rocketskates
Member
Just finished the 3 episodes.
Wow.
Wow.
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The Handmaid's Tale |OT| Starring Elisabeth Moss - Wednesdays on Hulu, 92 on MC
- Thread starter TheOddOne
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I'm certainly interested in checking this out, but the premise just seems so unreservedly horrifying, I'm worried the entertainment value I'll get from it won't be worth the lingering feelings of depression I'll feel after finishing with it. That's obviously not a healthy way to fully engage with art, but there's something I find so especially unsettling about this story that's making me hesitant to fully commit to it.
I don't know about the show but I did read the book when I was a kid. I remember being pretty horrified by the premise but forced myself to stick with it. It didn't really get much better in my opinion, but again, I was like 15 years old.
If the show is like the book I wouldn't go into it thinking that it's going to entertain. Maybe provoke thought would be a better word for what it might do to you.
DontBeThatGuy
Member
Gotta buckle down and knock out these available episodes. Sounds like a great show.
Thinking of watching this with a friend who went through a fairly vicious
awhile ago. The trailer implied things that might stress her out. Can anyone who's seen the first eps comment on if there's anything explicit that might upset her? Just a yes/no gruesome/not gruesome will do. Cheers. 
sexual assault
J-Roderton
Member
Sweet. This and the new COD reveal today. Should be a good afternoon.
Messofanego
Banned
Grizzlyjin
Supersonic, idiotic, disconnecting, not respecting, who would really ever wanna go and top that
This is a top notch production. I was curious how the show would be paced, expected a slow first episode but it kept 100% of my attention 100% of the time.
Episode 1 Spoilers
You can tell right off the bat this is going to be an award darling. Moss is putting on an acting clinic, as expected. But even the supporting cast hits the right notes the moment they're on screen.
The only thing I didn't like was
Haha but that's the most minor of minor complaints.
Episode 1 Spoilers
Show does a good job of juggling the flashbacks, really helps the world building without stopping the flow of the show dead in it's tracks. Ofglen's "It was nice to finally meet you" line is so simple but says so much
You can tell right off the bat this is going to be an award darling. Moss is putting on an acting clinic, as expected. But even the supporting cast hits the right notes the moment they're on screen.
The only thing I didn't like was
the song choice for the closing credits. Just way too on the nose for something that was reveling in subtly for the previous hour...and Suicide Squad has ruined it for me.
Mercury Fred
Banned
I was baffled by the response too. I don't want to derail the thread though, so I PM'd him to try to figure out his issue.
Anyway, one of my takeaways from the first episode is the question of how can this show possibly exist without becoming too bleak to watch. In addition to the flashbacks which give a respite from the grim world of the show, it's incredible what a powerful relief he tiny moments that Offred gets to be her old self are and how tonally helpful they are for the show overall.
Watched with my partner last night and we decided to just watch one and digest a bit as it's so intense that we needed to come down a bit after the first one. I'm excited to see where this goes and hoping this show pisses off all the right people.
Anton Sugar
Member
Glad this is looking great. Honestly, the trailers didn't do much for me, but after hearing impressions, I can't wait to check it out. Haven't read the book in over a decade.
Edit: lol, nm, thought you said Ralph Fiennes, I was ready to thrown down the gauntlet. Yeah, lil Joey is inconsistent as fuck.
Edit: lol, nm, thought you said Ralph Fiennes, I was ready to thrown down the gauntlet. Yeah, lil Joey is inconsistent as fuck.
shnurgleton
Member
That was the tensest fucking game of Scrabble I have ever seen
rocketskates
Member
Episode 3 spoilers
what surgery did they perform on her?
Female circumcision. They removed her clitoris.
Great show but damn is it bleak. For every small good thing a (or three or five) big, bad thing follows.
rocketskates
Member
Ah that makes sense with Aunt Lydia's statement.
Yeah, it really is bleak. Seeing how it all went down via flashbacks is great at world building.
Good art can have that effect
Just finished the first episode. Terrific stuff, bleak, poignant and probably the best acted show of the year (I'm always weary of saying stuff like this in April but I have such a hard time seeing any show topping the efforts by Elisabeth Moss, Alexis Bledel, Samira Wiley, and of course Ann Dowd).
Grizzlyjin
Supersonic, idiotic, disconnecting, not respecting, who would really ever wanna go and top that
Episode 2 Spoilers
I was going to wait on Episode 3...but now I have to keep going.
Again, the music at the end is just a teensy bit too much for me. But it did make for a great moment "Fuck." *Don't You (Forget About Me) continues*
The narration helps to not make this too depressing. It has a really biting gallows humor feel to it, and let's us know that Offred still has her mind and spirit.
The narration helps to not make this too depressing. It has a really biting gallows humor feel to it, and let's us know that Offred still has her mind and spirit.
