I agree with that.
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Am struggling to watch this - might give up. Loved the book, but not quite liking the series so far. Iâm only two episodes into it, and the thought of eight more episodes is a bit tiring. Iâm finding Elizabeth Moss to be a bit too annoying in this, which doesnât help!
It dipped a bit in the middle, but the last two episodes were quite a bit better. Still not sure of it as a longrunning series though. Overall very good, especially the first 3 or 4 episodes.
Would this get as much positive press if it came out a couple of years ago? The direction is awful in parts. Like AHS story levels of bad.
whoa, letâs not be too hasty there.
I can agree that it timeliness has given it some degree of leeway, but I donât think its flaws are that bad.
So just watched episode 4.
My biggest problem is that they just played a game of Scrabble in which the commander challenged, was incorrect and proceeded to take his next turn.
Still got beat. Lousy cheat
Just seen episode 6 - those of you talking about it jumping the shark really werenât joking were you?
Does it pick up at all in the next couple of episodes or should I just give up? Episodes 3 & 5 were pretty good but overall this has been a major disappointment
I was ready to give up after that episode but I carried on and actively enjoyed the show. Last episode was excellent
last two episodes get back on track.
Why does it sharkjump so bad?
Truth be told I havenât enjoyed the series as a whole bar the couple of episodes mentioned above - as a book-wanker and someone who enjoys reading that particular sub-genre and surrounding non-fiction the tv show really feels lacking.
This episode in particular just seems like the point where the show is rapidly descending in Hollywood clichĂ©s and very shallow investigation of the gendered issues raised. In episodes before weâve had the âwhat else is there to live for?.. Love!â clichĂ©. But even more so in this episode the random kissing scene very much feels like theyâre trying to make a Hollywood romance. If I remember correctly in the book the physical relationship is very much loveless but simply reminds here of how good casual sex can feel when itâs of your choosing and with someone you find even vaguely attractive, even more so as itâs a huge contravention of Gileadâs strict rules. I think the random kissing scene is put in their to make it look like a more conventional romance narrative for the audience and that spoils a great storyline.
Think the biggest culprit is the Mexico storyline though - 100% applaud them for trying to move away from the book and add their own twist to the narrative, but so little of it makes any sense. Firstly, are they saying that only North America has any fertile women and, if so, how the hell is that to be interpreted? If not, then why is Mexico engaging in a cattle-esque trade with despots instead of trying to make itself an attractive place for women from other parts of the world to immigrate to? Furthermore, if fertile women are so rare in Gilead (and, seemingly, even rarer in Mexico) there simply arenât enough to make a trade agreement of this kind worthwhile - giving Mexico 10 handmaids isnât going to solve a population crisis, and giving the 100s or even 1000s would surely jeapordise the delicate situation that the series has led us to believe exists. It honestly feels like a case of the shows producers saying âwe havenât made it obvious enough that women in Gilead are treated more like cattle than humans - how can we make sure the audience gets this message? We could even have Offred say this to someone!â rather than something that adds to the story.
There is more which Iâm happy to discuss if anyone wants but Iâm aware that this post is already far too long and boring for a forum thread on a Hollywood tv show 
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That whole mexico subplot sounds horrendous
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the writers also accidentally imply that the Gilead program is working-not to mention it throws out the implications that the infertility problems lies with (some of?) the men, but the women get the blame- therefore undoing the whole point of the series.
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Anyone on season 2? Itâs maybe the bleakest thing Iâve seen.
Just did episode 2 the uni teacher backstory was very upsetting
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Gave up on this misery-porn halfway through season one.
Yeah. Iâm still watching. Ep 4 lined for this evening.
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Wait, was EP 3 out already?!
Err, if youâre using nefarious viewing methods. Yes.
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Um. IâM TELLING
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Where is the UK up to now?
All I can say is Episode 6 finds somewhere new to go and if youâre feeling quite broken during the opening 5 episodes you should hang in thereâŠ
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