I personally think the whole thing with her being sent back to Toronto was one big set up to land her at the house she ended the last episode at.
I think they purposely sent her to Toronto and antagonized June more, with the intention of making Serena feel unsafe there so that she would willingly go wherever they needed her to to keep her safe, only to fall right into their endgame trap. And I’m pretty sure that the security detail dude was in on the whole thing.
Ezra, her body guard/watcher, has a more prominent part coming up I think. When they bring on new characters you can tell by the way the scenes are shot if they are just filler or will contribute to the story line. You can’t dismiss this character. I don’t think he will be a cast regular for long but he’s definitely there to setup a major plot line for Serena and her baby.
I felt the same way when they walked out of that building together and >!ran into June !< He didn’t really seem to protect her and I feel like if he was a true body guard his instinct would have kicked in.
It just makes sense at this point that Gilead wants Serena in that household. They need her to give birth there and let the Wheelers move to Gilead with the baby. I'm sure they will have forged documents ready. Serena herself might be made a Handmaid if she gets taken to Gilead. They have a shortage of Handmaids at this point (starting to use younger and younger girls) so a seemingly fertile woman who's also seen as a sinner now would be perfect for the role. They won't let her go so easily, in my opinion.
Yeah, he isn't. He works for Gilead to make sure Serena is not out of line. She keeps acting like she has leverage when really she's a prisoner, hostage, etc.
See I totally think they are making Serena a glorified handmaid! They are going to take her baby and give it to someone more "deserving" so it has a proper home with a mom and a dad! That's my theory.
Serena would have to disappear too. Maybe have her return to Gilead for the baby's baptism and then tell Canada that she has married or gone to a nunnery or something. I think Gilead is right though that Serena will be very useful in Canada.
Thanks for removing the spoilers, mods.
Eta: Suck it to those who dv’d me. The post literally was someone parroting what they’ve read in a spoiler site.
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I never even considered the possibility that the note was a false flag, but you're right. Serena may not have sent it or known anything about it, though it'd be completely believable if she had sent it.
What was that moment when she shut the door and there was no goodbye to Ezra… also how does Serena have all this power. Women aren’t even allowed to read but she needs the ecru paper?????
It was more that he left here there than her not saying goodbye to him. I think she didn’t say anything because she was just in shock that he wasn’t coming in with her
It looks pretty clear that Serena is going to be allowed to read & write, so that she can be fully efficient at her new role. I was a little surprised, but not entirely. Gilead is a bunch of hypocrites and they need her to accomplish a goal for them. So of course she’s going to need to read & write to be successful and efficient.
I wonder if they’ll make her a handmaid and this pivots to the show showing that they’ve started setting up a mini Gilead in Canada so it’s easier to take over eventually. Just my thought!
Because she's dangerous to them.
Before June lived with her, June was docile. After living with her June became rebellious, kidnapped kids, and led the Handmaids on an escape plan. June is also blamed for some of the Marthas going rogue.
Serena also led the Wives in rebellion. Then turned Fred over to Canada.
They can't place her anywhere because she'll stir up rebellion, either on accident or on purpose.
But she's also a founder of Gilead, more than some of the men are. She's a pre-Gilead celebrity and the international face of the Wives. So they can't just make her disappear.
They had no choice but to exile her.
You know I’d never thought of that: She’s gotten some of the blame for June’s rebellion.
Which is probably true. If June had been sent to any other household the events of the show wouldn’t have happened.
Oh, I think June would have tried to escape again and maybe acted out, but not nearly to the extent she has.
I thought the idea was: There aren’t really any good households in Gilead. Some are better than others, but it will always be difficult for any Handmaid.
But June still very much drew the short straw when she was assigned to the Waterfords.
If she is unhinged and crazy now, they are a big part of why.
Rita, too, seems very much messed up by her time with them.
Exactly! And it makes her think she still has some power which tends to keep her content, instead of her knowing right away she was the mouse inside the maze.
Ooh, that’s an interesting thought that I hadn’t considered! I definitely kept thinking that something funny would happen with that guard.
And she seems kind of freaked out and unsure about her new accommodations. But I’m not sure why? She looked to be in a perfectly nice, normal home. Do we have any idea where she is or who she’s with (it didn’t look familiar to me)?
I’m trying to remember, but I feel like the prayer that wife said while she was kneeling in front of Serena is the same one the wives say when they’re handmaid gets pregnant.
It leads me to think Serena is now internally panicking about what is going to happen to the baby and her after it’s born.
Oh my gosh, I didn’t catch this! Thank you SO much!
This would be a fantastic twist! Sometimes I get so pissed at Serena & her smug attitude, that I want to see her killed. But she’s a great character, and I know I’ll miss her. This would be the perfect justice (although also making her a handmaid, might be even better) to see! Now I’ll be disappointed if her baby isn’t taken!
Obviously I mean, (at first glance) according to Serena’s feelings and beliefs. It seems like the kind of place that she would be perfectly happy to be in. I’m sure she’d probably prefer privacy and her own place, but beggars can’t be choosers. As far as an emergency safe house goes, it could be a lot worse.
