I understand that, in today's world of fast-paced TV series and movies, there are often intervals in a work like this that seem frustratingly slow to us. However, this is life accurately imagined. Sometimes waiting is unbearable as seemingly mundane and monotonous scenes need to play out. Routines must be adhered to in order to achieve a perception of normalcy when underlying rebellion against normalcy is evolving. This is what makes watching a series like this much closer to the experience of reading a riveting book. All along the way, when action and revelation seem non-existent, there are beautifully realized periods during which character and story development are illustrated, whether by words on a page or by scenes on film. Therein lies the true-to-life within fictional life. I find it exhilarating, even while being forced to...just...watch...and...wait.
85 Reviews
Brilliant, touching and heartbreaking but perfect in every way
conniedavid19 August 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Wow what a finale. I watched them film a portion of this episode in Cambridge, Ontario and back then I couldn't have anticipated such an amazing ending to this season. Everything was executed brilliantly. I swear (I even took a photo of my Fitbit for proof!) that my heart rate went up to 120 bpm from watching and being so involved in the process of the mission and hoping so much that all of those kids will make it. I kept thinking they have to.. But at the same time, it's Gilead.... No one is ever truly safe in Gilead.
To see all of the Handmaids and Marthas come back to help June.... From that moment until the very end of the episode I was just sobbing like a baby. When the kids arrived in Toronto I was already crying my heart out but to have that little girl run to her daddy, oh my God my heart nearly exploded. Even my dog ran to me to see if I'm ok lol.
This is the best show on television that has ever been made. Not often you see book adaptations being this good... This is something rare and should be cherished and watched by all. It really makes you think that this could be a reality one day. The comparison from events of today to Gilead or even how Gilead started... From comparison in the beginning of the episode to the holocaust and to people being put on trains to concentration camps.. It's amazing how a fictional story could hit SO close to home.
Absolutely flawless and brilliant and I cannot wait to see what happens in season 4!!!
To see all of the Handmaids and Marthas come back to help June.... From that moment until the very end of the episode I was just sobbing like a baby. When the kids arrived in Toronto I was already crying my heart out but to have that little girl run to her daddy, oh my God my heart nearly exploded. Even my dog ran to me to see if I'm ok lol.
This is the best show on television that has ever been made. Not often you see book adaptations being this good... This is something rare and should be cherished and watched by all. It really makes you think that this could be a reality one day. The comparison from events of today to Gilead or even how Gilead started... From comparison in the beginning of the episode to the holocaust and to people being put on trains to concentration camps.. It's amazing how a fictional story could hit SO close to home.
Absolutely flawless and brilliant and I cannot wait to see what happens in season 4!!!
Godspeed
l-0525914 August 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Watching the episode is just like watching Schindler' List. It has already taken too much to plan this so they cannot afford to fail. The scene that Handmaids and Marthas returned to June is so touching. Phenomenal ending. Blessed be the season four!!!
Slow Start to a Season Worth It For This
alecgalbraith29 August 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Incredible. I almost wanted to fast forward through the episode because the suspense was killing me and I wanted to see how it all ends. I'm glad I didn't, because all the emotions built up in such a perfect melody all the way until the climax.
I hope next season June actually escapes, because this story line can't continue much longer, but for now, I'm basking in the perfection that was this finale.
I hope next season June actually escapes, because this story line can't continue much longer, but for now, I'm basking in the perfection that was this finale.
Benevolently perfect
UniqueParticle14 August 2019
10/10 does not even do this episode justice
soroushss714 August 2019
10/10
alexandramartha14 August 2019
W-O-W!!! Just....WOW!!!
senora_ortiz19 September 2019
I didn't watch this as it aired, only because it's hard to wait a week in between episodes. I binged the whole season in two nights. I don't care much if a storyline lacks a bunch of action. I do care about how the story unfolds, and this story has unfolded beautifully! The episode that was rated the lowest and called a filler episode, it wasn't. That was June's breaking point. That episode in the hospital is where something inside of her snapped and got her to where she is in this finale. After everything she's been through up to that point, that's when we see her break.