I was going to wait on Episode 3...but now I have to keep going.
whyamihere
Banned
The pilot was pretty close to perfect. Can't wait to watch the rest, though weekly releases might kill me.
crackhead_bob
Member
Haven't watched the show yet.
How does this compare to Man in the High Castle?
Since (I'm assuming) this will be a multi season show, can anyone forecast how many seasons this show has in it?
Will it be as dreary and pessimistic as the novel, or might they go for a more harrowing 3 Act story? I know that the book's epilogue mentions the fall of Gilead and that Offred's last moments in the book ends on a very ambiguous note.
So, will this adaptation be unrelentingly bleak like the book,
or....
Will it allow for eventual levity and triumph, given that the long form framework of a TV series can afford Atwood's story? Dexter's first season was based on the first Dexter novel. All the seasons that followed it, however, were not based on the later books. It's possible they could stretch the book out into several seasons. Which would work more for this show -- at least for anyone who's seen it yet?
How does this compare to Man in the High Castle?
Since (I'm assuming) this will be a multi season show, can anyone forecast how many seasons this show has in it?
Will it be as dreary and pessimistic as the novel, or might they go for a more harrowing 3 Act story? I know that the book's epilogue mentions the fall of Gilead and that Offred's last moments in the book ends on a very ambiguous note.
So, will this adaptation be unrelentingly bleak like the book,
or....
Will it allow for eventual levity and triumph, given that the long form framework of a TV series can afford Atwood's story? Dexter's first season was based on the first Dexter novel. All the seasons that followed it, however, were not based on the later books. It's possible they could stretch the book out into several seasons. Which would work more for this show -- at least for anyone who's seen it yet?
Mercury Fred
Banned
I can only guess but I know Margaret Atwood is deeply involved with the project. I can't imagine that the show could go on multiple seasons with nothing but unrelenting bleakness.
The acting alone for this places it on a much higher level compared to MitHC S1 (didn't bother watching S2 after how tedious S1 was). Story also doesn't feel like it's moving at a snail place like MitHC and the cinematography combined with the fantastic costume design gives the world a much more realistic look that I feel MitHC was unable to obtain with it's cg cities and sets.
I haven't read the book so I can't answer your other questions, but I was reading an interview with the show runner where he was talking about expanding on things left ambiguous in the book for the tv show and how he's worked with the author to change things from the book to modernize it a bit and make it more realistic.
Grizzlyjin
Supersonic, idiotic, disconnecting, not respecting, who would really ever wanna go and top that
Can't speak to speed at which things are being adapted because I haven't read the book. But I did see Man in the High Castle Season 1. This is already 100x better at handling characters. My issue with High Castle was that none of the characters were unique or compelling, outside of John Smith. And it really didn't seem to have much to say about facism. Just felt like a tepid spy thriller period piece set in an alternate reality. Heard Season 2 was better but I'm not in a hurry to see it.
So far, this hasn't just gone the easy route of "Oh look how different this world is. Spooky!" Instead of just focusing on the big differences, it shows the extremely small ones that are a means to strip someone of their agency. How people are addressed, how they make eye contact, etc. I'm already way more invested with The Handmaid's Tale.
Oh, and there are some brief moments of levity. Mostly gallows humor. There was tiny little moment in Ep 3 that I almost missed but it's there.
crackhead_bob
Member
Book discussion:
Any signs that the show has the potential to have that "go home" moment like in Six Feet Under and Breaking Bad? So the show will be unrelentingly bleak, but I do hope that the good guys do end up having their small measures of victory. I thought Six Feet Under was bleak, but they balanced that bleakness with satire, as well as a number of heartfelt moments to break up these moments. And even when the worst happened, with Nate's death, there was still that light at the end of the tunnel.
I guess part of this comes down to how I'm feeling right now with the current state of things going on in the world today. America voted in an admitted misogynistic and seemingly with no qualms. And despite Roe Vs. Wade being the law of the land, we've been seeing its slow, deliberate erosion over the decades with no recourse in sight.
I suppose I want to see that light at the end of the tunnel for Offred too, or at the very least, that her story won't be what amounts to non stop misery porn for her character. If this show is to give a vivid depiction of religious fascism in America, I want it to be full throated and unyielding. I'm tired of hearing the term "Islamofascism" bandied out easily off the tongues of right wingers, as if christofascism could never be a thing here in America under the right circumstances. So if this show does shine a light on that reality, there's a chance that it could inform people, much in the way that some of the films from the 1970's did when it came to civil rights and the Vietnam War.
Handmaid's Tale's been getting great reviews so far. If this show ends up being GOAT altogether, I'd like for it to have a fighting chance to tell its full story -- especially on an issue that is so resonant today. And if it takes a fantastical story, then so be it. Wish it took less to ignite the passions of the complacent, but I'll take what I can get.
