FWIS3

Anyone else been watching this series? (It's on Hulu in the USA, different distributions in other countries.) Basically, it was based on the famous book by Margaret Atwood, whose books I always enjoyed, and the lead protagonist is Elisabeth Moss who played Peggy Olson on Mad Men, so there was no way I was not going to watch this one.

Definitely enjoyed the series, I have to say- felt more like a guilty pleasure type thing to me than a serious "I'm going to freak out about the state of America" thing that many of my friends seem to be doing on FB, but I can recommend it. Basic premise is it's in the near future where a religious oligarchy takes over the United States, and fertility rates have plummeted so women like Moss who have had a child are basically held as slaves to bear children for the leaders. (The creepiness factor works well because Atwood was very insistent on only using things in her society that have been done somewhere on Earth in the past, so it's all technically plausible.) Fairly faithful to the book, but this season basically ran us to the end of the events in the first season so I'll be curious to see what happens in the next one.

I think there are a few reasons I really like this, just to discuss (minor spoilers ahead)-

- I don't usually notice/care about this, but the design work is phenomenal, from the costumes of the people to just the "everyday" items. Like, there's one or two scenes in a grocery store. Women are no longer allowed to read, so in the book they just have pictures on everything... and apparently the design team designed hundreds of labels for the grocery store that were various pictoral representations of all the normal stuff you'd have on food items. All the subtle details like that are fantastic, and add to the creepiness factor.

- It's filmed in Toronto, and this is the first series I've enjoyed since coming here where I keep recognizing places they've filmed. Like, one famous scene was literally filmed on the street I go on between the grocery store and my apartment (link here), and it's pretty cool except when I forget the series is supposed to take place around Boston, not Canada.

- Lots of great acting. Won't give that scene away, but Elisabeth Moss has a scene in the season finale which she should definitely win an Emmy for, and it might sound weird but I was happy I don't have a child yet because it made me so upset now to watch it and I suspect I'd be more upset if I was actually a mother. Which I realize for many may not sound like a good reason to watch, but it's a very powerful performance. And the vilianess, oh man, never heard of that actress before but she's so good at showing a twisted, vindictive woman who actively helps her rights get taken away.

- If I have to criticize, this might sound weird but the biggest implausibility to me is how race is never a factor at all. The show does an awesome job at casting characters from all different backgrounds and all that, to a commendable degree, but to me I always felt like the super religious in America have definite racial overtones and bigotry, and this society appears to not have any of that. And this might sound weird, but I just don't quite buy that a lily-white religious nut would be ok raising a bi-racial child as their own. I suspect the show has enough to unpack though that they decided to leave that out.

It's always good to hear about a show that someone enjoys! I probably won't get around to watching it but if the opportunity presents itself I'll remember this review. I have just a couple questions.

Rommie wrote: Basic premise is it's in the near future where a religious oligarchy takes over the United States, and fertility rates have plummeted so women like Moss who have had a child are basically held as slaves to bear children for the leaders.

Connected, or coincidental?

Rommie wrote:- If I have to criticize, this might sound weird but the biggest implausibility to me is how race is never a factor at all. The show does an awesome job at casting characters from all different backgrounds and all that, to a commendable degree, but to me I always felt like the super religious in America have definite racial overtones and bigotry, and this society appears to not have any of that. And this might sound weird, but I just don't quite buy that a lily-white religious nut would be ok raising a bi-racial child as their own. I suspect the show has enough to unpack though that they decided to leave that out.

Does the book have the same diversity as the show?

In the book they say that the "children of Ham" were relocated to new homelands in North Dakota, Apartheid style- it was written in the 80s, so I guess they didn't want to do that. Jews were allowed to emigrate to Israel.

Re: fertility, the lower rate is in play for how the dictatorship got into power, as they claimed women got too distracted by things that don't matter like education and God was punishing us, etc. They go into it a lot in the series so I won't, but the underlying cause is not explained. It kinda felt like a Zitka virus type thing though.

Just so you don’t hear any wild rumors, I’m booked to be an extra on this show next Thursday. Anyone else watching it lately so you can be suitably excited?

WTF there are new episodes out and I missed it HF....and HF 2 Rommie I swear you lead a charmed life. Can you rub some of that off on me?

Rommie wrote:Just so you don’t hear any wild rumors, I’m booked to be an extra on this show next Thursday. Anyone else watching it lately so you can be suitably excited?

Are you going to be in a background shot? Or can we expect a close-up?

No idea what I’ll be yet except yes random background work (the call was for that and people who haven’t been on it yet, and random other basic details I fit). Funny when I told my boss (who originally posted the ad) his reaction was to freak out in excitement so I was all “so, I get the day off then?”

