The Handmaid’s Tale — “Safe” – Episode 510 — Under threat, June must find a way to keep herself and her family safe from Gilead and its violent supporters in Toronto. June (Elisabeth Moss) and Luke (O-T Fagbenle), shown. (Photo by: Russ Martin/Hulu)

Although we didn’t get a death or potentially fatal injuries in this finale, “Safe” sets up every major character for a significant amount of action in the upcoming final season. To recap:

• June is escaping the evil Canadians by train with Hawaii as her hopeful final destination
• Luke has been arrested and will have to go to trial for killing the man who attacked June
• Nick has been detained after smacking Commander Lawrence at his wedding reception and tipping his hand about his attachment to June in front of Commander Mackenzie
• Janine has been arrested by the Eyes after mouthing off to Naomi and gossiping with one of Commander Lawrence’s marthas
• Aunt Lydia has been left shattered by Janine’s arrest and her disillusionment with the system she’s dedicated her entire belief system in
• Moira and Rita are still in Toronto and probably won’t have much to do next season, at least not on screen.
• Fred is still dead.
• Serena is escaping the evil Wheelers by train (also Canadian) and trying to bum newborn diapers off other passengers

SEASON 5:

501 | 502 | 503 | 504 | 505 | 506 | 507 | 508 | 509

Season 4:

401 | 402 | 403 | 404 | 405 | 406 | 407 | 408

Season 3:

301+302 | 303 | 304 | 305 | 306 | 307 | 308 | 309 | 310 | 311 | 312 | 313

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Caroline | Paul

Music:
“Ominous Ambience” by Viljami Mehto, licensed by Pod Clubhouse.

This podcast was recorded, edited, and produced by Paul and Caroline Daley at Pod Clubhouse Studios and is a Pod Clubhouse Original Production.

PHOTO EMBARGOED FOR USE UNTIL November 1 at 9:50 pm PT. The Handmaid’s Tale — “Allegiance” – Episode 509 — June and Luke prepare for a rescue mission. Serena tries new tactics with her oppressive hosts. Lawrence makes a surprising proposal to elevate his status. Commander Lawrence (Bradley Whitford), Naomi (Ever Carradine) and Aunt Lydia (Ann Dowd), shown. (Photo by: Sophie Giraud/Hulu)

A failed raid leads June to have to consider Lawrence’s offer of being able to see Hannah as a resident of New Bethlehem. When he tries to apply pressure though, June snaps back with an epic level of venom. Meanwhile, Serena takes advantage of her hosts’ own arrogance to make her escape with Noah.

SEASON 5:

501 | 502 | 503 | 504 | 505 | 506 | 507 | 508

Season 4:

401 | 402 | 403 | 404 | 405 | 406 | 407 | 408

Season 3:

301+302 | 303 | 304 | 305 | 306 | 307 | 308 | 309 | 310 | 311 | 312 | 313

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Caroline | Paul

Music:
“Ominous Ambience” by Viljami Mehto, licensed by Pod Clubhouse.

This podcast was recorded, edited, and produced by Paul

Daley at Pod Clubhouse Studios and is a Pod Clubhouse Original Production.

The Handmaid’s Tale — “Motherland” – Episode 508 — June considers a tempting but risky offer from a surprise visitor. Serena hits rock bottom and searches for allies. Hannah (Jordana Blake), shown. (Photo by: Sophie Giraud/Hulu)

In “Motherland”, Paul and Caroline chat about New Bethlehem, June’s conflict about which way to go in order to get Hannah back, and Serena’s new station in life as a handmaid for the Wheelers.

SEASON 5:

501 | 502 | 503 | 504 | 505 | 506 | 507

Season 4:

401 | 402 | 403 | 404 | 405 | 406 | 407 | 408

Season 3:

301+302 | 303 | 304 | 305 | 306 | 307 | 308 | 309 | 310 | 311 | 312 | 313

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Caroline | Paul

Music:
“Ominous Ambience” by Viljami Mehto, licensed by Pod Clubhouse.

This podcast was recorded, edited, and produced by Paul

Daley at Pod Clubhouse Studios and is a Pod Clubhouse Original Production.

The Handmaid’s Tale S5E7 “No Man’s Land”. Yvonne Strahovski and Elisabeth Moss. Image by Hulu Copyright 2022.

It’s all well and good to wish your enemy dead. It’s totally another thing when she’s helpless and about to give birth in the middle of nowhere.

SEASON 5:

501 | 502 | 503 | 504 | 505 | 506

Season 4:

401 | 402 | 403 | 404 | 405 | 406 | 407 | 408

Season 3:

301+302 | 303 | 304 | 305 | 306 | 307 | 308 | 309 | 310 | 311 | 312 | 313

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Caroline | Paul

Music:
“Ominous Ambience” by Viljami Mehto, licensed by Pod Clubhouse.

This podcast was recorded, edited, and produced by Paul and Caroline Daley at Pod Clubhouse Studios and is a Pod Clubhouse Original Production.

