Escaping Gilead! The Handmaid's Tale Podcast (Episode 410)
Jun 17, 2021
Show notesThe 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
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.
Escaping Gilead! The Handmaid's Tale Podcast (Episode 409)
Jun 14, 2021
Show notesThe Handmaid’s Tale — “Progress” – Episode 409 — June and Luke work together to save Hannah, reaching out to Lawrence and Nick for help. Serena and Fred greet unexpected visitors from Gilead. Janine tries to assist Aunt Lydia when a Handmaid-in-training goes on a hunger strike at the Red Center. June (Elisabeth Moss) and Nick (Max Minghella), shown. (Photo by: Sophie Giraud/Hulu)
In this week’s short and sweet podcast, we chat about:
Luke’s risky decision to send June and Nichole into Nick’s arms for the chance of more information about Hannah
The Waterfords’ decision to take a deal with the US government in exchange for leniency
Janine’s continued evolution into a strong person and leader back in Gilead
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.
Escaping Gilead! The Handmaid's Tale Podcast (Episode 408)
Jun 06, 2021
Show notesPHOTO EMBARGOED FOR USE UNTIL June 2nd, 2021. The Handmaid’s Tale — “Testimony” – Episode 408 — June confronts Fred and Serena in court and challenges Emily to face a painful reminder of her Gilead past. Lawrence presents Aunt Lydia with a newly captured, familiar Handmaid. Moira (Samira Wiley), June (Elisabeth Moss), and Emily (Alexis Bledel), shown. (Photo by: Sophie Giraud/Hulu)
This week we chat about:
June’s style of “healing” and whether or not she’s playing with fire trying to rile up the former handmaids
The previously thought unlikely source of support the Waterfords found in Canada
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.
Escaping Gilead! The Handmaid's Tale Podcast (Episode 407)
May 27, 2021
Show notesThe Handmaid’s Tale — “Home” – Episode 407 — June struggles with her newfound freedom, reuniting with loved ones and confronting her nemesis, Serena. June (Elisabeth Moss) and Serena Waterford (Yvonne Strahovski), shown. (Photo by: Sophie Giraud/Hulu)
Man, this scene felt good to watch. June has had a pretty frustrating last few weeks, what with getting shot, scaring her daughter, killing her friends, and getting bombed, June has needed a personal “win”. Angel Flight is great and all for Rita and the 85 kids – but none of them were HER kid. Sure, she got out of Gilead, but she has unfinished business there. In this scene, she gets to take a little something just for her and I for one (Paul) am glad she took it. In fact, I’m surprised she didn’t lash out and strike Serena. After all, Serena established during June’s pregnancy that a little hitting was perfectly OK. I just hope that this bit of completely justifiable catharsis doesn’t come back to bite June.
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.
Escaping Gilead! The Handmaid's Tale Podcast (Episode 406)
May 19, 2021
Show notesThe Handmaid’s Tale — “Vows” – Episode 406 — After a shocking reunion with a dear friend, June contemplates the possibility of freedom, and confronts the unfulfilled promises she’s made to herself and to Luke. Luke (O-T Fagbenle) and June (Elisabeth Moss), shown. (Photo by: Sophie Giraud/Hulu)
Last week, Caroline remarked how the pace of this season was moving MUCH faster than usual and that she expected June to be flying the space shuttle in this episode. This Great Lakes hauler wasn’t the space shuttle, but Caroline still gets full points for June’s hare-brained attempt to steal and pilot a lifeboat back to Gilead. Jeez. That statement is almost too ironic to type.
Anyway, in short, Moira was real, not a dream. Her girlfriend is a hard-ass with a nametag-maker for those just-in-case scenarios (like intelligence assets stowing away on your boat). June needs a CAT scan. Hopefully Luke cleaned up his house before coming to the dock.
We talk about this stuff, and:
June’s irrational, concussion-fueled insistence that she returns to Gilead for Hannah
Moira’s hard-hitting tactics to keep June by her side and heading north
Luke’s hands-off approach to escorting June off the boat
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.
