Angelica, I don't know why I keep reading your reviews, injecting your racist views that in any society white people must be superior to all others...so I will offer you an example.
Prior to the forming of the USSR, the different ethnic groups in the former Yugoslavia fought and hated each other, until they found themselves living under an oppressive regime where discrimination was forbidden. Many people harbored old feelings (as we saw in the violent ethnic cleansing after the collapse of the USSR), but during the regime, discrimination (at least in public and practice) disappeared.
Prior to the forming of the USSR, the different ethnic groups in the former Yugoslavia fought and hated each other, until they found themselves living under an oppressive regime where discrimination was forbidden. Many people harbored old feelings (as we saw in the violent ethnic cleansing after the collapse of the USSR), but during the regime, discrimination (at least in public and practice) disappeared.
3
"But this music box only reminds Offred of her captivity. “The perfect gift,” Offred says. “A girl trapped in a box.”"
Hats off to the sound artists here for lacing this with even more metaphorical significance through the choice for the music box to play arguably the most haunting chords from Swan Lake, the story of another trapped woman-turned-swan that ends in suicide.
Hats off to the sound artists here for lacing this with even more metaphorical significance through the choice for the music box to play arguably the most haunting chords from Swan Lake, the story of another trapped woman-turned-swan that ends in suicide.
4
I wish this reviewer would stop criticizing Handmaid's Tale for not being the completely different show she wanted to see. The decision to make Gilead post-racial is debatable, and I respect Bastién's objections to it. But at this point it is also an established fact, both by the show itself and by the producers' comments. There is simply no way that a nuanced commentary on race is going to come out of this show, and introducing race now would only make Bastién's criticisms of earlier episodes more valid. So it seems a bit delusional for her to approach this episode with the expectation that Moira's appearance will address "the role of race in Gilead."
The emphasis on men's backstories does seem questionable, as part of the feminist power of Atwood's book was that it was purely a woman's story. But it's hard to forget that just a few weeks ago Bastién was lambasting the show for presenting Serena Joy in a sympathetic light. Bastién seems to have condemned this show for not propagandizing her own moral conclusions, but she is overlooking the nuance that is there: even a humanized Serena Joy is easy to abhor, and the limo scene from Nick's backstory exemplifies the horror of women's fates being decided by a group of smug men. Bastién has clearly reached these conclusions herself, and she should credit her audience with the intelligence to reach their own without dumbed-down moralizing.
The emphasis on men's backstories does seem questionable, as part of the feminist power of Atwood's book was that it was purely a woman's story. But it's hard to forget that just a few weeks ago Bastién was lambasting the show for presenting Serena Joy in a sympathetic light. Bastién seems to have condemned this show for not propagandizing her own moral conclusions, but she is overlooking the nuance that is there: even a humanized Serena Joy is easy to abhor, and the limo scene from Nick's backstory exemplifies the horror of women's fates being decided by a group of smug men. Bastién has clearly reached these conclusions herself, and she should credit her audience with the intelligence to reach their own without dumbed-down moralizing.
17
One big problem with these big TV adaptations of novels -- unlike the old-style "mini-series" which lasted 3-6 hours -- is that they go ON and ON and ON. "The Handmaid's Tale" is a fairly short novel, but the HBO series is TEN episodes with ANOTHER TEN planned for 2018 (or about 10 hours this year alone). There simply isn't enough material in the novel for all of that. So they have to pad and pad and pad. I can't imagine what they will do after the first 10 episodes, because the novel ENDS. I guess at that point, they start making stuff up.
2
They are not simply retelling the novel, they are created a series based on the novel.
7
I guess at that point, they start making stuff up.
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"The Leftovers" did it successfully.
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"The Leftovers" did it successfully.
2
Absolutely agreed that Moira's perspective is needed to round out and reflect opposing journeys of two long term friends in this world. One from rebellion to submission the other submission to rebellion.