The Handmaid’s Tale — “Together” – Episode 506 — June and Luke’s mission puts them in serious jeopardy. Serena senses a threat from her benefactors. Lawrence and Nick make a shocking power move. Commander Lawrence (Bradley Whitford) and Nick (Max Minghella), shown. (Photo by: Sophie Giraud/Hulu)

After last week’s disastrous trip into Gilead, we spent this week watching Luke pace around his makeshift cell next to cool-as-a-cucumber June. And did all that nervous energy do him any good? Next time you decide to join the Resistance, take some self-defense courses beforehand, Luke. Caroline has a lot to say again about Luke’s overall lack of understanding when it comes to Gilead and its zealous supporters.

Elsewhere in Gilead, Lydia manages to make an example out of a rapist – as long as it aligns with Commander Lawrence’s need to wipe an enemy off the board. Or at least that’s Paul’s theory.

SEASON 5:

501 | 502 | 503 | 504 | 505

Season 4:

401 | 402 | 403 | 404 | 405 | 406 | 407 | 408

Season 3:

301+302 | 303 | 304 | 305 | 306 | 307 | 308 | 309 | 310 | 311 | 312 | 313

Follow the Show

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Caroline | Paul

Music:
“Ominous Ambience” by Viljami Mehto, licensed by Pod Clubhouse.

This podcast was recorded, edited, and produced by Paul and Caroline Daley at Pod Clubhouse Studios and is a Pod Clubhouse Original Production.

The Handmaid’s Tale Ep 505 “Fairytale”. O-T Fagbenle as Luke and Elisabeth Moss as June. Image by Hulu. Copyright 2022.

What could go wrong when June and Luke decide to sneak over the border and into Gilead? No “Fairytale” ending in this one. Seriously. Certain members of this podcast were yelling at the screen when Luke pushed June to take Jaeden’s advice to rest up in the Bowl-o-rama before heading back into Canada’s safe embrace. As you’ll hear in this podcast, Caroline has strong beliefs about Luke’s dim future on planet earth given how little he’s learned over the years.

Then there’s Caroline’s theories on Serena and her possible status as a handmaid in exile, rather than “unofficial ambassador”. Paul wasn’t ready to hear what Caroline had to share, so this is your warning to strap in and get ready to look at Serena in a whole new way.

SEASON 5:

501 | 502 | 503 | 504

Season 4:

401 | 402 | 403 | 404 | 405 | 406 | 407 | 408

Season 3:

301+302 | 303 | 304 | 305 | 306 | 307 | 308 | 309 | 310 | 311 | 312 | 313

Follow the Show

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Caroline | Paul

Music:
“Ominous Ambience” by Viljami Mehto, licensed by Pod Clubhouse.

This podcast was recorded, edited, and produced by Paul and Caroline Daley at Pod Clubhouse Studios and is a Pod Clubhouse Original Production.

The Handmaid’s Tale 504 “Dear Offred”. Elisabeth Moss as June. Image by Hulu. Copyright 2022.

Having Serena Joy and June in close quarters positioned within spitting distance of each other was never going to work out, was it? One might think Serena would only receive threats and aggressiveness from June, but as the title of this episode proves with “Dear Offred”, she’s perfectly willing to continue trying to prove who’s the boss.

Back in Gilead, Lydia confides in Janine and asks for her help re-entering the human race after being denied reforms to the handmaid system by Commander Lawrence. She’s got to make good on her vow in return for Janine’s recovery, but what form will that take?

SEASON 5:

501 | 502 | 503

Season 4:

401 | 402 | 403 | 404 | 405 | 406 | 407 | 408

Season 3:

301+302 | 303 | 304 | 305 | 306 | 307 | 308 | 309 | 310 | 311 | 312 | 313

Follow the Show

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Follow the Hosts on Twitter

Caroline | Paul

Music:
“Ominous Ambience” by Viljami Mehto, licensed by Pod Clubhouse.

This podcast was recorded, edited, and produced by Paul and Caroline Daley at Pod Clubhouse Studios and is a Pod Clubhouse Original Production.

The Handmaid’s Tale 503 “Border”. Elisabeth Moss as June. Image by Hulu. Copyright 2022.

Seeing Serena Joy lay her oily hands on Hannah during Fred’s funeral must be driving June nuts. In “Border”, we see her scrambling and starting to figure out what she can do. Can she get to Hannah? Not easily. Can she get to Serena? Much more easily.

Serena doesn’t get quite what she’d hoped for from the Commanders in Gilead. Something tells me she’ll be able to make the absolute most of her time in exile though.

And Lydia. Janine’s poisoning at the hands of Esther has left a deep scar in a character previously thought to be unshakable. Now, she appears to be reconsidering… well everything about Handmaids and the Gilead system. Finally.