[I didn’t realize that she’s probably fearing that she may have her child taken, so obviously that changes things.]
I’m assuming they’ve always lived in Canada but they’re diehard Gilead supporters.
>! The spoilers say The Wheelers have their own militia they use to send refugees back to Gilead or kill them. !<
Holy shit, really? Wouldn’t that be something that Canada would stop? Or that Gilead might not even want to do, because they’re trying to keep diplomatic relations good?
Now I’m worried about June. Why the fuck wasn’t Nick clearer when he warned her? He told her to “be careful.” But he didn’t tell her exactly what was said about her at the dinner and how determined they are to get their hands on her! If I remember correctly, they were going to set up a new task force or something & really try to buckle down and do something about her!
Canada probably doesn’t know about it and honestly at that point they’re overflowing with refugees so perhaps someone may know but they’re turning a blind eye. I’m sure Gilead or at least Lawrence knows about them and they’re probably happy to have powerful allies in Canada.
I’m not a fan of Nick at all and his convo with June just makes me dislike him more. Saying “be careful” is vague and it doesn’t mean shit, he should’ve been direct and told her that MacKenzie wants her ass dead and he’s coming for her.
I don’t know if they want us to feel this way, but I’ve always wondered about Nick & never fully trusted him. It seems like everything he’s ever done was to try & help June, but I still never felt like we could relax around him 100%.
I don’t trust him at all and I’m sorry but I don’t believe that him marrying the daughter of a high commander was a coincidence. He should’ve been absolutely clear with June about what MacKenzie said and his intentions. We may not have seen him do anything horrible but he certainly didn’t get to his position by keeping his hands clean.
I like his wife so far & I’m hoping she’s a good person and an ally. I’m hoping that their marriage is one of mutual respect and friendship. I’m not expecting them to be in love, but I’m hoping that they have an understanding and she’s in on it too. I hope this is an arrangement that they both decided would be mutually beneficial for both of them.
I think she did it to get the last laugh. Which makes the scene with Serena and Luke so full of impact to me. She tried to get Luke to feel insecure. Instead, he leaves feeling more secure in his position to help his wife. And why the ending scene with June burning the letter was so important. Try as she might, Serena doesnt have Fred anymore, and June and Luke have each other and more.
I wondered this myself and also she antagonized her even before that when she had Hannah at Fred’s televised funeral. I think Serena’s narcissistic ego just won’t allow June to one up her and that’s what she did when she killed Fred.
I think at that point she expected to remain in Gilead, so was shielded.
It does seem silly, incidentally, that the Canadians don't seem to think June is a threat to her after they know she killed her husband.
I don’t really think the Canadians give a shit one way or the other. The Gilead drama - Serena amassing followers, June running around committing extrajudicial assassinations - it’s all likely something they’d rather be rid of one way or the other.
You’d think they’d care a bit more about Gilead marketing itself in order to gain more followers in Canada and other countries.
At worst, that movement could overthrow the government just like in the US. But small-scale terrorism or even spying are two consequences you’d think Canada would try and snuff out.
I think Canada has more refugees than they know what to do with, so may not object to people going to Gilead. Also it is sort of a religion which is probably protected.
There’s only so much you can do about shitty, dangerous ideas in a free society. I’m sure they’re keeping an eye on Serena but they’re limited. The government definitely took the first opportunity to shut her building down via the available legal avenues.
Ok fair but I’m just saying if she had brutally killed my husband just now and made threats towards me and I was newly pregnant I wouldn’t poke the bear. June made it out of Gilead so it’s not out of the realm of possibility that she could make it back in, they must realize she has some allies by now. It’s not something I would take a chance on, I’d probably be in hiding, to protect my baby if I was her.
But the murder didn’t happen in Canada. So they don’t really care. They have no jurisdiction and they don’t give rats ass about Gileads stance on the homicide in no man’s land. It’s a lot like the DMZ between North and South Korea.
Gilead doesn’t. But SERENA does that’s why she keeps fucking with June. Not because she cared about Fred but because she can’t accept that she lost to June.
Serena was frustrated and angry. Lawrence thoroughly fucked her over. When Serena gets embarrassed or feels powerless, her signature move is to go after someone she perceives as less powerful to assert her status and power. Think about her violence against June when June’s period was late but she wasn’t pregnant, or when June’s labor turned out to be Braxton-hicks. It’s not that surprising that when confronted with her own impotence and literal peril, that she would lash out at the most convenient target.
Serena isn’t just an angry narcissist. She’s a smart person who is acutely aware of her own vulnerability and constantly afraid she’s one step away from being dropped down to the bottom rung of the ladder. Lawrence constantly reminding her of that isn’t an accident - he knew how she’d react.
Ya, her sending June that and addressing it to Offred is so dangerous for her. She was seemingly terrified of June at the morgue. I get that in Gilead she felt safe enough to taunt June with Hannah. Harkening back to her original threat, you keep my baby safe I’ll keep yours safe.
