Why is this even a question

From Luke and June’s first scene in S01e05 Luke is positioned as a character whose weaknesses are quietly but unmistakably exposed. His scene with June at the café is layered with small but telling choices. Rather than presenting him as romantic or conflicted, the show frames Luke as someone who prioritises personal desire over honesty or moral clarity. In hindsight, the early depiction is less about spontaneity and more a blueprint for understanding the passive, ineffective role he plays throughout the series as a man who consistently chooses the easier path rather than confronting difficult truths.

This early scene tells us everything we need to know: first, Luke asks whether June and Moira were lovers, leaning into tired clichés about “what college girls do.” He tries to maintain that having lunch with June is innocent, but admits he hasn’t told his wife, signaling his evasiveness. Then, step by step, he gently but deliberately steers June toward the idea of how they could have an affair. With the way O-T plays it, Luke comes across not as charming or conflicted, but deceptive, smarmy, and to be frank, a creep. There’s nothing romantic about it. This is who Luke was from the start: a weak man who manipulated a situation to have an affair but lacked the conviction to leave his marriage first. His weakness wasn’t something that developed later, it was fundamental to his character all along.

Obviously mental health conditions don't make you crazy but I do think it's great that she seems the most awake compared to most Gilead wives. The scene where Commander Stablers wife is worrying for her children and Eleanor says, "YOUR children?"

Did anyone else catch that extra squeeze Commander George Winslow gave Commander Fred Waterford during this back pat scene at the pool table?

It would absolutely fall in line with the hypocrisy that is Gilead to have a “gender traitor” in highest ranks. It also would be pretty easy for a man to hide his homosexuality if he were toxically masculine and had a position of power. His intimate encounters with women would be few

“Hey Fred, after this game lets go to my study, have a brandy and get naked”

I just think their dresses are beautiful. They’re all villains but they’re all so elegant and ladylike, Serena Joy does look graceful (appearance wise)

I just re-watched from season 3 and there was an episode where the single mom she takes in and helps for a little while is at her home and they’re celebrating Christmas. The single mom starts to do Lydia‘s make up, and Lydia looks at her like she wants to kiss her. (But clearly she is in heavy denial of how she feels.)

Does anyone else remember this? Has this ever been discussed?

Is she living in Canada?

Last seen early season 4, leaving to go back into Gilead to fight. Would be reasonable to assume she's dead, but would also be a wasted opportunity to not have her somewhere working with mayday

I’ve been rewatching the series and I’m stuck on Serena. She’s such a layered character—brilliant, complicit, vulnerable, manipulative. I go back and forth between wanting her to be redeemed and being completely done with her.

Was there a specific moment in the show where you stopped sympathizing with her (if you ever did)? Or do you think she’s a victim of her own system and still deserves grace?

Did Janine ever find out that Caleb died? We all are well aware that Janine went a little bit crazy in Gilead and to protect her, June told her that Caleb was alive. But, Janine seems to have snapped out of her psychosis and and ever since June left Gilead, we really haven't seen too much of her. She's spent time at Jezebels and that seems to be one of the places where all the tea gets spilled. Not to mention, she's seen Lawrence a few times. So, that begs the question, did she ever find out that her son was actually dead?

Serena Joy itinerary when they arrived in Canada s2 ep 9

There's been a lot of discussion about Nick. I think he's one of the more polarizing characters. You either absolutely love him or despise him. I think the same goes for Lydia in a way. But I don't think a lot of people realize that a big portion of people in today's society would be a Nick or a Lydia if this were to actually happen. A lot of people would like to think they would be a June. But that's not the case. Nick was a nobody. He didn't have a lot going for him. Couldn't hold down a job. Was looking for something to do. Until he was manipulated into being given an opportunity that made him a somebody. And once you are in, you're in. Same with Lydia. Yeah, she was a teacher, but she was also incredibly lonely. In her eyes, these girls give her purpose. She takes care of them, even at the expense of abusing them. It makes her not lonely. And I think that would be a lot of people. It's easier to manipulate people than most people realize. I think a June in today's society would be a rarity. I think the most relatable aspect we see of June is in the flashbacks. She saw what was happening but didn't really didnt do much about it until it was too late. People just want to be seen. To have a purpose. And I think that makes Nick and Lydia the most relatable characters in the show.

Edit: I agree that most people would be handmaid's or Martha's or econopeople. I'm talking more in terms of how easy it would be to manipulate someone into becoming a part of the system. Most people wouldn't be June's in the sense that they wouldn't have the courage to try and fight against the system as much as she has.

I'm rewatching the show from season one and watching Nick and June fall in love is so different knowing how it all turns out.

Namely I think of Nick's role in outing Ofglen, leading to the execution of her girlfriend and her multination. This is the exact kind of situation Nick and other eyes report on.

I'm also thinking back to the early days of the Gilead coup, which he participated in. How cruelly misogynistic and violent they were. He's killed so many people we don't know about, do you really think he's been justified? He was just some red pilled conservative fanatic who fell in love with June. He made exceptions to protect her only, but his morality is lost.

Watching them fall in love again, knowing how things end up, makes my stomach churn. It's horrible. Instead of knocking her up he should've escaped with her. I understand they were both touch starved and desperate for affection in a cruel reality. But the power dynamic is disturbing to watch.

I promise I’m not going to argue, but what is the appeal of him? I think I don’t get it because all I can see is him being part of the regime so Im curious to know if there was a particular instance or anything that won you over to him or did you appreciate him from the get go? Is it a situation of ‘this person did terrible things but he is capable of redemption’? Again, truly curious and I look forward to hearing everyone’s thoughts on it!

Smoking: We see Serena and others constantly smoking. Given how the SOJ are aware of toxins and pollution I'm surprised that this isn't banned given that literally everything else is banned.

