Hulu, Handmaid's Tale, MGM TV

Serf’s Narrative

Hulu, Handmaid's Tale, MGM TV

Hulu original dystopian drama The Handmaid’s Tale premieres its fourth episode this Wednesday.

#TheHandmaid’sTale has been renewed for a second season and is based on literature of the same name.

rottentomatoes: 99%

metacritic: 92

imdb: 8.7

emmys: 8 wins

***SPOILERS AHEAD***




Hulu, Handmaid's Tale, MGM TV


Offred, Hulu, MGM TV, The Handmaid's Tale, Elisabeth MossOffred, Hulu, MGM TV, The Handmaid's Tale, Elisabeth MossOffred, Hulu, MGM TV, The Handmaid's Tale, Elisabeth MossOffred

Offred or June is disenfranchised reproductive chattel in the not-too-distant future where successful human fertility has become scarce, and everyone is ruled by a theocratic military dictatorship known as the Republic of Gilead, formed within the borders of what was formerly the United States of America.


Offred, Hulu, MGM TV, The Handmaid's Tale, Elisabeth Moss

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES

1 win: 2017

“Come here, honey, come here.  Let mommy check you.  Come here.  Come over here.  Is it your head?  Did the car go bump?  It’s okay.  No, no, no.  What about you?  Come on.  Here we go.  Watch your step.  Careful.  Watch the road.  Go to the left, honey.  Come on.  Go quickly.  Stay here, hon.  Stay there.  Come here, honey.  Good girl.  We’re gonna hide right here.  Quick, quick, quick.  Put your head down.  Good girl.  Now be very quiet, okay?  Be quiet.  Shh, shh.  Quiet, baby girl.  Quiet.” — Offred

Quote1Here we go.  Good girl,  Good girl.  No!  No!  No!  No!  No!  Hannah!  No!  Please!  Please don’t take her!  Please don’t take her!  No!  No!  No!  No!  No!  No!  Please!  Please don’t…Quote2 — Offred

“A chair.  A table, a lamp.  There’s a window with white curtains, and the glass is shatterproof.  But it isn’t running away they’re afraid of.  A handmaid wouldn’t get far.  It’s those other escapes.  The ones you can open in yourself given a cutting edge.  Or a twisted sheet and a chandelier.  I try not to think about those escapes.  It’s harder on ceremony days, but thinking can hurt your chances.  My name is Offred.  I had another name, but it’s forbidden now.  So many things are forbidden now.” — Offred

Quote1No, ma’am.  Yes, ma’am.  Yes, ma’am.  May the Lord open.  Peace be to you.  May God make me truly worthy.  You too.  Yes, ma…. Yes.Quote2 — Offred

“Rita makes the bread from scratch.  It’s the kind of thing they like the Marthas to do.  A return to traditional values.  That’s what they fought for.” — Offred

Quote1All right.  Thank you.  I want to tell her that Oflgen is not my friend.  That I’ve exchanged barely 50 words with her in two months since I got here.  I kind of want to tell her that I sincerely believe that Ofglen is a pious little shit with a broomstick up her ass.  Under His eye.Quote2 — Offred

“He’s the Commander’s driver.  Lives over the garage.  Low status.  Hasn’t even been issued a woman.  No, Nick, I’m gonna knock back a few at the Oyster House Bar.  You wanna come along?  Yes.  I’m going to Loaves and Fishes.  Mercury?  Maybe he’s lonely.  Maybe he watches me.  Maybe he’s an Eye.  Peace be with you.  May the Lord open.  Yes.  Pious little shit.  Very well, thank you.  Thank you for asking.  We go everywhere in twos.  It’s supposed to be for our protection.  For companionship.  That’s bullshit.  There are no friends here.  Can’t be.  The truth is we’re watching each other.  She is my spy, and I am hers.  We’ve been sent good weather.  By His hand.  Praised be.” — Offred

Quote1I don’t… I don’t have a token for oranges.  I don’t need oranges.  I need to scream.  I need to grab the nearest machine gun.  That would be nice.Quote2 — Offred

“A priest, a doctor, a gay man.  I think I heard that joke once.  This wasn’t the punch line.” — Offred

“No, thanks.  I have to write that paper tonight.  Yeah.  Campus sexual assault.  What’d she say?  Oh, did she?  What’s her name?  You don’t know her name, do you?” — Offred