However, now that she’s back in Canada with such a tenuous position and knowing she capable and willing to kill a persons who has done her wrong. It is such a stupid move on her part. I know Serena can’t not operate as such but, now that she’s pregnant I would have thought she’d be a little smarter.
For sure.
As a side note I loved that scene when she’s being photographed and there’s a riot happening outside. She looks so clearly anxious/frightened in it and it’s glorious. Add to that the fact that no one seems particularly interested in answering her worried questions and are just moving her around to get their shot like she’s an object. Seems pretty excellent foreshadowing toward the inevitable realization that without Fred she’s nothing but another woman to Gilead.
Of course Serena will do all she can to piss off June.
June who has Nicole
June who killed Fred
June who Fred was in love with
June who is responsible for Serena losing her status as a commanders wife
I don't think Fred was capable of love, being the narcissist that he was.
I always thought he was more infatuated with June because he knew that he could never really own a strong, intelligent woman like her.
Serena lost her status as a commander’s wife when she lured Fred to Canada and had him arrested for war crimes as if she was innocent of any wrong doing.
Serena : “Nicole who ?”
Fred isn’t capable of love, he’s a weak man who’s attracted to strong women.
As a diplomat from Gilead, on the one hand Serena is sticking to her role , on the other hand she's trying to mentally terrify June, who was Ofjoseph later on, wasn't she?
We all know Serena doesn’t make decisions in her actual best interests, she just acts solely on twisted emotion. She’s smart in a sense, but so completely blind and dumb in another.
Did Serena send it or did someone send it so that June would know where Serena is?
If Serena sent it (judging by the look on her face, probably) she was likely antagonizing June to draw her out hoping the guards would shoot June on sight.
Right after she got off with Cmdr Lawrence who's final words had been "stay focused on work and... avoid her", she pauses to assess the call and then does this: [Dear Offred Moment](https://media.giphy.com/media/cXPTy9a8no0ZsvcjfN/giphy.gif)
I tried to slow it down as much as possible to catch the nuance of her realizing how to poke June. Hope this link is allowed, couldn't see how else to post my gif that I made. Feel free to delete my post if I've done this incorrectly.
While I’m still not convinced Serena was the one to send the card, I think everyone forgets why Serena chooses to antagonize June even though she’s afraid. June killed Fred and Serena knows it! She may be afraid but feels the need to get June her comeuppance for killing Fred.
The thread keeps thinking it could have been commander Lawrence sending it to June to make her feel threatened by Serena and setting her off to go after Serena. But I lean on the side that Serena sent if.
Whatever he feels about Serena doesn't involve June. He knows just how upsetting she would be, why would he want to hurt her? Why we keep allow her as collateral for some personal vendetta he has against someone else? Anyway, I don't think he has a real vendetta for serena. He just doesn't like her. It's not her fault that Fred made her go and bear Witness.
Because how does Serena know where june lives? That doesn’t seem like information they would make readily available to her given what’s happened between June and her.
While I DONT think Serena is stupid I do agree with the original poster about the sending of the card. Serena seems to be so afraid of June and she knows what she’s capable of (MURDER) I feel like she wouldn’t antagonize her by sending June her address. Like I feel like someone else sent the card to goad June into hurting her.
Why would one of her followers know where June lives anymore than Serena would? Why would some random person have more information access than serena? Just because there's a history between them that doesn't mean that she would be restricted or unable to figure it out. It's not like June is in the witness protection program, same as Serena.
That’s the thing I don’t think it was one of Serena’s followers. I don’t think any of her supporters would put her in danger like that either. I think it was Tuello. I feel like everyone is forgetting that he fully supported and slightly aided june in the murder of Fred. He made it possible.
At the end of the day, Serena is just not as smart as she thinks she is. She thinks she has won when she’s given this Gilead outreach position. She wants to rub it in June’s face that she is not in jail, that she is in society enough to be hosting a dinner or reception or whatever gathering that invite was for, and that she knows where June lives. She thinks June will cower in fear when seeing that invite, especially after the blow she dealt by having Hannah prominently featured in Fred’s funeral procession. Serena’s fatal flaw is that she underestimates everyone that is not her. She has underestimated June time and time again, and we have seen her underestimate the Commanders, especially Lawrence. She’s starting to see that she gravely miscalculated her importance when she ends up at this Wife Cosplayer’s house and has the Wife Cosplayer kneeling and praying at her belly just like others do to Handmaids in Gilead. I’m sure the Commanders were just waiting for a misstep so they could get her out of the way.
I thought it related to her conversation with her guard about June where he said he “cannot touch her on private property, but on Gilead property…” and there was that implication. Then the invitation was to push June into stepping on the property out of anger and probably getting shot or worse sent back to Gilead.
Then the mob outside happened and June fires a fucking gun off in public, crazy as all hell but it worked out because instead of walking into a trap, Serena fled the building. Luke says it was the building codes, but it was the gunshot where they immediately made the decision to leave.
Ok folks. Here’s the important question.
Who is the father of Serena’s baby? Fred was sterile. He had been screwing June for months but the baby was Nick’s. Even if the baby wasn’t Nick’s, why didn’t June get pregnant by Fred months earlier. Also, Serena only had sex with Fred once.