2
At least the male characters have distinct personalities and appearances. Not true for many of the female characters, especially the handmaids, but I guess that is by design.
1
Samira Wiley's performance is enough to distract me from a lot of troubling issues. This woman is an amazing actress.
And who knows? Maybe the writers of the show have more to say about Moira than Atwood did. It ain't over yet.
And who knows? Maybe the writers of the show have more to say about Moira than Atwood did. It ain't over yet.
5
A silly show, at least based on this review, and a silly reviewer who is determined to find sexism and racism everywhere. All nonsense for the politically correct.
2
"a silly reviewer who is determined to find sexism and racism everywhere."
Is she any sillier than those determined to dismiss the existence of sexism or racism anywhere?
Is she any sillier than those determined to dismiss the existence of sexism or racism anywhere?
13
I'd say sexism and racism everywhere is basically the point of the book.
10
It is such a great show! Watch it and decide for yourself.
2
Does the show spend really too much time on the perspectives of men? Fred is seen as an oppressor who toys with June and a husband who doesn't care about Serena Joy. In both cases, he is seen from the woman's perspective. And Luke doesn't have much identity at all beyond loving and worrying about June. Nick's is the only male backstory so far and it's both convincing and chilling to see a nonbeliever becoming an integral part of the party apparatus.
But I was not happy to see Nick break off his sexual relationship with June. Now that Luke is back into the story, and with Nick out of the way, I fear the whole show turning into an escape thriller. It's a shame because Nick is the more interesting character and because it cheapens their relationship. Where initially it seemed like June's choice of Nick was an affirmation of her capacity for desire, an assertion of her individuality, now it is only something she does because it makes her "feel good."
But I was not happy to see Nick break off his sexual relationship with June. Now that Luke is back into the story, and with Nick out of the way, I fear the whole show turning into an escape thriller. It's a shame because Nick is the more interesting character and because it cheapens their relationship. Where initially it seemed like June's choice of Nick was an affirmation of her capacity for desire, an assertion of her individuality, now it is only something she does because it makes her "feel good."
3
And nick really should have gone for that Martha or whatever she was, a real cutie, much better than ragged old June.
I disagree that the potential of this episode was squandered on Nick. His story, his motivation, his role in Fred's household are all key to the central story line. He's an Eye, yet as far as we know he hasn't reported the Commander's Scrabble evenings with Offred. He has been a bit of an enigma. While I hope we will learn more about Moira, it isn't her story, it's June/Offred's, and Nick has more presence in her lilfe as a Handmaid.
21
1) "wives decked in blue"
Am I color blind? I had always thought that the wives wore green!
OK, looking at photos on the internet now I see that it is surely blue (most of the time).
2) "Offred in a glittering golden"
Wait a minute, this is a joke right? Don't tell me she was wearing a gold and white dress when she was clearly wearing a black and blue dress! (just kidding)
Am I color blind? I had always thought that the wives wore green!
OK, looking at photos on the internet now I see that it is surely blue (most of the time).
2) "Offred in a glittering golden"
Wait a minute, this is a joke right? Don't tell me she was wearing a gold and white dress when she was clearly wearing a black and blue dress! (just kidding)
4
I am more interested in the female characters. Didn't care for Luke's episode, either
1
"For a show so concerned with the fates of women oppressed by a sexist, fascist dystopia, “The Handmaid’s Tale” spends far too much time exploring the perspectives of its male characters."
Ta-da! There you have it. This series (unlike the novel) is less interested in indicting the oppression of women than exploiting it for melodrama.
Ta-da! There you have it. This series (unlike the novel) is less interested in indicting the oppression of women than exploiting it for melodrama.
