I’m a wee bit behind but some passing thoughts on 1×05 “Faithful”
–I really enjoyed the show exploring more of the dynamics between different sets of women, particularly the pairing of Serena Jo/Offred and Commander Steven’s Wife/OfSteven. Both Wives are claiming to help out the Handmaid’s but there’s a very different feel to these interactions. Serena’s motivation is still about a child and what that child will mean for her and Fred. The other Wife comes from seemingly a place of compassion. The show uses visuals like touch to highlight differences, like Serena dragging Offred to Luke and the other Wife gently touching OfSteven’s shoulder. (Of course I’ll note here that it’s also a warped sense of compassion because the Wife can’t do anything about Emily’s captivity and withholding the rape for this month does nothing about the rapes in the future months)
–Along with that dynamic we have Offred/OfGlen and Offred/OfSteven. It’s hard to wrap your head around someone being happy with this current situation but OfGlen seems fairly content because her former life–the one being highly romanticized by Offred in her flashbacks (holy lens flairs, batman)–was not the bright and sunny one June had. What’s institutionalized rape when you’re used to selling your body to live anyway, right? At least the Ceremony is only once a month and in between you get a warm bed, food, and a roof over your head. It’s hard to stomach because of course I don’t want to think that anyone would ever be okay with this type of life but then again I live a life of relative privilege. I’ve never not had a roof, I’ve never not had enough to eat, and my body has never been a commodity. Women like June and Emily are fighting very hard for the life they once had, but women like OfGlen are fighting to keep this life they have now. I still wonder where to put Serena Joy–she’s benefiting from the current situation but she’s not entirely pleased either and she too has her moments of rebellion, like trying to be intimate with Fred and taking Offred to Nick.
–Speaking of: Nick and June’s first sexual encounter is about as cold and horrible as it can be. Obviously that’s the point but I think in June’s head this is the first time she might actually use the word rape. She distances herself from what’s going on with the Commander once a month; she doesn’t trust him, she doesn’t care for him. But Nick has seen another side of Offred–he’s actually seen June. The time she screamed, her coy smiles, the flash of her knee when no one was looking. So for Nick to play lover like that and then turn around and use her body for a different end must feel like a violation on a different scale. I think that scene was harder to watch than the first time I saw the Ceremony.
–On the other hand, the second sexual encounter was hot. It’s not meant to titillate but it’s meant to arouse strong feelings. This is June’s biggest rebellion, not just sex but deciding when she gets to have it, with whom, and under what circumstances. It’s not cold and a chore, but it’s really sexy, fully unclothed, her on top, clearly achieving orgasm. I thought it was really well shot. I think the director has done some work for Outlander, which helps explain the beauty of the scene.
–Is it wrong that I cheered when Emily drove over that Eye?
–“I heard there was a bit of a commotion in the marketplace.” “…a bit.” Elisabeth Moss giving a straight up Peggy Olsen delivery on this snarky line.
–I continue to think that the Commander is really just looking out for himself and not really interested in any sort of genuine compassion for anyone else. He even talks about compassion in regards to Emily saying that what they did to her was compassionate because, hey!, they could have just straight up murdered her. That’s not how compassion works and if someone thinks they are merciful and compassionate because they chose the “lesser” of two evils to inflict on another person…I dunno. That’s some warped sense of self identity right there.
–“Better never means better for everyone. It always means worse, for some”
Hoping to get to episode 6 later this week!