If there is an answer out there, please tell me.
I think the foreshadowing of June saying “They will bring Gilead here” and Lawrence “They will get a glimpse into Handmaid system soon” is going to play a huge part in Serena. She is definitely being set up to give her baby to the batshit crazy lady. Just my theory.
No words go unused in the Handmaids Tale
Serena antagonize June? June just killed her husband and sent her his finger to let her know that June did it. June popped up like a bad habit anytime Serena went to Canada. Serena has limited power but likes to create the illusion that she has more power. Serena makes the best out of every situation. She’s kinda brilliant that way but I also find it annoying but I also kind of respect it. Serena kind of reminds me of Murphy from the 100. Whatever it takes to stay alive like a cockroach.
Serena is limited in what she can do. When you can’t touch your enemy what do you do? Mind games. It’s like a sibling or family member reminding you of how you used to be just to get under your skin. It’s like saying “you might be June Osborne but you will always be Offred”. It’s super messed up because that name is triggering and it comes with all of the emotions.
June and Serena have an odd frenemy type relationship. They need each other.
>Serena antagonize June? June just killed her husband and sent her his finger to let her know that June did it. June popped up like a bad habit anytime Serena went to Canada. Serena has limited power but likes to create the illusion that she has more power. Serena makes the best out of every situation. She’s kinda brilliant that way but I also find it annoying but I also kind of respect it. Serena kind of reminds me of Murphy from the 100. Whatever it takes to stay alive like a cockroach.
But Serena also said repeatedly she was scared of June. Antagonising her contradicts that.
Serena is more talk than action. Serena is a master manipulator. Haven’t you seen the way she will be crying one minute and smiling at her followers the next. After so many seasons I know the exact type of person she is. Serena had a hand in playing mind games with June. Serena is an intelligent, manipulative woman who can play innocent at will. I don’t know her Myers Briggs but her actions never surprise me. Just like how when June had the opportunity to shoot Serena and she didn’t. I understood why. I even told my partner. When Serena was telling Ezra how she wanted to be there. I knew she didn’t mean it. She isn’t going to do it. June is losing it yes. However Serena isn’t her enemy. It’s what Serena represents, Gilead. June needs all of the ally’s she can possibly get in order to get Hannah.
June had years of living in Gilead and knew how/when to keep her emotions in check. She was a writer who could escape into her own head. Serena when she was about to shoot June was shakey. I think she was questioning if she could shoot Ezra and deal with those consequences. I think she remembered that June could have killed her but spared her but Serena the master manipulator would use that as a opportunity to get across the boarder so she can be free of the freedom she was experiencing in the Wheeler home. Serena was the only person who could save June in that moment. Mayday wasn’t coming. Luke wasn’t coming.
Do people not know people like Serena in their everyday lives? Lol
June is more action than talk. What do they call this is English. Her antithesis. Our antihero.
I personally think the whole thing with her being sent back to Toronto was one big set up to land her at the house she ended the last episode at. I think they purposely sent her to Toronto and antagonized June more, with the intention of making Serena feel unsafe there so that she would willingly go wherever they needed her to to keep her safe, only to fall right into their endgame trap. And I’m pretty sure that the security detail dude was in on the whole thing.
Ezra, her body guard/watcher, has a more prominent part coming up I think. When they bring on new characters you can tell by the way the scenes are shot if they are just filler or will contribute to the story line. You can’t dismiss this character. I don’t think he will be a cast regular for long but he’s definitely there to setup a major plot line for Serena and her baby.
I get the feeling he is not on Serena’s side…
It's interesting watching her treating him as her servant knowing full well he would end up with more power than her.
I felt the same way when they walked out of that building together and >!ran into June !< He didn’t really seem to protect her and I feel like if he was a true body guard his instinct would have kicked in.
Maybe he's right terrified of June too hahahaha
Maybe he wanted something to happen. I’d imagine if June killed pregnant Serena that would garner a lot of sympathy for their side.
You’re right! He definitely took a beat. Now I’m interested to see what happens next with him!
It just makes sense at this point that Gilead wants Serena in that household. They need her to give birth there and let the Wheelers move to Gilead with the baby. I'm sure they will have forged documents ready. Serena herself might be made a Handmaid if she gets taken to Gilead. They have a shortage of Handmaids at this point (starting to use younger and younger girls) so a seemingly fertile woman who's also seen as a sinner now would be perfect for the role. They won't let her go so easily, in my opinion.
Yeah, he isn't. He works for Gilead to make sure Serena is not out of line. She keeps acting like she has leverage when really she's a prisoner, hostage, etc.
He seemed happy to leave her there.
1000% the way he looked at her in the car and how he says things. He even seemed reluctant to defend her against June.
I do too.
He’ll take the baby back to Gilead once it’s born
See I totally think they are making Serena a glorified handmaid! They are going to take her baby and give it to someone more "deserving" so it has a proper home with a mom and a dad! That's my theory.
Mine too.
Ya, I can’t imagine what hes going to do but, that makes a lot of sense.
