what is she sick with?
just it seemed like Lawrence has first pick of Marthas. So I assume he chose one that had a history as a chef. Also I assume he was behind how June ended up at his house, although I don't really know why he wants her now that he's acting so weird.
He definitely chose her (June). He said something about regretting his decision to bring her into his house. Based on how he was reviewing the files for all the women they're sending to the colonies, I also expect he gets his pick of Marthas. He was clearly choosing by general attributes, so it absolutely makes sense that he would have chosen the James Beard winner to come cook for him.
I am interested to see how his character develops. He is certainly bizarre. It truly never would have occurred to me that he was so high up based on what we saw last season. I just figured he was the weird eccentric guy that people leave alone. I didn't realize they leave him alone because he's super powerful.
When Aunt Lydia was taking Emily there for the first time, she told her he was a very important man.
The Handmaid’s Tale: What the Hell Is Commander Lawrence’s Deal?
Bradley Whitford explains the challenging process of playing a “fucking weirdo.”
As Bradley Whitford prepared to tackle the role of Commander Lawrence in The Handmaid’s Tale, he kept returning to one specific historical figure: former Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara, whose role in escalating the Vietnam War caused him significant regret later in life. McNamara was “one of these guys with a big brain that obliterated his humanity. He took his expertise in revolutionizing and making more efficient the automobile industry, and then applied that same brilliance to systematically exterminating several million human beings in Southeast Asia,” Whitford explained.
Anyone who has watched the first few episodes of The Handmaid’s Tale season three, which debuted Wednesday, probably understands the comparison. When he appears onscreen, Commander Lawrence moves with the quiet, frustrated languor of a man whose initial plan to save the world has morphed into something too big and monstrous for even him to defend. But as Elisabeth Moss’s June quickly finds out, he’s not quite a #Resistance guy, either.
Hulu is being a giant turd for me recently. Every few seconds, the image glitches. It's driving me nuts. It's not my internet connection because Netflix and Amazon are working just fine.
Anyways, I powered through the glitching for HT. I had so many emotions when the Canadian police officer said "Do you wish to seek asylum?" I am also really perplexed by Commander Lawrence and I'm interested to see where this season takes his character.
I finished episode 3 last night. I am so interested to learn about commander Lawrence and his wife’s back story. I think Gilead didn’t turn out how he planned, but he can’t revolt being so high up. He certainly has done some things to encourage June without directly telling her what to do. It’ll be interesting to see what happens with the 5 new Martha’s she picked.
I was also happy to see Serena burn their house down and not go running back to Fred. I wonder what will happen to them now that he was demoted?
I am also wondering about Lawrence. He is hard to read and understand. I have a feeling that maybe his wife could be bipolar and he trying to make her happier by wanting things to end. But not knowing how to do it and wants June to figure it out. But at the same time he saving face by being asshole to her in front of his people. So I can't tell yet if he is good or bad.
I am also wondering about Lawrence. He is hard to read and understand. I have a feeling that maybe his wife could be bipolar and he trying to make her happier by wanting things to end. But not knowing how to do it and wants June to figure it out. But at the same time he saving face by being asshole to her in front of his people. So I can't tell yet if he is good or bad.
I think his wife has some kind of mental illness and I'm not really sure how that's treated in Gilead. Probably not well.
Post by penguingrrl on Jun 11, 2019 10:34:32 GMT -5
Commander Lawrence and his wife are definitely interesting characters. I think lawrence had a vision in mind and Gilead went so far beyond what he intended that he doesn’t know what to do. It’s a monster that he started, but it took off in a far darker direction and he lost control. And while he’s revered, he’s also paranoid because dynasties topple easily in this environment, so he can’t just speak up.
I think his wife is suffering from severe depression. She wants to end this nightmare she was complicit in creating, but like her husband doesn’t know how without getting both of them killed having helped nobody. She had been a professor and now is stuck at home, in a nightmare of her husband’s creation.
I loved the first three episodes and was really happy to be able to watch them and not feel wrecked/hopeless AF after they ended. The last couple of seasons have been brutal in that respect.
I am really intrigued by Lawrence’s wife. She seemed to pull herself together real quick when the guards showed up to their house looking for that Martha.
I'm curious about Lawrence's wife too. She seemed to know exactly what to do and how to keep the guards away from the basement as if she's used to that role. I'm not sure if it's been covered but what is she sick with?
We don't have any idea what's wrong with her. From last season, she seems to resent her husband for his role in creating Gilead, but that's really all that's been said about her.
I finished episode 3 last night. I am so interested to learn about commander Lawrence and his wife’s back story. I think Gilead didn’t turn out how he planned, but he can’t revolt being so high up. He certainly has done some things to encourage June without directly telling her what to do. It’ll be interesting to see what happens with the 5 new Martha’s she picked.
I was also happy to see Serena burn their house down and not go running back to Fred. I wonder what will happen to them now that he was demoted?
I feel like I knew this, but maybe not the reason why. Did they say?
Commander Lawrence and his wife are definitely interesting characters. I think lawrence had a vision in mind and Gilead went so far beyond what he intended that he doesn’t know what to do. It’s a monster that he started, but it took off in a far darker direction and he lost control. And while he’s revered, he’s also paranoid because dynasties topple easily in this environment, so he can’t just speak up.
I think his wife is suffering from severe depression. She wants to end this nightmare she was complicit in creating, but like her husband doesn’t know how without getting both of them killed having helped nobody. She had been a professor and now is stuck at home, in a nightmare of her husband’s creation.