SEASON 5:

501 | 502

Season 4:

401 | 402 | 403 | 404 | 405 | 406 | 407 | 408

Season 3:

301+302 | 303 | 304 | 305 | 306 | 307 | 308 | 309 | 310 | 311 | 312 | 313

Follow the Show

On Hulu | Facebook | Our Facebook Group | Twitter

Follow the Hosts on Twitter

Caroline | Paul

Music:
“Ominous Ambience” by Viljami Mehto, licensed by Pod Clubhouse.

This podcast was recorded, edited, and produced by Paul Daley at Pod Clubhouse Studios and is a Pod Clubhouse Original Production.

The Handmaid’s Tale – 502. Yvonne Strahovski as Serena Joy Waterford. Image by Hulu. Copyright 2022.

Whatever concerns Paul had about June’s listlessness in the season opener were put to rest in this episode. Although she still had her moments of instability, such as her lashing out at Rita, my doubts were assuaged once Serena Joy gave June something to focus on: Hannah.

Hannah and particularly Serena Joy’s proximity to her. Now that we know that next season, the 6th, will be the show’s final, we can start to look for what an endgame might look like. Caroline and Paul start talking about how we’re going to get there in this podcast, specifically in the next few episodes.

Season 4:

401 | 402 | 403 | 404 | 405 | 406 | 407 | 408

Season 3:

301+302 | 303 | 304 | 305 | 306 | 307 | 308 | 309 | 310 | 311 | 312 | 313

Follow the Show

On Hulu | Facebook | Our Facebook Group | Twitter

Follow the Hosts on Twitter

Caroline | Paul

Music:
“Ominous Ambience” by Viljami Mehto, licensed by Pod Clubhouse.

This podcast was recorded, edited, and produced by Paul Daley at Pod Clubhouse Studios and is a Pod Clubhouse Original Production.

The Handmaid’s Tale – 501. Elisabeth Moss as June. Image by Hulu. Copyright 2022

Ready, set, and GO!!! It’s time for Season 5 of Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale! Things kick off with “Morning”, picking up the morning after June and her gang of former handmaids dismantled Fred Waterford in the no-man’s-land between Canada and Gilead. How does June deal with having just led an animalistic lynching of her former Commander? Well, it’s a mix of things including freaking out Luke and Moira, a full breakfast at a diner, some public gunfire, and an official admission to the authorities concerning her role in Fred’s demise. Busy day.

Meanwhile, Serena Joy, recipient of the “bad” news, has to scramble to make the most of her situation with Tuello.

Season 4:

401 | 402 | 403 | 404 | 405 | 406 | 407 | 408

Season 3:

301+302 | 303 | 304 | 305 | 306 | 307 | 308 | 309 | 310 | 311 | 312 | 313

Follow the Show

On Hulu | Facebook | Our Facebook Group | Twitter

Follow the Hosts on Twitter

Caroline | Paul

Music:
“Ominous Ambience” by Viljami Mehto, licensed by Pod Clubhouse.

This podcast was recorded, edited, and produced by Paul Daley at Pod Clubhouse Studios and is a Pod Clubhouse Original Production.

The Handmaid’s Tale — “The Wilderness” – Episode 410 — “Sure, Fred. We can Zoom.” June draws on all her resources and relationships, risking everything to ensure her own kind of justice. Fred Waterford (Joseph Fiennes) and Serena Waterford (Yvonne Strahovski), shown. (Photo by: Sophie Giraud/Hulu)

That’s it for this year, Handmaid’s fans and instead of going out with a bang, Fred chose whistle instead (but he may have wanted to reconsider that later). In this podcast, Paul and Caroline have invited Mike, the third co-owner of Pod Clubhouse and a Handmaid’s expert in his own right, to sit in and pinch-hit for an ailing Paul. Also in this podcast, creator of The Handmaid’s Tale and writer of this episode, Bruce Miller, drops by and answers some questions about the creation of this episode.

In this episode, the Pod Clubhouse triple-headed host-monster also talks about:

• Why make a trade for 22 women and not even bring up Hannah?
• Can a “good mother” just put things like June’s history with Fred in the past and move on?
• What is a “good mother” anyway?

Bruce Miller Interview starting Timecode: 01:19:08;23

Season 3:

301+302 | 303 | 304 | 305 | 306 | 307 | 308 | 309 | 310 | 311 | 312 | 313

Season 4:

401 | 402 | 403 | 404 | 405 | 406 | 407 | 408 | 409

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Follow the Hosts on Twitter

Caroline | Paul

Note:

For the first three seasons, you might have been listening to Paul and Caroline as the “Daley Review”, faithfully analyzing each episode of The Handmaid’s Tale. Since January of 2020, they’ve decided to team up with popculturereview.com to form Pod Clubhouse and continue reviewing the show under that banner. You’ll get the same analysis and the same repartee only a married couple can give, just under a new name: Escaping Gilead! The Handmaid’s Tale Podcast!

Music:
“Ominous Ambience” by Viljami Mehto, licensed by Pod Clubhouse.

This podcast was recorded, edited, and produced at Pod Clubhouse Studios and is a Pod Clubhouse Original Production.