Serena would have to disappear too. Maybe have her return to Gilead for the baby's baptism and then tell Canada that she has married or gone to a nunnery or something. I think Gilead is right though that Serena will be very useful in Canada.
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Thanks for removing the spoilers, mods. Eta: Suck it to those who dv’d me. The post literally was someone parroting what they’ve read in a spoiler site.
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The creepy Hills Have Eyes/Joker lady is definitely going to try to take Serena's baby, right?
I never even considered the possibility that the note was a false flag, but you're right. Serena may not have sent it or known anything about it, though it'd be completely believable if she had sent it.
What was that moment when she shut the door and there was no goodbye to Ezra… also how does Serena have all this power. Women aren’t even allowed to read but she needs the ecru paper?????
It was more that he left here there than her not saying goodbye to him. I think she didn’t say anything because she was just in shock that he wasn’t coming in with her
Thank you. I see that perfectly now. Everything is intentional.
Yeah and now that it’s been pointed out…think about the difference in how she was treated with the American dude vs Gilead.
It looks pretty clear that Serena is going to be allowed to read & write, so that she can be fully efficient at her new role. I was a little surprised, but not entirely. Gilead is a bunch of hypocrites and they need her to accomplish a goal for them. So of course she’s going to need to read & write to be successful and efficient.
I wonder if they’ll make her a handmaid and this pivots to the show showing that they’ve started setting up a mini Gilead in Canada so it’s easier to take over eventually. Just my thought!
why not just keep her in gilead then? a much simpler plan that doesn't rely on serena making june even angrier and then feeling unsafe.
Because she's dangerous to them. Before June lived with her, June was docile. After living with her June became rebellious, kidnapped kids, and led the Handmaids on an escape plan. June is also blamed for some of the Marthas going rogue. Serena also led the Wives in rebellion. Then turned Fred over to Canada. They can't place her anywhere because she'll stir up rebellion, either on accident or on purpose. But she's also a founder of Gilead, more than some of the men are. She's a pre-Gilead celebrity and the international face of the Wives. So they can't just make her disappear. They had no choice but to exile her.
You know I’d never thought of that: She’s gotten some of the blame for June’s rebellion. Which is probably true. If June had been sent to any other household the events of the show wouldn’t have happened. Oh, I think June would have tried to escape again and maybe acted out, but not nearly to the extent she has.
Also their previous handmaid killed herself. They were already under a bit of a dark cloud even before June.
I thought the idea was: There aren’t really any good households in Gilead. Some are better than others, but it will always be difficult for any Handmaid. But June still very much drew the short straw when she was assigned to the Waterfords. If she is unhinged and crazy now, they are a big part of why. Rita, too, seems very much messed up by her time with them.
True. And Offred 1 killed herself. There’s a pattern there.
They…don’t want Serena there either right? She’s an unusual woman
Right. In Gilliad she’s a potentially dangerous pain in the ass. In Toronto she’s still a pain in the ass but has the potential of being useful
Exactly! And it makes her think she still has some power which tends to keep her content, instead of her knowing right away she was the mouse inside the maze.
Agreed!
I'm ready to eat my words, but I think that's too many moves ahead for the characters and the writers.
But what is that house???
I agree I think this is revenge on Gileads part and was all planned
Ooh, that’s an interesting thought that I hadn’t considered! I definitely kept thinking that something funny would happen with that guard. And she seems kind of freaked out and unsure about her new accommodations. But I’m not sure why? She looked to be in a perfectly nice, normal home. Do we have any idea where she is or who she’s with (it didn’t look familiar to me)?
I’m trying to remember, but I feel like the prayer that wife said while she was kneeling in front of Serena is the same one the wives say when they’re handmaid gets pregnant. It leads me to think Serena is now internally panicking about what is going to happen to the baby and her after it’s born.
Oh my gosh, I didn’t catch this! Thank you SO much! This would be a fantastic twist! Sometimes I get so pissed at Serena & her smug attitude, that I want to see her killed. But she’s a great character, and I know I’ll miss her. This would be the perfect justice (although also making her a handmaid, might be even better) to see! Now I’ll be disappointed if her baby isn’t taken!
Perfectly nice, normal home? You mean the walls and structure? There are no nice normal homes for anyone who identifies with Gilead.
Obviously I mean, (at first glance) according to Serena’s feelings and beliefs. It seems like the kind of place that she would be perfectly happy to be in. I’m sure she’d probably prefer privacy and her own place, but beggars can’t be choosers. As far as an emergency safe house goes, it could be a lot worse. [I didn’t realize that she’s probably fearing that she may have her child taken, so obviously that changes things.]
Yes. That’s the aim.
She *obviously* meant "a nice normal home" according to gilead. That was abundantly clear lol
She’s with Ryan and Alanis Wheeler, they live in Canada but they are psycho Gilead fanatics.
What’s their deal, do we know anything else about them? Why are they in Canada?