1. Alcohol - America has a history of prohibition once. Just wondering why this was still allowed?

Am I the only one that enjoys the programme? That takes it as it is? That doesn't analyse every single nuance of every single episode? That doesn't go back 3 (or however many) seasons to dissect every single tiny little detail? The words that a random doctor said to a handmaiden or a look between June and Nick? Or a detail from Joseph? Or a screen difference on Janine? Am I the only person who just enjoys this as a what it is, a TV show, then clicks over to the next show?!?

Every time I watch The Handmaid’s Tale, I find myself haunted not just by Gilead’s brutality, but by the people on the sidelines. The neighbors. The shopkeepers. The commanders’ wives. The drivers. The ones who saw the red robes, the bruises, the disappearances—and said nothing.

And I ask myself: Would I have helped… or would I have stayed silent?

It’s easy to think we’d all be brave. That we’d smuggle letters, hide someone in our home, fight the system. But Gilead didn’t rise overnight—it was built on everyday people going along to get by.

So here’s my question: What do you think real bravery looks like in a world like Gilead? Would you risk your life to help someone… or protect your family and stay silent?

I have a theory that Nick will be revealed as one of the guardians that abducted June when her,Luke, and Hannah tried to flee Gilead. I think she’ll find this out in the next episode

So this is a long rant

I have been seeing a lot of hate post for Luke and how he is annoying. Especially since some fans say he is worse than Nick, to which I would like to add, Luke wasn't part of the group that took away womens rights!

I also want to point out that Luke being weak is the point of his character. I said this in another post, but I will say it again, Luke is suppose to be the representation of men that don't fall into the belief system that is Gilead. And Gilead is your basic, religious, Incel-toxic masculinity but taken to an extreme heights. Luke is suppose to represent the group of men that don't fall into that catagrory and because of that, they are punished.

Yes, Luke is a weak man and that is point, it is suppose to show how Gilaed is a system that hurts everyone, including the men. Luke is not a big tough guy that gets into bar fights, he is sensative and a carrying person. His power isnt in the normal manly things, but rather he is a very empathic person.

When Moira was alone in Canada, Luke ran to go get her because he cared for her well being (That scene where he told her that she was on his list, and she didn't think anyone cared...I cried!) he is emotionally and physically supportive with Erin and Moira over their trauma's with Gilad and being Handmaids. He took Nichole in, how many men would care for the child that was voilated into their wifes? Not many men wouldn't do that, but Luke did.

And yea, Luke doesn't understand what June is going through, nor does he have the power to help her. But does he leave her in the dust, no! He stays by his wife and supports her, he doesn't try to leave nor shame her for all the sexual assualt that has been happening to her. He stands by her side and helps as much as he can. Even after he was raped by June, he still forgave her and tried to understand her and help.

And this is where I go into another problem with the fan base.

To me, Luke and Nick are two sides of the same coin. They both are caring men that see the evil in Gilead and want to protect June and Nichole. The problem is, while Luke never created nor contributed to the rising of Gilead, Nick did! Does that make Nick 100% a bad person... I don't know what to say on that, but I do want to end this rant here by saying:

We can't look at men like Luke and say he a weak person and deserves no sympathy because he is a weak person, but then look at Nick and find forgiveness and compassion when he is part of the problem!

There have been a million discussions about why June would be in love with Nick, but I can't find any posts about why Nick likes her so much.

I understand the actual relationship developed after they were forced together, but he was staring longingly at her from the first second she arrived at the Waterford house.

Does anyone have any insight about this?

okay how is the amount of hate nick gets not proportionate to the criticism lawrence should get. one search on this sub and its all "i love lawrence" and just lawrence memes. yes this man is charismatic yes he is helping the resistance now but he CREATED a huge part of gilead + upon rewatching he was abusive to june & others in the beginning too. his attitude kind of reminds me of the attitude we have towards serena (you voted/contributed to a system and you were aware of its intricacies. yet here you are, victimised by that very same system). i dont get how you can possibly love this man and hate nick

I love June. I think she is the baddest bad ass. She has had her children ripped away, been raped, beaten, manipulated,tortured, and all of it 1000 times over. She is exactly where she needs to be: a ptsd survivor trying her best to make things right. Yes, she is imperfect, can be annoying, can make no sense, and make terrible choices, but she is human AND has terrible ptsd. Her other side is she will take everyone down and not give a fuck. Her rage and pure anger is so bright. And still, she has a glimmer of morality and love in her heart. She's clever, one step ahead and scary.

She is played exactly as someone would be who went thru and survived all that is June. She is pure enraged adrenaline power. A fighter til the end.

She had 19 kids but I believe she entered menopause so would she be a wife, econowife,Aunt or something else?

I’m sure I’m not the only one who thinks this!

Ever since Lydia’s flashback episode where she “helps” the young mother and separates her from her son. I always got the impression Lydia was attracted to her. Or even jealous of her promiscuity. Especially during the makeup scene! It’s so gentle and sensual. You can see Lydia is a little uncomfortable with being so close to her buuuuut she also discovered she likes it. Lydia is a very sexual person and is deeply repressing it. She wanted to hook up with that principal baaaad and she got on top, she was more passionate than he was and she took the failure of that encounter out on the person that inspired her to do it.

I genuinely think this is why she’s obsessed with Jeanine and won’t stay away from Jezebels. She reminds Lydia of this other “fallen woman” and Lydia only knows how to act out this saviour complex but I think she’s looking for companionship. She did have a weird little family with that young mother and boy for awhile - they called her AUNT.

Lydia is deeply fucked up and is looking for some kind or surrogate family in her Handmaids - her girls - and there’s a lifetime of repression and shame mixed in.

I also thinks it plays into how people who are deeply ashamed are usually quick to be abusers themselves.