Quote1Blessed are the meek.  They always left out the part about inheriting the earth.Quote2 — Offred

“I tried to run… with her, but she’s… She was so heavy.  I really tried.  Do you pinky swear?  Okay.  What about Odette?” — Offred

“Moira, what’d they do to her?” — Offred

Quote1Moira isn’t up there.  And that gives me hope.  It may be false hope, but, hey, it’s something.  I can’t.  I have to get ready for the ceremony.  Praised be.Quote2 — Offred

Quote1A bath is required before the ceremony.  I am to make myself clean.  Washed and brushed like a prize pig.Quote2 — Offred

“When do I come to her?  Will she remember me?  Please, God.  Let her remember me.  I want to know what I did to deserve this.” — Offred

Quote1Teach her a lesson!  Teach her a lesson!Quote2 — Offred

“The knock is prescribed ’cause tonight this room is her domain.  It’s a little thing, but, in this house, little things mean everything.” — Offred

“The… The chances are… Are better if I… If I lay on my back afterwards.” — Offred

“The moon’s the same.  That’s something.  They haven’t changed that.  I’ll think about the moon.  I can feel the Commander’s come running out of me.  I can smell it.” — Offred

Quote1Janine?  You’re having dream, okay?  Wake up.  Hey, come here.  Snap out of it.  Janine?  Snap out of it.  Janine!  Come on.  Okay.  I know.  Come here.  Put this on.  Here you go.  Come on, get into bed now, okay?  Come on.Quote2 — Offred

Quote1Keep your fucking shit together.Quote2 — Offred

“He saw me outside last night.  But the Eyes haven’t come for me.  There’s no black van.  He hasn’t told anyone.  Not yet.  Why not?  Three bells.  There’s a Salvaging today.” — Offred

Quote1Blessed day.  I’ve been called… Praised be.  They had tuna at Loaves and Fishes yesterday.  It looked good.  You should… You should get some.  Under His eye.Quote2 — Offred

“Under His eye.  Hi.  Where are you posted?  Waterford.  Have you heard about anyone?  I saw Gabby a few months ago.  She had a miscarriage.  No.  Not since the Red Center.  Janine?  Who’s dead?” — Offred

Quote1Hey, it’s okay.  Uh, yeah, be about 20 minutes.  Sorry, I’m just… I’m trying to get a hold of Luke.  He’s staying over in Essex and there’s, like, shitty cell phone reception there.  Um, so, I think I’m pregnant.  That’s not all they’re saying, though, you know?  I know five women at work who’ve had miscarriages.  Some of them were pretty far along.  You know Linda from marketing?  She actually carried to term but her son only lived a few days.  But you don’t know that, Moira, okay?  You don’t know that.  It could happen.  Yeah?Quote2 — Offred

“And before.  I always thought you were such a true believer.  Eight.  She’d be eight.  We tried to cross in Maine.  With my husband.  Then we split up.  They shot him.  You too.” — Offred

Quote1Someone is watching.  Here, someone is always watching.  Nothing can change.  It all has to look the same.  Because I intend to survive for her.  Her name is Hannah.  My husband was Luke.  My name is June.Quote2 — Offred

“Blue.  I let it take me.  Blue moon.  Rhapsody in blue.  Tangled up in blue.  Blue oyster cult.  Blue Monday.  Our car was that color.  We bought it off Craigslist.  It smelled like maple syrup.  Luke said it was a leak in the radiator, it was probably bad for kids.  After we got it fixed, I missed that smell.  And so did Hannah.  She said it smelled like Saturdays.  I wish he’d hurry the fuck up.  Hi.  May the Lord open.” — Offred

Quote1Would you like to take the long way?  Under His eye.  Do you think it’s safe to talk here?  Brookline.  You?  I was an assistant book editor.  After my daughter Hannah was born, it was part-time but sometimes it was just paperwork.  But we did novels and academic titles.  Once we did nine volumes on the history of falconry.  Yeah, it kind of sounds amazing.  Wow.  I thought all the college professors were sent to the Colonies or…Quote2 — Offred