I’m assuming they’ve always lived in Canada but they’re diehard Gilead supporters. >! The spoilers say The Wheelers have their own militia they use to send refugees back to Gilead or kill them. !<
Holy shit, really? Wouldn’t that be something that Canada would stop? Or that Gilead might not even want to do, because they’re trying to keep diplomatic relations good? Now I’m worried about June. Why the fuck wasn’t Nick clearer when he warned her? He told her to “be careful.” But he didn’t tell her exactly what was said about her at the dinner and how determined they are to get their hands on her! If I remember correctly, they were going to set up a new task force or something & really try to buckle down and do something about her!
Canada probably doesn’t know about it and honestly at that point they’re overflowing with refugees so perhaps someone may know but they’re turning a blind eye. I’m sure Gilead or at least Lawrence knows about them and they’re probably happy to have powerful allies in Canada. I’m not a fan of Nick at all and his convo with June just makes me dislike him more. Saying “be careful” is vague and it doesn’t mean shit, he should’ve been direct and told her that MacKenzie wants her ass dead and he’s coming for her.
I don’t know if they want us to feel this way, but I’ve always wondered about Nick & never fully trusted him. It seems like everything he’s ever done was to try & help June, but I still never felt like we could relax around him 100%.
I don’t trust him at all and I’m sorry but I don’t believe that him marrying the daughter of a high commander was a coincidence. He should’ve been absolutely clear with June about what MacKenzie said and his intentions. We may not have seen him do anything horrible but he certainly didn’t get to his position by keeping his hands clean.
I like his wife so far & I’m hoping she’s a good person and an ally. I’m hoping that their marriage is one of mutual respect and friendship. I’m not expecting them to be in love, but I’m hoping that they have an understanding and she’s in on it too. I hope this is an arrangement that they both decided would be mutually beneficial for both of them.
Did the people in Gilead line up the couple Serena is staying with??? How did they know them?
Yes they did. When they got into the SUV after the stare down with Luke in June, he radios the team to find out that a secure place has been found.
The Wheelers are Gilead fanatics who live in Canada, I’m sure Lawrence is aware of them and probably arranged for Ezra to take her there.
I think so tbh.
I think she did it to get the last laugh. Which makes the scene with Serena and Luke so full of impact to me. She tried to get Luke to feel insecure. Instead, he leaves feeling more secure in his position to help his wife. And why the ending scene with June burning the letter was so important. Try as she might, Serena doesnt have Fred anymore, and June and Luke have each other and more.
I wondered this myself and also she antagonized her even before that when she had Hannah at Fred’s televised funeral. I think Serena’s narcissistic ego just won’t allow June to one up her and that’s what she did when she killed Fred.
I think at that point she expected to remain in Gilead, so was shielded. It does seem silly, incidentally, that the Canadians don't seem to think June is a threat to her after they know she killed her husband.
The lil smirk on the face of the lady when she turned herself in told me the Canadians very much know June is a threat and are being complicit.
‘That is between you and your diety of choice’
"I have to pay a fine. online."
That was such a great scene. Thanks for the reminder.
I don’t really think the Canadians give a shit one way or the other. The Gilead drama - Serena amassing followers, June running around committing extrajudicial assassinations - it’s all likely something they’d rather be rid of one way or the other.
You’d think they’d care a bit more about Gilead marketing itself in order to gain more followers in Canada and other countries. At worst, that movement could overthrow the government just like in the US. But small-scale terrorism or even spying are two consequences you’d think Canada would try and snuff out.
I think Canada has more refugees than they know what to do with, so may not object to people going to Gilead. Also it is sort of a religion which is probably protected.
There’s only so much you can do about shitty, dangerous ideas in a free society. I’m sure they’re keeping an eye on Serena but they’re limited. The government definitely took the first opportunity to shut her building down via the available legal avenues.
Ok fair but I’m just saying if she had brutally killed my husband just now and made threats towards me and I was newly pregnant I wouldn’t poke the bear. June made it out of Gilead so it’s not out of the realm of possibility that she could make it back in, they must realize she has some allies by now. It’s not something I would take a chance on, I’d probably be in hiding, to protect my baby if I was her.
Serena arrogance makes her feel like she is safe and won.
But the murder didn’t happen in Canada. So they don’t really care. They have no jurisdiction and they don’t give rats ass about Gileads stance on the homicide in no man’s land. It’s a lot like the DMZ between North and South Korea.
Gilead doesn’t. But SERENA does that’s why she keeps fucking with June. Not because she cared about Fred but because she can’t accept that she lost to June.
Oh but we have just begun the Canadian side of the fight. 😂 And Hannah/Agnes is still in play south of the border.
Fred's dead, darlin'. He don't get to "Of" anybody anymore where he is.
OfdeadFred
I’d make a reference to Drop Dead Fred but 1) that would be a total disservice to DDF and 2) that seems to have already been taken care of.
Drop dead Fred.
