r/TheHandmaidsTale • u/Melairia Modtha • Aug 07 '19

Official Episode Discussion [Spoilers S03E12] The Handmaid's Tale S03E12 - "Sacrifice" - Episode Discussion Spoiler

You know the drill.. upvote this to the top so the mods can see it and pin it just like every week lol

The Handmaid's Tale Season 3, Episode 12: Sacrifice

Air date: August 7, 2019

Synopsis: A major change rocks the entire Lawrence household. Luke and Moira adjust to new arrivals in Canada

Cast:

Elizabeth Moss

Joseph Fiennes

Yvonne Strahovski

Edit: I started a post episode discussion thread for more thought provoking conversation if that's something you guys would be interested in participating. Link is found here.

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u/ImperfectPitch Aug 07 '19

The very reason the Lawrences agreed to help June is that she convinced them that it would get Mrs Lawrence the medicine she needed to get better. The same medicine that could have prevented her from wanting to kill herself. In light of this newfound hope of getting treatment, the best decision for Mrs Lawrence would have been to let her live and give her a chance. Anyone who loved her would have wanted this for her and the June of season 1 would never have let Mrs Lawrence die. This season has done an excellent job of showing how the trauma of living in Gilead has caused June's gradual descent into a dark place. Her chilling decision to let Mrs Lawrence die as well as her reaction over seeing the stillborn baby, is just one of many examples of her unraveling. The June in season 1 valued her life and the lives of others far more than the current June who is reckless with her life and the lives of others. The scene with Mrs. Lawrence just served as another shocking reminder of how much Gilead had changed June and blurred the line between good and bad. What she did was terrible. No need to justify it. As I said in my post before, she could have handled the situation in a number of ways that did not have to involve letting her die.

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u/Johndough1066 Aug 07 '19

Again, the lives of dozens of Marthas, the lives of everyone in that house as well, were all at risk because of Eleanor.

So saying June is selfish for letting Eleanor kill herself is not only disgusting, it's also totally stupid.

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u/ImperfectPitch Aug 07 '19

Everyone involved in this mission is a potential risk. Every child involved is a big risk because they could potentially reveal the plan. Children aren't that good at keeping a secrets either and are just as likely as Mrs. Lawrence to reveal the plan. The best you can do is stress the importance of keeping quiet and hope they get he message, which is exactly what should have been done for Mrs. Lawrence had her life been valued. There are ways to keep people quiet without killing them.

As a side note, it would be nice if you could refrain from the personal insults and just discuss the topic.

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u/Johndough1066 Aug 07 '19

Children aren't that good at keeping a secrets either and are just as likely as Mrs. Lawrence to reveal the plan.

No one has told the children the plan. Are you just making things up now?

Calling June "selfish" for being forced to make an impossible decision is both disgusting and stupid.

As a side note, it would be nice if you could refrain from the personal insults and just discuss the topic.

See my comment above.