One final point I'd like to make of this is that the final chapter of Handmaid's Tale takes place a century after the fall of Gilead. So there is that light at the end of the tunnel, but this event is structured as a college symposium, with a professor explaining the fall of Gilead. Offred's final moments in the book is left open ended. IIRC, she's being escorted away during a military crackdown. I hope the showrunner doesn't go down this path.
I'd like to see how a fascist regime is taken down in a long form dedicated series.
I guess part of this comes down to how I'm feeling right now with the current state of things going on in the world today. America voted in an admitted misogynistic and seemingly with no qualms. And despite Roe Vs. Wade being the law of the land, we've been seeing its slow, deliberate erosion over the decades with no recourse in sight.
I suppose I want to see that light at the end of the tunnel for Offred too, or at the very least, that her story won't be what amounts to non stop misery porn for her character. If this show is to give a vivid depiction of religious fascism in America, I want it to be full throated and unyielding. I'm tired of hearing the term "Islamofascism" bandied out easily off the tongues of right wingers, as if christofascism could never be a thing here in America under the right circumstances. So if this show does shine a light on that reality, there's a chance that it could inform people, much in the way that some of the films from the 1970's did when it came to civil rights and the Vietnam War.
Handmaid's Tale's been getting great reviews so far. If this show ends up being GOAT altogether, I'd like for it to have a fighting chance to tell its full story -- especially on an issue that is so resonant today. And if it takes a fantastical story, then so be it. Wish it took less to ignite the passions of the complacent, but I'll take what I can get.
One final point I'd like to make of this is that the final chapter of Handmaid's Tale takes place a century after the fall of Gilead. So there is that light at the end of the tunnel, but this event is structured as a college symposium, with a professor explaining the fall of Gilead. Offred's final moments in the book is left open ended. IIRC, she's being escorted away during a military crackdown. I hope the showrunner doesn't go down this path.
I'd like to see how a fascist regime is taken down in a long form dedicated series.
EDIT: There was recently a group of women who were dressed as red handmaids who showed up at the Texas capital building. Was there any chance that they were promoting this show? This happened in early February, if my memory is correct.
RatskyWatsky
Hunky Nostradamus
Spoiler tag book talk dude.
crackhead_bob
Member
Sorry. I assume that most of this adaptation will be abandoned in the TV show.
Even if it is, you'll get people who want to read the book after watching the show. Please Spoiler Tag and say what the spoilers are for.
And, I know I only posted up there ^, but since I'm posting anyways, I'll ask again:
Thinking of watching this with a friend who went through a fairly viciousawhile ago. The trailer implied things that might stress her out. Can anyone who's seen the first eps comment on if there's anything explicit that might upset her? Just a yes/no gruesome/not gruesome will do. Cheers.sexual assault
whyamihere
Banned
Oh man, the end of episode 3. I don't even know. I'm gutted.
Also - Alexis Bledel is fucking amazing in this show.
Also - Alexis Bledel is fucking amazing in this show.
RatskyWatsky
Hunky Nostradamus
Agreed. I was glued to the screen the entire time. I will watch episode 2 tomorrow (with great anticipation in the meantime).
Sorry, watching one episode and saying show of the year is kind of silly to me so I said smh.
I'm not going to read your pm tbqh. And I'm not a him
Anyway, why the hell does Hulu have ADS in their original series? We're literally paying Hulu to pay Hulu to pay Hulu. Ughh glad I just leech from a friend now
J-Roderton
Member
Well, this show certainly started off strong. Reminds me of Children of Men a bit at times, especially the opening.
Gotta finish episode 2 and hopefully 3 this afternoon.
Gotta finish episode 2 and hopefully 3 this afternoon.
smh
definitely was the most fuck up thing I ever saw in a fictional tv series.
SeriuzBiznus
Member
MGM has the UK distribution rights. Haven't heard who they're trying to shop it to yet, but they have a fair amount of clout in the distribution space so hopefully they'll get it on a major UK network. They were at the Mip conference in Cannes the other week, so no doubt they made a deal with someone there.
Bam Chowder
Member
Watched all three episodes last night. I watch entirely too much TV and this show managed to disturb me far more than anything else I've watched. In particular (episode 3 spoiler)
Also this.
the scene when the 'police' starting firing on the protesters. Fuck that was too real for me - the feeling of fear in that scene was palpable.
Also this.
RatskyWatsky
Hunky Nostradamus
It's pretty heavy - not sure if it makes for the best binge material to be honest.
If this is a joke on Norm's part, I don't get it.
benicillin
Banned
There's not. He rants about it across several tweets calling it feminist conspiracy trash. Again, no one should be surprised because Norm Macdonald has always been garbage.
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