Amazing job to the writers, actors, EVERYONE who has a hand in bringing this to life on screen. I don't think I've ever been more emotionally invested in a fictional story or fictional characters. The last 3 or 4 episodes of this season are, hands down, the best out of any show I've ever seen!
Amazing job to the writers, actors, EVERYONE who has a hand in bringing this to life on screen. I don't think I've ever been more emotionally invested in a fictional story or fictional characters. The last 3 or 4 episodes of this season are, hands down, the best out of any show I've ever seen!
3x13
formotog3 June 2020
Warning: Spoilers
What a brilliant end to the season. The whole episode was just so good. The tension for most of it was just incredible. I've not been on edge like that for a TV episode in a long while. I was thinking the whole time that there's just no way they pull it off, but it would've been so cruel if it didn't happen. I think even for a show like this, that much cruelty would be excessive. There were so many great character moments and June showed that she is fearless and a powerful leader. It's probably the first episode of the season I've actually liked and admired her. She made a brave sacrifice and I think she might get away with it. What concrete evidence does Gilead have to pin her to the getaway? Furthermore, Serena also got exactly what she deserves and it looks like both the Waterfords will get put away for life hating each other and without a child. This episode certainly delivered on some much needed justice. Commander Lawrence officially won me over this episode. Undoing his mistakes (I suppose mistakes is a light word) is the best thing he could possibly do and he is just an incredibly interesting character who I'd love to know more about. The final scenes of the children boarding and leaving the plane were just glorious, so beautifully done, accompanied by yet again amazing music. Wherever this show goes from here, I look forward to it eagerly. Very well done finale and overall a very good season
Low 9
Low 9
You'll need tissues....
sallyshearing2 September 2019
Thought as much
ncoriordan18 August 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Thank god we won't have to endure June staring into the camera for another year, that go to shot is now so over used it really spoils the show. As for the finale itself it was OK. Plot holes you could drive a truck through and you really have to suspend believe to allow you to think that the plan could ever work. how they easily smuggled over 50 kids onto a 737 is ridiculous, you have to put this in context, June and her husband coukdent get themselves out of the country despite being in sparsely populated border area, yet in the heart of the urban area no one missed over 50 kids and their Martha's. And of course the stupidest scene was all the kids gathered around Joseph as he read from a book, obviously trying to find some redemption for him. Yes the end was emotional but it does not excuse the common sense defying mess that preceded it,
Another finale that lacks
objviewer14 August 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Another great series falls to an audience pleasing finale with illogical plot turns.
Season 1 was so brilliant at creating this sinister oppressive world of religious misogynistic fanaticism. There were hints of insight as to how such a horrible world might come into being, and bits showing the motivations of the leading ideologues.
And now? Our brave heroine killing a couple bad guys. Plot points? Suddenly it's really easy for 100 or so people to creep to an airport? When someone has already informed on them? Kids ready to leave the home and parents they know? And Joseph, one of the leading architects of this world, why exactly is he disillusioned? This character had promise to illuminate how one comes to justify atrocities, then see the light. But instead, he's just a plot device to help with the escape. And Serena being charged with rape after her plea deal for the multiple rapes that occurred (no less on the word of a war criminal). But it is viewer-pleasing to see her arrested.
We get it - the bad guys are bad. But why? No illuminating of the oppressors' psychology I thought might come in Season 3. Just June turned into some ruthless Dirty Harry. Villains getting their comeuppance is satisfying and fun to watch, but expected more from this series.
Season 1 was so brilliant at creating this sinister oppressive world of religious misogynistic fanaticism. There were hints of insight as to how such a horrible world might come into being, and bits showing the motivations of the leading ideologues.