“St. Paul’s.  That was my dad’s parish.  My daughter was baptized there.  And how do you know that?  How do you know there’s an Eye in my house?  What do you mean ‘us?’  I don’t know,  I’m not that kind of person.  Find out what?  Of course I won’t.” — Offred

Quote1There is an ‘us?’  It seems imagined, like secrets in the fifth grade.  People with mysterious histories and dark linkages.  It doesn’t seem as if it should be the true shape of the world.  That’s a hangover from an extinct reality.  Now, the Guardians of the Faithful and American soldiers still fight with tanks in the remains of Chicago.  Now, Anchorage is the capital of what’s left of the United States, and the flag that flies over that city has only two stars.  Now, darkness and secrets are everywhere.Quote2 — Offred

“Now, there has to be an ‘us.’  Because, now, there is a ‘them.'” — Offred

“Who is it?  One-eyed bat-shit-crazy Janine.  What will she give birth to?  An unbaby, with a pinhead or a snout like a dog’s or no heart?  The chances for a healthy birth are one in five, if you can get pregnant at all.” — Offred

Quote1He wants to see me, alone.  No.  It’s too dangerous.   Okay.  Thank you for trying.  He didn’t.  He sent his driver, Nick.  He said I shouldn’t trust you.  He said you were dangerous.  Yeah.Quote2 — Offred

“Beyond the Commander’s door is a place where women do not go.  Not even Serena Joy.  What male totems are kept in there?  I guess there may be something he wants from me.  To want is to have a weakness.  That gives me hope.  But I can’t stop thinking about the girl in the horror movie who goes down into the basement when the light is out.  The girl who thinks her boyfriend with the perfect hair is just playing a sexy prank.  ‘Justin, are you down there?’  And then she descends, with a stupid smile, to her bloody end.  That girl is a fucking moron.  Please, God, don’t let me be a fucking moron.  You’re welcome.  We’re not supposed to.  Hi.” — Offred

Quote1I guess it’s a little strange.  A game?  Yes.  I’m rusty.  All right.  I’ll check my schedule.  Where are you going?  Well, after you get back, then.  Thank you for the game.  Good night.Quote2 — Offred

“Does he know what the Commander and I did last night?  Our illicit journey into the world of triple word scores?  Does he care?  I think he does.  Ofglen.  I can tell her that the Commander is going to Washington.  Will she be surprised by the Scrabble game?  She’ll be glad I let him win.  I know that much.  She’ll be proud of me for that.” — Offred

Quote1May the Lord open.  Yes.  We’ve been sent good weather.  Has Ofglen been transferred to a new post so soon?  Fuck.Quote2 — Offred

“I’ve heard pieces of the story from Rita.  The Marthas have their own networks.  There was a black van.  Then footsteps on the stairs.  Then something quick and brutal that made her unable to scream.  There’d be no mercies for a member of the Resistance.  She left nothing behind.  No footprints.  No breadcrumbs.  I didn’t even know her name.  Ofglen is gone.” — Offred

Quote1Now I’m awake to the world.  I was asleep before.  That’s how we let it happen.  When they slaughtered Congress, we didn’t wake up.  When they blamed terrorists and suspended the Constitution, we didn’t wake up then either.  They said it would be temporary.  Nothing changes instantaneously.  In a gradually heating bathtub you’d be boiled to death before you knew it.Quote2 — Offred

Conscientious, enduring, circumspect, and virtuous June is an Idealist.


Serena Joy, Hulu, MGM TV, The Handmaid's Tale, Yvonne StrahovskiSerena Joy


“So, here you are.  You can sit.  I don’t make a practice of it, but just this one time.  So.  Old what’s-his-name didn’t work out?  Hmm.  Tough luck.  This is your second posting then?  Good.  Our last one was brand new.  It was like training a dog, only not a very smart one.” — Serena Joy

“I expect you know the rules.  Don’t call me ma’am.  You’re not Martha.  Well, look what the cat dragged in.  This is the new one.  Blessed be the fruit…” — Serena Joy

“Get up.  I want to see as little of you as possible.  Do you understand?  Mrs. Waterford.  He is my husband until death do us part.  Don’t get any ideas.  If I get trouble, believe me, I will give trouble back.” — Serena Joy

“Just coffee for you this morning?  Something wrong?  Right,  Well, you need to be early tonight.  Just coffee for you this morning?” — Serena Joy