1
The series is building on, fleshing out and extending the scope of the book ... with Margaret Atwood's active participation and input. Can't we just let it roll out as its creators present it instead of constantly projecting and second-guessing? I am tired of reading -- repeatedly -- how this reviewer thinks that race is not adequately addressed ... maybe in this near-future world, the emphasis on childbearing to ensure the continuation of the human species DOES make race no longer meaningful. Clearly the critic can't get her head around that, but that doesn't make the series less valuable or meaningful. By the way -- in the book, June's meeting with Moira at Jezebels is the last time she ever sees or hears of her.
13
Since Gilead represents one possible future version of the United States, it seems very strange that it retains none of the racial tensions and animosities of our own society. This story is not set in a fantasy world like "Game of Thrones" or "Friends".
3
It is set in a fantasy world. No, it's not set on Mars, but this is fiction. Atwood says that the things she writes about have happened in reality, all over the world, but holy cow, man, this is fiction. It's a cautionary tale, it's not a documentary.
And the Commander who scored Monica as a Martha would be a lucky man, indeed.
And the Commander who scored Monica as a Martha would be a lucky man, indeed.
2
You can't understand the plight of the oppressed unless you understand the motivations and the rise to power of the oppressors. A story just about the women of Gilead would be a very boring story.
21
Although the backstory of Nick was done in a sort of forced and not very compelling way - it is necessary because Nick is a key figure in the book - and this series is, after all, based on a beloved book. For two decades I've had my own ideas about who Nick is and the motivations for his actions - and how I think the book ends (no spoilers in this comment!) - but to set up any of that and lay the groundwork for a second season - Nick's character is key - and must be explained, given context and woven into the main story. That being said - I hated him in this episode. But - I see him as a hero from the book so I am hopeful
8
"For a show so concerned with the fates of women oppressed by a sexist, fascist dystopia, “The Handmaid’s Tale” spends far too much time exploring the perspectives of its male characters."
A legitimate complaint or another feminist rant?
A legitimate complaint or another feminist rant?
1
"A legitimate complaint or another feminist rant?"
We must have missed the previous feminist rant. Or did a woman simply dare to speak in public recently?
We must have missed the previous feminist rant. Or did a woman simply dare to speak in public recently?
17
Neal - Have you been reading Ms. Bastien's Handmaid's Tale blog? Same comments by her, over and over. She's obsessed.
4
"She's obsessed."
No, she's simply analyzing the story's themes in a way that makes some readers uncomfortable.
By choosing to make the TV Gilead non-controversially multi-racial, the series creators have made this future dystopia seem a lot less evil than the white supremacist theocracy of the novel; perhaps it's even a bit more more progressive about race than our current dystopia.
I believe these changes from the novel were made to soothe the sort of irate readers I mentioned above.
No, she's simply analyzing the story's themes in a way that makes some readers uncomfortable.
By choosing to make the TV Gilead non-controversially multi-racial, the series creators have made this future dystopia seem a lot less evil than the white supremacist theocracy of the novel; perhaps it's even a bit more more progressive about race than our current dystopia.
I believe these changes from the novel were made to soothe the sort of irate readers I mentioned above.
3
I think the Nick flashbacks are meant to serve a larger purpose than simply giving us the character's backstory. They reveal more about the ways in which the totalitarian state of Gilead came about and how it operates, most chillingly in the limousine scene in which the rationale for the handmaids is discussed. It also reveals that Nick was placed in the Waterford household to keep an eye on Fred, not necessarily the handmaids and marthas. That raises intriguing possibilities for the complications to come.
42
"“Jezebels” is the name of the brothel Offred and Fred find themselves at." Fred doesn't "find" himself at Jezebels. He went there purposefully; he knew exactly where he was going - and why. This lazy writing and, perhaps, a lack of understanding, belies specific, tiresome attempts to explore the racial issues within the story. I get it and it is fascinating. But maybe that interesting issue would be better served in an essay rather than in a weekly examination. There are so many additional issues to look at, to examine, but Ms. Bastien chooses to limit herself - and the readers - to only the one issue. It's not about "lightening up." It's about expanding the analysis.
