The Handmaid's Tale: Fairytale

October 5, 2022 5:40 AM - Season 5, Episode 5

June and Luke embark on a dangerous quest. Serena gets to know her new hosts.
posted by roolya_boolya (9 comments total)

I was undone when June and Luke were captured by Gilead. I knew something terrible was going to happen following their lovely moment in the bowling alley but it still made me reel.
posted by roolya_boolya at 8:28 AM on October 6, 2022

we don't know yet if it was Gilead or the resistance or Canada or something else... I'm really hoping it's not Gildead because i can't take another round of torture/rug-yanking
posted by kokaku at 9:24 AM on October 6, 2022

I liked the juxtaposition of Serena's confinement to the house with Offred's similar restrictions in Season 1. It's been made very clear to Serena that, notwithstanding her value to Gilead from a PR point of view, she's still a second-class citizen not entitled to the benefits accorded to men, such as a cellphone.

Yeah, I hope it's not Gilead that's captured June and Luke. It would be too much of a been-there, done-that for the show.
posted by essexjan at 3:06 PM on October 6, 2022 [3 favorites]

we don't know yet if it was Gilead or the resistance or Canada or something else...

I assumed it was Gilead because they were calling Jayden by name as they initially approached but I hope you're right.

I liked the juxtaposition of Serena's confinement to the house with Offred's similar restrictions in Season 1.

Yes this was very satisfying.
posted by roolya_boolya at 11:51 PM on October 6, 2022 [2 favorites]

I have a bad feeling about Luke. It just felt like they were giving the character a great last hurrah. I hope that isn't the case.
posted by lilywing13 at 8:21 PM on October 10, 2022

I also really hope we're not back in Gilead after this. It's been really interesting seeing June's adjustment to "normal" life and I'm not super interested in going back to retread the last several seasons. Ugh.
posted by vibratory manner of working at 11:09 PM on October 24, 2022

This was the worst episode for me. It is a fucking incredibly stupid idea for BOTH June and Luke to do this. It felt very contrived and I knew they both would get caught as soon as they both decided to go, like fucking idiots. There is a daughter to be cared for back in Canada ya know.
posted by LizBoBiz at 3:14 AM on November 3, 2022

Can someone remind me of the ground rules concerning fertility in this world, please. I've forgotten how Serena managed to get pregnant when none of the other wives seem able to do so.
posted by Paul Slade at 11:26 PM on November 20, 2022

Wasn't it implied at some point that she slept with Tuello? I think it fits. Fred was the infertile one - couldn't get June pregnant; Nick could. Same thing here. But Gilead, like many historical regimes, can't admit that fertility problems might be the man's fault.
posted by vibratory manner of working at 11:26 PM on November 22, 2022