“Late again, as usual.  What is it about men?  Come in.” — Serena Joy

“Get up.  Are you deaf?  Just get out.” — Serena Joy

“Gentlemen?  Go back to your room.” — Serena Joy


Commander Fred Waterford, The Handmaid's Tale, Hulu, MGM TV, Joseph FiennesCommander Fred Waterford


“I’m Commander Waterford.  Right.  Well.  Good.  Nice to meet you.” — Commander Waterford

“Duty calls, I’m afraid.  I’ll be in my office.  Just a conference call with my field commanders.  Then meetings.  Always a lot of meetings.  Of course.  I know it’s hard, but keep faith.  We’ll be rewarded.  I promise.” — Commander Waterford

“Good evening.  Dear.  Now, let’s get started.  Excuse me.  ‘And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister, and she said unto Jacob, give me children or else I die.  And she said, ‘ behold my maid, Bilhah.  Go in unto her… …and she shall bear upon my knees that I may also have children by her.  And she gave him Bilhah, their Handmaid, to wife, and Jacob went unto her.”” — Commander Waterford

“Please, let’s continue in my office.   No rest for the weary.  We’ll join you for dinner.” — Commander Waterford

“Come in.  Close the door behind you.  Sit down.  Please.  Thank you for coming.  You can look at me.  In here, we might be able to bend the rules.  Just a bit.  Hello there.  I imagine you must find this strange.  I want… This will sound silly.  I’d like to play a game with you.  Yes.  Do you know how to play?  Good.” — Commander Waterford

“Three-eighty-six to three-eighty-three.  You’re good, but I caught you at the end there.  Then we’ll have a rematch.  I’m out of town next week, but when I get back?  Well.  See if you can squeeze me in.  Nothing exciting, just meetings.  Now, I think it’s time for you to go home.  You’re very welcome.  Good night.” — Commander Waterford


Rita, The Handmaid's Tale, Hulu, MGM TV, Amanda Brugel

Rita

“Always showing up when I’m in the midst of something.  Hold your horses.” — Rita

“The Commander likes his eggs lately.  Make sure they’re fresh, not like last time.  Let them know who it’s for and they won’t mess around.” — Rita

“You gonna stand there all day?  Be rude, leaving your friend outside waiting.” — Rita

“Those eggs you got today were nice and fresh.  I wish they’d hurry up.  Some of us got things to do, you know?  Hurry up and wait.” — Rita

“I heard.  So, now I’ve got my work to do and your shopping.  I’m sorry.  Morning to you.  Yes, sir.  My pleasure.  Any other special requests?  Oranges and tuna.  Sounds delicious.  Under His eye.” — Rita


Nick, The Handmaid's Tale, MGM TV, Hulu, Max Minghella

Nick


“Sorry.  Going shopping?  If you’re going to All Flesh, you should avoid the chicken.  I read they’ve got crazy levels of dioxin.  Oh, then you should definitely avoid the tuna.  No, I just don’t like tuna very much.” — Nick

“Good morning.  Uh, the Commander wants you to get more oranges, if they still have any.” — Nick

“Go in grace.” — Nick


Ofglen, Hulu, MGM TV, The Handmaid's Tale, Alexis BledelOfglen

Ofglen is an active agent of the Resistance, whom is subsequently discovered, detained, and brutalized.


“Blessed be the fruit.  Offred?  Are you okay?  Which I receive with joy.  The war is going well, I heard.  We’ve defeated more of the rebels.  They had a stronghold in the Blue Hills.  We smoked them out.” — Ofglen

“Offred.  We should go.  Praised be.  The fighting in Florida must be going well.  Your Mistress likes oranges.  We should get some oranges before they’re all out.  Praised be His bounty.  Take some.” — Ofglen

“Should we walk home by the river?  Should we take the long way?” — Ofglen

“Praised be.  We’ll go straight home, then.  May God bless your endeavor and bring forth His miracle.” — Ofglen

“Yes, Aunt Lydia.  Offred.  Offred, are you alright?” — Ofglen

“I am so sorry about your friend.  Moira?  You knew her from the Red Center?  Was there ever a ‘before?’  This used to be an ice cream place.  They had the most amazing salted caramel.  It was better than sex.  Like, good sex.  So were you.  So frickin’ pious.  They do that really well.  Make us distrust each other.  Come on.  Just keep walking.  How old is your daughter.  My wife and I had a son.  Oliver.  He’s almost five.  They had Canadian passports.  I didn’t.  I got caught at the airport.” — Ofglen