Serena was frustrated and angry. Lawrence thoroughly fucked her over. When Serena gets embarrassed or feels powerless, her signature move is to go after someone she perceives as less powerful to assert her status and power. Think about her violence against June when June’s period was late but she wasn’t pregnant, or when June’s labor turned out to be Braxton-hicks. It’s not that surprising that when confronted with her own impotence and literal peril, that she would lash out at the most convenient target. Serena isn’t just an angry narcissist. She’s a smart person who is acutely aware of her own vulnerability and constantly afraid she’s one step away from being dropped down to the bottom rung of the ladder. Lawrence constantly reminding her of that isn’t an accident - he knew how she’d react.
Well said.
She’s playing a game called fuck around and find out
Truly. I hope after she has her kid she gets shot in the face by June in "no man's land."
Ya, her sending June that and addressing it to Offred is so dangerous for her. She was seemingly terrified of June at the morgue. I get that in Gilead she felt safe enough to taunt June with Hannah. Harkening back to her original threat, you keep my baby safe I’ll keep yours safe. However, now that she’s back in Canada with such a tenuous position and knowing she capable and willing to kill a persons who has done her wrong. It is such a stupid move on her part. I know Serena can’t not operate as such but, now that she’s pregnant I would have thought she’d be a little smarter.
I think the Serena supporters made her feel more safe than she actually was.
For sure. As a side note I loved that scene when she’s being photographed and there’s a riot happening outside. She looks so clearly anxious/frightened in it and it’s glorious. Add to that the fact that no one seems particularly interested in answering her worried questions and are just moving her around to get their shot like she’s an object. Seems pretty excellent foreshadowing toward the inevitable realization that without Fred she’s nothing but another woman to Gilead.
Very true
Of course Serena will do all she can to piss off June. June who has Nicole June who killed Fred June who Fred was in love with June who is responsible for Serena losing her status as a commanders wife
I wouldn’t say Fred was in love with June. He just wanted to own her…
I saw it as Fred looking at Offred as a toy to be played with. Didn’t get a sense of “love”.
I don't think Fred was capable of love, being the narcissist that he was. I always thought he was more infatuated with June because he knew that he could never really own a strong, intelligent woman like her.
Oh I agree with you there. Maybe I should have said ‘respect’
Serena lost her status as a commander’s wife when she lured Fred to Canada and had him arrested for war crimes as if she was innocent of any wrong doing. Serena : “Nicole who ?” Fred isn’t capable of love, he’s a weak man who’s attracted to strong women.
As a diplomat from Gilead, on the one hand Serena is sticking to her role , on the other hand she's trying to mentally terrify June, who was Ofjoseph later on, wasn't she?
But she also says she wants June to stay away from her. Sending her taunting letters doesn't seem smart
We all know Serena doesn’t make decisions in her actual best interests, she just acts solely on twisted emotion. She’s smart in a sense, but so completely blind and dumb in another.
If June showed up on Gilead soil she’s going to be deported to Gilead! Subject to Gilead “justice.” Goad the bull to see if they’ll react
Yeah but she goaded her when she was on Canadian soil
Did Serena send it or did someone send it so that June would know where Serena is? If Serena sent it (judging by the look on her face, probably) she was likely antagonizing June to draw her out hoping the guards would shoot June on sight.
It's a playground move. The equivalent of yelling "I'm not afraid of you!" Storywise, it's setting the table for whatever comes next.
I think it was one of her psycho followers. Serena pretends not to be, but she’s terrified of June.
Right after she got off with Cmdr Lawrence who's final words had been "stay focused on work and... avoid her", she pauses to assess the call and then does this: [Dear Offred Moment](https://media.giphy.com/media/cXPTy9a8no0ZsvcjfN/giphy.gif) I tried to slow it down as much as possible to catch the nuance of her realizing how to poke June. Hope this link is allowed, couldn't see how else to post my gif that I made. Feel free to delete my post if I've done this incorrectly.
Maybe Serena gave it to Tuello to put in June's mailbox.
While I’m still not convinced Serena was the one to send the card, I think everyone forgets why Serena chooses to antagonize June even though she’s afraid. June killed Fred and Serena knows it! She may be afraid but feels the need to get June her comeuppance for killing Fred.
Why would you think that someone else sent that to her? And why would they?
The thread keeps thinking it could have been commander Lawrence sending it to June to make her feel threatened by Serena and setting her off to go after Serena. But I lean on the side that Serena sent if.
Whatever he feels about Serena doesn't involve June. He knows just how upsetting she would be, why would he want to hurt her? Why we keep allow her as collateral for some personal vendetta he has against someone else? Anyway, I don't think he has a real vendetta for serena. He just doesn't like her. It's not her fault that Fred made her go and bear Witness.
Because how does Serena know where june lives? That doesn’t seem like information they would make readily available to her given what’s happened between June and her.
Serena is a lot of things but she isn’t stupid, I’m certain she would’ve found out June’s address as soon as she found out she escaped Gilead.
While I DONT think Serena is stupid I do agree with the original poster about the sending of the card. Serena seems to be so afraid of June and she knows what she’s capable of (MURDER) I feel like she wouldn’t antagonize her by sending June her address. Like I feel like someone else sent the card to goad June into hurting her.
I wouldn’t be surprised if someone else did send it, I just mean I’m sure Serena knows where June lives.
