The Hand Maiden

durhamjen Atwood was an executive producer - so one of the programme makers! Also was in that episode (slapped Offred in the red school section).

First episode was almost entirely faithful to the book!

Watched episode 2, seemed to be very mumbled in a lot of places.

Missed the last comment [the one before the f**k one that is!]. Can anyone tell me what the reply to her question with regards the other woman was....

I've managed to watch the first one. The mumbling is annoying but I thought it was brilliant.

She replied "I am Ofglen".

Thanks; saves me having to watch it again. Loving it, but the adverts [one every 10 minutes] are driving me mad! And catchup tv isn't working at the moment either .

I think it is very good. A futuristic nightmare scenario. We are recording the whole series. Some mumbling but the women have been trained to be subservient.
I dislike that droning background soundtrack that all directors seem to have to have now to show you the situation is scary. Just in case the audience don't realise that.

I use subtitles or constantly miss bits. I think it is well done and very menacing, but also depressing as can't help thinking about women in some parts of world who may be experiencing similar. We are so lucky to be living in a liberal society.

Can't get subtitles to work on Ch4; usually have them on other channels. Although it is menacing/depressing there is a certain amount of dark humour in it. I can't remember much about the film, and I haven't read the book, so whether that's been added by Ch4 I don't know. Reminds me of their excellent 'Humans' series.

I'll try to concentrate on the dark humour bits Tegan

You'll have to be very quick in spotting them then ...

Can't get subtitles on catch up!

Watched it last night, (Mon. 12th.) This was scarily up to date, with FGM used as punishment. The plausibility of how a whole race of emancipated women could be brought to heel by blocking their bank accounts, and their right of work was unnervingly plausible.
I read the book when it was first published, back in the eighties, and this version seems to have been updated to reflect more modern sexist traits.

Hi,

This is my first post! Anyway,yes it is disturbing but some of these things are actually happening elsewhere in the world. I read the book many years ago. It was written in the 80s but I think it is good the way the programme has updated it to the contemporary world. Elisabeth Moss is excellent in the main role.

Welcome *grumpyoldwoman56". I agree with your post. I have found this programme very thought provoking. Think it's very insightful, we'll written and acted. Hope you enjoy gransnet.

Can somebody help me with last night's episode? I got very confused as to what was happening. Offred "escaped" with one of the other hand maids who had attacked and stolen the uniform of a "minder" (I don't know what they're called). Then Offred was picked up at the station while the woman in disguise escaped. Offred was whipped on the feet. But was she just imagining this is what happened to a previous hand maid because the story seemed to jump around and at the end of the episode she was leaving the house and OK. I think I must be getting a bit dim in my old age and, although I read the book, it was many years ago and I can't remember it.

The whipping was real.
The previous handmaid hung herself.
Commander Fred does not want Offred to hang herself, or that would be another failure, so he must have told his wife to let her out of her room.
He wants to make a connection with her to enable him to 'perform'.
The Guardian website does a very good episode by episode review, that helped me to work it out. (as well as watching it twice!)

A question to those of you who have read the book.
Does Commander Fred hide the sausage with Offred ( without his wife there providing a pillow) and she becomes pregnant. Wifey is very confused as she knows that the old fella couldn't / wouldn't rise to the occasion

Thank you for that Ilovecheese.

Last episode last night. (30/7/17) For those of us still hanging on, there will be a series two next year.

I have found this to be a very watchable and thought provoking series. I am looking forward to the second series. I had the book bought for me as a present but didn't want to read it until I had seen the whole series. Will be reading it soon.

Must watch this on iplayer or whatever. My DD is bullying me into watching trying to educate my tastes. She tells me I should would love Margaret Atwood's work ?

I loved the colours, the red cloaks on the snow.

I enjoyed the series but I didn't know there would second series!.

Flipping heck I was looking forward to knowing what happened.

Oh it's finished and I don't know if I'm happy or not. So wanted Offred to escape, but there is a second series to come! Rather gory last episode but hubby and friend are both free they have to try to find her, don't they?