44
Lazy writing, and the missing of many details. Fred doesn't watch her shave, he does the shaving himself, which is interesting for many reasons, none of which are gone into here, because she apparently didn't see, or remember, this point.
16
Yes, exactly. And Fred actually shaved June's legs. I thought that was one of the creepiest scenes yet.
10
The Margaret Atwood novel has a very powerful and plausible explanation of Gilead's racial policies. The creators of this series, too cowardly to be faithful to the novel, inadvertently opened up a different can of worms.
5
I don't believe Moira plays a huge role in the book. Offred/June is the central character, it's her story, and Nick is fairly important. So once Moira is out of Offred's orbit, do we need to go to her backstory? Perhaps the TV show will.
I don't really agree with arguing with a film or TV series or anything for what it's not trying to do. It should be judged on what it is doing, what it decided its themes were. The story is Offred's.
That said, I find it unbelievable that so many young, healthy men in Gilead would willingly seem to be without female partners. Are there Jezebels for them? I don't believe that is ever mentioned in the book. How long would a society last that gave men guns but did not allow them to have partners?
I don't really agree with arguing with a film or TV series or anything for what it's not trying to do. It should be judged on what it is doing, what it decided its themes were. The story is Offred's.
That said, I find it unbelievable that so many young, healthy men in Gilead would willingly seem to be without female partners. Are there Jezebels for them? I don't believe that is ever mentioned in the book. How long would a society last that gave men guns but did not allow them to have partners?
23
There is some precedent in real life; for instance, in the Warren Jeffs version of FLDS culture, wives are generally reserved for the elder men of the group or those who have "earned them". It definitely is not sustainable. In that instance, young men were banished when they came of age in order to prevent tensions and any form of uprising. The book Lost Boy goes into this in detail.
7
If you read the book....young, healthy men would not be without partners. They would just have partners who were infertile. In the sci fi world of the novel, most women (and probably most men) are infertile. Only the few fertile women left in society become Handmaids, and are reserved for the wealthiest or most powerful men in government -- as a way to ensure they have offspring.
BTW: a rough example of a society that gives all the women to a few men (*but which is nothing like the novel, because it has nothing to do with mass infertility) are polygamous societies, like the Yearning For Zion ranch -- or some Fundie Mormon societies. There, a handful of the wealthiest old geezers get ALL the young, attractive women. That leaves a huge surplus of young men, who literally have no females at all in their future. As such, they are discarded in the late teens, literally abandoned. But these are marginal groups, so those unwanted teenager boys can go out and merge with the larger secular society.
BTW: a rough example of a society that gives all the women to a few men (*but which is nothing like the novel, because it has nothing to do with mass infertility) are polygamous societies, like the Yearning For Zion ranch -- or some Fundie Mormon societies. There, a handful of the wealthiest old geezers get ALL the young, attractive women. That leaves a huge surplus of young men, who literally have no females at all in their future. As such, they are discarded in the late teens, literally abandoned. But these are marginal groups, so those unwanted teenager boys can go out and merge with the larger secular society.
1
You do realize this is fiction?
"Moira" doesn't "get an episode". She doesn't exist. So, no worries..
"Moira" doesn't "get an episode". She doesn't exist. So, no worries..
6
"You do realize this is fiction?"
Only temporarily, until the Armies of Trump suspend the 2020 elections.
Only temporarily, until the Armies of Trump suspend the 2020 elections.
15
In the book the outfit that Fred gives Offred is old, dowdy, in need of some repair, garish and ill-fitting. Yet in the context of the world created by Atwood, it possesses a sexual energy that is galvanizing. At the same time, the shabbiness of the outfit carries with it a pathos that symbolizes what society has come to. What Fred wants from Offred doesn't exist anymore, and he is willing to delude himself into believing he can still have it.
It was a poignant moment in the book that seems lost in the adaptation for the sake of the Hollywood Star System.