I wonder too, based on her comments last season, if maybe she tried to warn him what was happening and he didn't listen to her or thought it wouldn't get so out of control?
I must have missed that she was a professor. Does he tell June that?
Commander Lawrence and his wife are definitely interesting characters. I think lawrence had a vision in mind and Gilead went so far beyond what he intended that he doesn’t know what to do. It’s a monster that he started, but it took off in a far darker direction and he lost control. And while he’s revered, he’s also paranoid because dynasties topple easily in this environment, so he can’t just speak up.
ITA with this.
I don't think he's either "good" or "bad." I think he had a different vision in mind. I think he wants to end Gilead but doesn't know how to do it. But... I'm not sure he wants to give up the power he has and I don't think he's figured out how to use his power to dismantle the system yet.
Commander Lawrence and his wife are definitely interesting characters. I think lawrence had a vision in mind and Gilead went so far beyond what he intended that he doesn’t know what to do. It’s a monster that he started, but it took off in a far darker direction and he lost control. And while he’s revered, he’s also paranoid because dynasties topple easily in this environment, so he can’t just speak up.
I think his wife is suffering from severe depression. She wants to end this nightmare she was complicit in creating, but like her husband doesn’t know how without getting both of them killed having helped nobody. She had been a professor and now is stuck at home, in a nightmare of her husband’s creation.
I wonder too, based on her comments last season, if maybe she tried to warn him what was happening and he didn't listen to her or thought it wouldn't get so out of control?
I must have missed that she was a professor. Does he tell June that?
I am also wondering about Lawrence. He is hard to read and understand. I have a feeling that maybe his wife could be bipolar and he trying to make her happier by wanting things to end. But not knowing how to do it and wants June to figure it out. But at the same time he saving face by being asshole to her in front of his people. So I can't tell yet if he is good or bad.
I think his wife has some kind of mental illness and I'm not really sure how that's treated in Gilead. Probably not well.
If she doesn't have a mental illness it almost seems like she wants Gilead to believe she does. It is interesting that she seemed very sick in front of Lydia but then is completely lucid trying the hide those in the basement. I have to imagine she would do this maybe to cover her tracks if she got caught helping out? Lawrence goes along because he loves his wife but is afraid they will both be hung if caught.
It was interesting that June described him as a sociopath after he took her to that holding cell. It seemed obvious to me about why he brought her there so that confused me.
I think his wife has some kind of mental illness and I'm not really sure how that's treated in Gilead. Probably not well.
If she doesn't have a mental illness it almost seems like she wants Gilead to believe she does. It is interesting that she seemed very sick in front of Lydia but then is completely lucid trying the hide those in the basement. I have to imagine she would do this maybe to cover her tracks if she got caught helping out? Lawrence goes along because he loves his wife but is afraid they will both be hung if caught.
It was interesting that June described him as a sociopath after he took her to that holding cell. It seemed obvious to me about why he brought her there so that confused me.
Commander Lawrence and his wife are definitely interesting characters. I think lawrence had a vision in mind and Gilead went so far beyond what he intended that he doesn’t know what to do. It’s a monster that he started, but it took off in a far darker direction and he lost control. And while he’s revered, he’s also paranoid because dynasties topple easily in this environment, so he can’t just speak up.
ITA with this.
I don't think he's either "good" or "bad." I think he had a different vision in mind. I think he wants to end Gilead but doesn't know how to do it. But... I'm not sure he wants to give up the power he has and I don't think he's figured out how to use his power to dismantle the system yet.
I think maybe he believes his power is best used in harboring/protecting the Resistance in his household. He has much more autonomy and privacy than other commanders. As far as we know, he's the only one who's never been a true believer. He has to play along with his role, because if he ends up on the wall then who else is going to harbor them the way he does? I'm sure it's part selfish self-preservation, too.
I finished episode 3 last night. I am so interested to learn about commander Lawrence and his wife’s back story. I think Gilead didn’t turn out how he planned, but he can’t revolt being so high up. He certainly has done some things to encourage June without directly telling her what to do. It’ll be interesting to see what happens with the 5 new Martha’s she picked.
I was also happy to see Serena burn their house down and not go running back to Fred. I wonder what will happen to them now that he was demoted?
I feel like I knew this, but maybe not the reason why. Did they say?
I did not hear anyone say why, but I assumed it had to do with June escaping/baby Nichole being kidnapped and that Fred didn’t stop it.
If she doesn't have a mental illness it almost seems like she wants Gilead to believe she does. It is interesting that she seemed very sick in front of Lydia but then is completely lucid trying the hide those in the basement. I have to imagine she would do this maybe to cover her tracks if she got caught helping out? Lawrence goes along because he loves his wife but is afraid they will both be hung if caught.
It was interesting that June described him as a sociopath after he took her to that holding cell. It seemed obvious to me about why he brought her there so that confused me.
I like this season so far.
Tell me more about what you mean by this.
That his intentions were to show here, " look, look at this crazy shit, I only have so much power and doing what I can within those restraints." There is so much intentional secrecy in Gilead where each part doesn't know the other moving part but knowledge of all the parts are power. I also think he purposely allowed her to pick those women to help out the underground revolution, not because he is a sociopath. I just find it odd that she trusts Fred who cut his fucking wife's finger off more than Lawrence who helped people to escape.
Post by redheadbaker on Jun 11, 2019 12:22:42 GMT -5
You guys give Lawrence a lot more slack than I do. I get a strong misogynist vibe from him. I don't think he dislikes what Gilead has become as much as the rest of you