I’ll let y’all know more when I know it! But I’m under the impression they keep everything under wraps as much as possible, so if it comes to that I’ll move my discussion to BR.

Got the info for tomorrow, and this is seriously under wraps and secretive. Still don't have the final address, but am told to follow signs for a fake production when I'm there, not to post to social media (this totally doesn't count right), don't bother the actors while there as everyone is there to work, and strictly no photos.

Whatever, I'm sure it'll be a fun experience! (Albeit a COLD one- high of 23F tomorrow and apparently it'll be outside all day.) I actually always wanted to be an extra on a set while in Toronto as it seemed a good chance to check that off the bucket list, and it's cool that it ended up happening for a show I'm a big fan of!

Sounds like fun!

Does this count as being a movie star?

TV star!

So, that was an interesting experience. Basically had to show up for noon, they do hair/makeup/wardrobe, then you sit around for hours and hours. Like seriously, there was a "lunch" break at 6pm (Thanksgiving food yay) and then we didn't even start going onto the set until around 8pm, and didn't finish until 2am. And then this was north of the airport, and I had to shower because of all the makeup/ crap in my hair (the latter is still a bit greasy even after five lather/ rinses so far), so didn't hit the pillow until almost 430am. Let's just say it was an interesting experience but think I'll need to sleep a few times before considering whether I ever want to repeat it.

I won't go into the full details of what happened because none of you guys watch the show, so no point of risking trouble saying spoilers until it airs, but I should be in the shot for a moment in the third episode next season. But hey as an experience junkie it was cool to see how such a high production series is once, if only because it's really tedious! Waiting aside you need to shoot and reshoot the scene from a million angles! But honestly it's really amazing to stand just feet away from Elizabeth Moss as she's acting (it was luckily a scene where you could just watch the action without issue), because people pay good money to see famous actors in the theater. This is completely different though- in the theater you're always a bit over the top and loud, here it's normal conversation tones where people are practically whispering, often with a camera right in front of your face, and you just have to jump in. I mean, I'm sure they're used to it by now, but still impressive. And part of me kept thinking that while I know this is going to be an important scene for the plot, it's incredible how much they spend on what will essentially be maybe one 2-3 minutes of one episode tops (there were like 100 extras), and how it's going to be huge in the moment post-editing/ with music, but TBH serious lines are a bit corny in their original delivery after the actor says them a dozen times.

Also, I saw another favorite character on the show eating a yogurt during the afternoon as I walked past. They're just like us! Also, pretty funny to see people in uniforms for this future dystopia whipping out iPhones and texting in between breaks and stuff.

Totally cool.

I may try to see that episode just to see if I can recognize you.

Rommie is now a Movie Star

I told you that you lead a charmed life. I can't wait to see it. I am addicted to this, Game of Thrones, The Good Place, The Good Doctor, Manifest... well you get the idea. I have a list of must sees and back ups (the back up is the British baking show fun as shit)

"Experience junkie," I love it!

Loresinger wrote:I told you that you lead a charmed life. I can't wait to see it. I am addicted to this, Game of Thrones, The Good Place, The Good Doctor, Manifest... well you get the idea. I have a list of must sees and back ups (the back up is the British baking show fun as shit)

Mrs. T and The Kid have been binging the Great British Baking Show.

Thumper wrote:

Loresinger wrote:I told you that you lead a charmed life. I can't wait to see it. I am addicted to this, Game of Thrones, The Good Place, The Good Doctor, Manifest... well you get the idea. I have a list of must sees and back ups (the back up is the British baking show fun as shit)

Mrs. T and The Kid have been binging the Great British Baking Show.

My best friend was a British expat in Holland when I was also there, and she invited me over to watch it years before it became popular in the USA. It was really funny because I remember going over and it's just so British- IRC I was invited over first for the finale, and while watching I asked her what you get if you win. The answer was "the honor of winning the bake-off!" and I immediately concluded this show never would have gotten off the ground in America.

I like not being able to understand what anyone is saying and asking what language they are speaking...

Margaret atwood has announced that she is writing a sequel to the handmaid's tale. it is called the testaments, is set 15 yrs later and will be out sep2019.

code monkey wrote:Margaret atwood has announced that she is writing a sequel to the handmaid's tale. it is called the testaments, is set 15 yrs later and will be out sep2019.

I saw! And I'm not super surprised. I'll note she deliberately didn't say if the TV show is still canon for her book, but if she's a producer for the show I suspect she can give them a heads up about stuff.

Look forward to reading it.