Escaping Gilead! The Handmaid's Tale Podcast (Episode 405)
May 16, 2021
Show notesThe Handmaid’s Tale – “Chicago” – Episode 405 – June seeks out more active rebels in the Chicago war zone, while Janine tries to help her fit in with their new group of survivors. Moira goes on her first field aid mission. Janine (Madeline Brewer) and June (Elisabeth Moss), shown. (Photo by: Sophie Giraud/Hulu)
Janine made fast friends in Chicago, but June had trouble being content with her new surroundings in “Chicago”. Unlike the observant, strategic thinker we met in Season 1, June has become more impatient and rash in her decision-making. Case in point, this week June essentially lost patience with Steven (Janine’s new boyfriend) and his unwillingness to pointlessly engage a superior force with his rag-tag, semi-armed squad of civilians. What a wimp! And just like that, June wants to jump ship for a more aggressive chapter in the Resistance. She never got the chance to find them though as wheelings and dealings back in Gilead-proper sent bombers headed straight for her.
Paul and Caroline chat up these plot points, as well as:
Aunt Lydia’s new ambitious streak
Commander Lawrence’s willingness to compromise anything to ensure his survival and advancement
Janine ongoing quest for a normal life in an anything but normal world
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.
Escaping Gilead! The Handmaid's Tale Podcast (Episode 404)
May 05, 2021
Show notes(Photo by: Sophie Giraud/Hulu)
Hopefully, listeners won’t get too frustrated with the number of times Caroline and Paul ask, “Why?” concerning this episode’s events. Although we’re glad to see June and Janine as far away from Gilead’s center of power as possible, their decisions never struck either of your loyal hosts as believable. Why a tanker car? How were they able to get out? Super jumping and arm-strength? Why shouldn’t they lose some toes or their feet if it was so cold? Why not hunker down in one of the Hum-Vees? Is that really the way they transport milk?
On the other hand, we -really- enjoyed watching Janine’s backstory. Not that we enjoyed watching a young woman go through a horrible time in her life – we WANTED that context for Janine. We knew she arrived at the Red Center already sort-of broken inside before they even took her eye. Now, from what happened before and at the end of this episode, we know she’s much stronger than has been revealed so far.
Paul and Caroline also talk about:
Rita’s Canadian adventure and her masterful handling of the Waterfords
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.
Escaping Gilead! The Handmaid's Tale Podcast (Episode 403)
Apr 28, 2021
Show notes(Photo by: Sophie Giraud/Hulu)
It wouldn’t be The Handmaid’s Tale without some good old-fashioned torture scenes, would it? We need characters like the Lieutenant to remind us of the kind of people Gilead uses to meet its goals. If you’ve watched any amount of horror or certain kinds of thrillers (or Schindler’s List come to think of it), you’ve doubtless seen the smiling, jovial, workaday psychopath embodied by the Lieutenant. When a character like that enters the frame, the audience is meant to feel like ANYTHING is possible because he’d feel no remorse about it. BUT did that make you feel worried for Hannah, trapped in that plexiglass box? During Paul and Caroline’s discussion of The Crossing, they spend a lot of time on that subject.
They also ponder:
The believability of June’s continued survival
The believability of the Handmaids’ last stand at the railroad tracks
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.
Escaping Gilead! The Handmaid's Tale Podcast (Episode 402)
Apr 28, 2021
Show notes(Photo by: Hulu)
Feeling the heat, June makes a very risky call in poisoning (that’s the “nightshade” in Nightshade) the local Jezebels clientele before securing the safe relocation of the other handmaids. Should she have, though? On the one hand, the only good Commander is a dead commander. On the other, June totally screwed up, got her allies killed / caught and herself caught. Caroline and Paul talk about the wisdom of that decision as well as:
Possible double meanings of the episode’s title and how they may ripple through the show’s events
That “romantic” scene on the bridge between June and Nick. Weird? Unbelievable?
The evolving role of Joseph Lawrence (is he still a Commander?) and whether or not he can be counted on to still act in June’s best interests
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.
Escaping Gilead! The Handmaid's Tale Podcast (Episode 401)
Apr 28, 2021
Show notes(Photo by: Jasper Savage/Hulu)
And we’re back! 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! Let’s dig into Pigs, the season 4 premiere episode!
Paul and Caroline talk about:
The “suspense” involved when a show’s main character is shot during a season finale
Mrs. Keyes and the various icky things involved with her tragic backstory
June. Lots of talk about June. And then a little bit of Janine.
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