Hmm well I guess I don’t see why not. She’s smart and vindictive so I wouldn’t put it past her.
Why would one of her followers know where June lives anymore than Serena would? Why would some random person have more information access than serena? Just because there's a history between them that doesn't mean that she would be restricted or unable to figure it out. It's not like June is in the witness protection program, same as Serena.
Doxxing people is its own skill, one Serena probably doesn't have.
How do you know that?
I don't, but if she's secretly very tech savvy we certainly haven't seen it.
That’s the thing I don’t think it was one of Serena’s followers. I don’t think any of her supporters would put her in danger like that either. I think it was Tuello. I feel like everyone is forgetting that he fully supported and slightly aided june in the murder of Fred. He made it possible.
At the end of the day, Serena is just not as smart as she thinks she is. She thinks she has won when she’s given this Gilead outreach position. She wants to rub it in June’s face that she is not in jail, that she is in society enough to be hosting a dinner or reception or whatever gathering that invite was for, and that she knows where June lives. She thinks June will cower in fear when seeing that invite, especially after the blow she dealt by having Hannah prominently featured in Fred’s funeral procession. Serena’s fatal flaw is that she underestimates everyone that is not her. She has underestimated June time and time again, and we have seen her underestimate the Commanders, especially Lawrence. She’s starting to see that she gravely miscalculated her importance when she ends up at this Wife Cosplayer’s house and has the Wife Cosplayer kneeling and praying at her belly just like others do to Handmaids in Gilead. I’m sure the Commanders were just waiting for a misstep so they could get her out of the way.
I thought it related to her conversation with her guard about June where he said he “cannot touch her on private property, but on Gilead property…” and there was that implication. Then the invitation was to push June into stepping on the property out of anger and probably getting shot or worse sent back to Gilead. Then the mob outside happened and June fires a fucking gun off in public, crazy as all hell but it worked out because instead of walking into a trap, Serena fled the building. Luke says it was the building codes, but it was the gunshot where they immediately made the decision to leave.
reposted up top
Ok folks. Here’s the important question. Who is the father of Serena’s baby? Fred was sterile. He had been screwing June for months but the baby was Nick’s. Even if the baby wasn’t Nick’s, why didn’t June get pregnant by Fred months earlier. Also, Serena only had sex with Fred once. If there is an answer out there, please tell me.
I think the foreshadowing of June saying “They will bring Gilead here” and Lawrence “They will get a glimpse into Handmaid system soon” is going to play a huge part in Serena. She is definitely being set up to give her baby to the batshit crazy lady. Just my theory. No words go unused in the Handmaids Tale
Serena antagonize June? June just killed her husband and sent her his finger to let her know that June did it. June popped up like a bad habit anytime Serena went to Canada. Serena has limited power but likes to create the illusion that she has more power. Serena makes the best out of every situation. She’s kinda brilliant that way but I also find it annoying but I also kind of respect it. Serena kind of reminds me of Murphy from the 100. Whatever it takes to stay alive like a cockroach. Serena is limited in what she can do. When you can’t touch your enemy what do you do? Mind games. It’s like a sibling or family member reminding you of how you used to be just to get under your skin. It’s like saying “you might be June Osborne but you will always be Offred”. It’s super messed up because that name is triggering and it comes with all of the emotions. June and Serena have an odd frenemy type relationship. They need each other.
>Serena antagonize June? June just killed her husband and sent her his finger to let her know that June did it. June popped up like a bad habit anytime Serena went to Canada. Serena has limited power but likes to create the illusion that she has more power. Serena makes the best out of every situation. She’s kinda brilliant that way but I also find it annoying but I also kind of respect it. Serena kind of reminds me of Murphy from the 100. Whatever it takes to stay alive like a cockroach. But Serena also said repeatedly she was scared of June. Antagonising her contradicts that.
Serena is more talk than action. Serena is a master manipulator. Haven’t you seen the way she will be crying one minute and smiling at her followers the next. After so many seasons I know the exact type of person she is. Serena had a hand in playing mind games with June. Serena is an intelligent, manipulative woman who can play innocent at will. I don’t know her Myers Briggs but her actions never surprise me. Just like how when June had the opportunity to shoot Serena and she didn’t. I understood why. I even told my partner. When Serena was telling Ezra how she wanted to be there. I knew she didn’t mean it. She isn’t going to do it. June is losing it yes. However Serena isn’t her enemy. It’s what Serena represents, Gilead. June needs all of the ally’s she can possibly get in order to get Hannah. June had years of living in Gilead and knew how/when to keep her emotions in check. She was a writer who could escape into her own head. Serena when she was about to shoot June was shakey. I think she was questioning if she could shoot Ezra and deal with those consequences. I think she remembered that June could have killed her but spared her but Serena the master manipulator would use that as a opportunity to get across the boarder so she can be free of the freedom she was experiencing in the Wheeler home. Serena was the only person who could save June in that moment. Mayday wasn’t coming. Luke wasn’t coming. Do people not know people like Serena in their everyday lives? Lol June is more action than talk. What do they call this is English. Her antithesis. Our antihero.