“They weren’t going to let any of us get away.  Not if you had a red tag.  This is your stop.  As they used to say.  It was nice to finally meet you.” — Ofglen

“There’s an Eye in your house.  Be careful.  Blessed be the fruit.” — Ofglen

“Blessed be the fruit.  I like the rain.  Under His eye.  If we’re careful.  Are you from here?  Missoula, Montana, if you can believe that.  I moved here for school.  Do you work in the city?  Or did you?  Oh, man.  Actually, that sounds like it’d be fun to me right now.  I worked at the university.  Lecturer in cellular biology.  I have two good ovaries.  So they were kind enough to overlook my sinful past.  Lucky me.  They took down St. Patrick’s in New York City.  Blew it up and dumped every stone in the Hudson river.  They fucking erased it.  It’s okay.  To be relieved it wasn’t you.  It was someone.  I know.  There’s a way to help them.  You can join us.” — Ofglen

“There’s a network.  No one is until they have to be.  Waterford is important.  He’s very high up.  You should find out and tell us.  Find out anything.  Don’t say a word.” — Ofglen

“It’s so crowded up there.  At least someone spiked the juice.  You okay?  Your commander?  Shit.  You don’t know why?  Maybe he did this with the one before you.  Maybe she told someone about it.  Let me see what I can find out.  It’ll be okay.  I’m sneaky.” — Ofglen

“Nobody knew about what your Commander might want.  Sorry.  But that doesn’t mean it’s bad.  If he accuses you of something, don’t defend yourself.  Don’t explain.  Just apologize.  They love to be forgiving.  No worries.  He probably just wants a blowjob.  What did he say?  When he asked to see you alone?  Be careful.  A lot of the drivers work for the Eyes.  Really?” — Ofglen

“I mean he’s right.  Trusting anyone is dangerous.  Especially a carpet-munching gender traitor.” — Ofglen


Moira, Hulu, MGM TV, The Handmaid's Tale, Samira WileyMoira


“Mmm.  Your turn.  What do you mean?  Oh.  For Dietrich’s class?  What’s it about?  For or against?  It’s too cold, babe.  Stop.  Mm.  All right.  I’ll be right there.  I’ll be right there.  She just said, ‘Let’s go to church.’  Write your paper!” — Moira

“Hey.  I know.  You’re gonna get her back, alright?  Just gotta keep your head down.  All this crazy shit is gonna end and then we’ll find her.  I swear.  Yeah, I fucking pinky swear.  She was rounded up in one of the dyke purges.  She was reclassified as an unwoman sent to the colonies.” — Moira

“‘If my right eye offends thee, pluck it out.’  We’re breeding stock.  You don’t need eyes for that.” — Moira

“Her fault!  Her fault!  Go on.  Do it.  Teach her a lesson!  Teach her a lesson!” — Moira

“You’re not there anymore.  That’s all gone.  Now, get back into bed.  My name is Moira and this is the Red Center.  Don’t you know what they’ll do.  They’ll send you to The Colonies.  Your skin will peel off in sheets and then you’ll die.  You will die, Janine.  And shut up.  She does this again and I’m not around, you slap her.  Hey, that shit is contagious.  You want to see your baby girl again?  Then you need to keep your fucking shit together.” — Moira

“Hey.  Sorry.  Fucking Uber.  You put your name in?  What?  We’ll freeze our nuts off.  You want to go somewhere else?  Hi.  What’s wrong?  Oh, okay.  What?  Oh, my God, are you… Holy shit, come here!  Oh, my God!  What?  Don’t worry.  Don’t worry.  Getting pregnant is the hard part, that’s what they’re saying.  And you did it.  Yeah, well, that’s not going to happen to you.  Uh-huh, yeah.  That’s not gonna happen.  Okay, all right, um… If it does…. You’ve got a good man.  And you’ve got me.  No matter what happens, I’ll be right here.  You and me, just like always.” — Moira



Outstanding Directing

Outstanding Lead Actress

Outstanding Supporting Actress

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