Spoilers The Handmaid's Tale (TV series)
- Thread starter Skipper
- Start date
I love that the finale was a reflection of all of the pain and loss and uprising and retribution of the past six years. I love that the show decided to go against the common thread of a dramatic finale and instead go with a quiet conclusion. An opened ended one, yes, but one with wonderful resolutions for most of the characters (yet again, Moira and Rita fall to the wayside for the sake of June and Serena). And while the ending moments may have been a little corny, I do love that the final narration is the opening lines of June recounting her early days as Offred, word for word the opening passages of the book (unless I'm mistaken).
And yes, I was very pleasantly surprised by Emily's return! I absolutely love her reunion with June, recounting their past lives alongside their reclaimed ones. I especially loved how the Wall has been transformed from a place of death to one of love and how their visit in the finale bookends their visit all those years ago in the beginning. I'm a sucker for moments like those and, even if the final season faltered in other ways, at least here, it fucking shined. And while it might have been saccharine and unnecessary, I adored June's fantasy of an alternate time where all of the Handmaids were friends hanging out together (complete with Alma and Brianna!), singing and enjoying life, to the tune of Fleetwood Mac's "Landslide," the show's final and perhaps most perfect needle drop.
While Hannah's fate is left unresolved, I appreciate the show resisting the easy and quick reunion, even on the heels of the seemingly easy downfall of Gilead's stronghold on Boston. Besides, Janine got the impossible reunion with her daughter and, in some ways, I think she's more deserving of it, even if the ease of Gilead and Naomi relinquishing Charlotte was a little hard to believe especially with so little explanation. Hell, I thought Janine was safely with everyone in Boston but I guess I missed something in the penultimate episode.
Hannah's continued life in Gilead sets up The Testaments but honestly I don't think the show needed to do that. Too much has been changed with the nature of Gilead's existence, the USA's place in the world, Lydia's very characterization and history, for it to properly work. As I said before, I think the adaptation of The Testaments would work better as a separate continuity, even if it would confuse the show-only viewers. But I accept that I'm in in the minority on that point.
Lastly, I believe Serena was, at long last, actually contrite when she apologized to June. I didn't want June to forgive her but I appreciate why she did it. Serena certainly doesn't deserve it...even if, yes, the show still wants us to feel sorry for Serena. The woman who only ever wanted a child and took down an entire nation to get one.
And yes, I was very pleasantly surprised by Emily's return! I absolutely love her reunion with June, recounting their past lives alongside their reclaimed ones. I especially loved how the Wall has been transformed from a place of death to one of love and how their visit in the finale bookends their visit all those years ago in the beginning. I'm a sucker for moments like those and, even if the final season faltered in other ways, at least here, it fucking shined. And while it might have been saccharine and unnecessary, I adored June's fantasy of an alternate time where all of the Handmaids were friends hanging out together (complete with Alma and Brianna!), singing and enjoying life, to the tune of Fleetwood Mac's "Landslide," the show's final and perhaps most perfect needle drop.
While Hannah's fate is left unresolved, I appreciate the show resisting the easy and quick reunion, even on the heels of the seemingly easy downfall of Gilead's stronghold on Boston. Besides, Janine got the impossible reunion with her daughter and, in some ways, I think she's more deserving of it, even if the ease of Gilead and Naomi relinquishing Charlotte was a little hard to believe especially with so little explanation. Hell, I thought Janine was safely with everyone in Boston but I guess I missed something in the penultimate episode.
Hannah's continued life in Gilead sets up The Testaments but honestly I don't think the show needed to do that. Too much has been changed with the nature of Gilead's existence, the USA's place in the world, Lydia's very characterization and history, for it to properly work. As I said before, I think the adaptation of The Testaments would work better as a separate continuity, even if it would confuse the show-only viewers. But I accept that I'm in in the minority on that point.
Lastly, I believe Serena was, at long last, actually contrite when she apologized to June. I didn't want June to forgive her but I appreciate why she did it. Serena certainly doesn't deserve it...even if, yes, the show still wants us to feel sorry for Serena. The woman who only ever wanted a child and took down an entire nation to get one.
I think they are still just calling her by her title because they are used to doing it. I don't think she is officially part of that government anymore. My guess is she might get some kind of sweetheart deal with America If she helps them with providing information in order to help the war effort.