And now? Our brave heroine killing a couple bad guys. Plot points? Suddenly it's really easy for 100 or so people to creep to an airport? When someone has already informed on them? Kids ready to leave the home and parents they know? And Joseph, one of the leading architects of this world, why exactly is he disillusioned? This character had promise to illuminate how one comes to justify atrocities, then see the light. But instead, he's just a plot device to help with the escape. And Serena being charged with rape after her plea deal for the multiple rapes that occurred (no less on the word of a war criminal). But it is viewer-pleasing to see her arrested.
We get it - the bad guys are bad. But why? No illuminating of the oppressors' psychology I thought might come in Season 3. Just June turned into some ruthless Dirty Harry. Villains getting their comeuppance is satisfying and fun to watch, but expected more from this series.
I can't even begin... Transcendent !
amrani-ghali9320 September 2019
Children and June's future
anagalilea15 August 2019
Kids are educated in Gilead not to be noisy and to obey their Martha's. Obedience is key to that society. So the commanders take reading would help "make it like their family time" and give blessing. That helps explain why the plan works. Because at least something works. I am happy for Rita. And sad for Luke. Awful to see Serena bringing back June's old name and role in her life. Awful woman deserved worse treatment. She was on the path of getting "her daughter" through visitations and who knows what else eventually. I just hope the fate of June isn't as bad as it looks like it could be.
I'm speechless
perillovictor15 August 2019
Warning: Spoilers
This season might have been a bit slow, but this episode and this season finale were 100% worth the wait.
Watching a plan work out for the first time was breathtaking and the scene where the girls arrive to Canada was beyond emotions.
That's why this show is the best show so far, so all that's left is for us to wait until season 4!
This episode evoke such powerful emotions
thesilenceofthepugs14 August 2019
Absolutely brilliant!
marisham-829-24464017 September 2019
Waiting was not for nothing..
fadimerhej14 August 2019
After some slow episodes, this episode came as a saviour for this show. Great acting and Great ending besides that I've been waiting to see what happened after they captured Jun. And i hope in season 4 that Jun will escape with Hannah
Beautiful Piece of Television
therfino15 August 2019
Not the ending I was expecting.
jennfinn15 August 2019
Warning: Spoilers
I'm glad to see one of June's plans actually worked. I do however find it very hard to believe that 52 children (some of whom are too young to remember their real parents) would all be okay with being taken from their homes. As happy as I am with what happened to Serena I'm just not buying it. Neither Nick or June are there to collaborate Fred's accusations. They just automatically take the word of a war criminal who was burned by his wife ? How does Lawrence think he's gonna fix anything by staying in Gilead ? Wouldn't it have been better to go to Canada and share all the secrets of Gilead ? If June doesn't get executed after this than I'm done with this show. Unless someone magically fixes her bullet to the stomach. Also why weren't any boys saved ?
Relatively better, but not good.
ats12219 August 2019
Warning: Spoilers
So this episode was more suspenseful than the pretty slow meandering rest of the season but that shouldn't mean we overlook its flaws. A pretty badly planned escape to the plane (walking with that many kids with all those searchlights?) - also: what's with the really well orchestrated soap sharing just to stop the gate from making a noise? So they made all those plans for a squeaky gate but the rest of it they just winged it? What a season. An exciting ending sure but overall inexcusably dumb for a show that was so good.
Palpable relief
chunkachunka14 August 2019
Warning: Spoilers
The show is so bleak and frustrating at times that I genuinely had no idea if the kids were going to actually get out or not. It's been so long watching plans fail and get foiled and FINALLY a plan has come through; the suspense through the last 20m of the episode, and not knowing if the kids were on the plane... The scene in the hangar left both me and my partner in tears. (Poor Luke, as well.)
Plus, bonus catharsis of Serena getting her comeuppance!! Such a satisfying episode and a great way to end the series.
Plus, bonus catharsis of Serena getting her comeuppance!! Such a satisfying episode and a great way to end the series.
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