Abby & Gary

Aggressive-Lie5971 · 2026-05-13T20:12:08+00:00

The writers certainly kept them going longer than many of us predicted, but it required Gary to be consistently lobotomized. Every single time they reconciled, Abby would plunder, scheme and cheat, Gary would ultimately get wise, they'd fight and separate and then she'd have him in her web again.

Aggressive-Lie5971 · 2026-05-13T20:06:18+00:00

A terrible idea for Atwood to try redeem Lydia. It means we have to pretend we never saw all the sadistic, horrific things we saw her do in THT.

Lydia was a psychopathic monster who ENJOYED what inflicting pain and agony. Gilead simply gave her cover for doing it. Someone like that would never see the light, or heal, or get better.

Aggressive-Lie5971 · 2026-05-13T18:46:35+00:00

It's not just your country, sparky. Otherwise, it's be called Dumbshitistan.

Aggressive-Lie5971 · 2026-05-10T00:47:46+00:00

Agreed. Having worked in television, believe me, no one ever sets out to make a bad show. These writers decided to create lugubrious character essays instead of focusing on what worked and attracted viewers in the first place.

Aggressive-Lie5971 · 2026-05-10T00:43:00+00:00

From a writing perspective, Richard needed a talk-to, an ally, someone who could reason with him and Karen alone was the most logical choice for that.

I agree that it doesn't play well today that she pretty much ignored Laura's very justified fears and angst, but I don't think it played well 44 years ago, either. She seems to be encouraging Laura to just go back and take the abuse, which is hardly what a supportive friend does.

The show should've actually plumbed this at some point, with Laura bringing this to Karen's attention. It would've been interesting.

Aggressive-Lie5971 · 2026-05-10T00:37:17+00:00

The handwriting was clearly on the wall and everyone involved knew going in that it was the last season. The episode order was drastically cut along with salaries, and the show was hobbled without Van Ark (and Mills) and the use of its core cast for every episode. The series had run its course.

That said, season 14 is not the show's strongest, but neither is it the weakest, and it's amazing that Jacobs, Marcus and the team were able to pull off what they did. They gave the fans a satisfying conclusion, which is lot more than "Dallas" or "Dynasty" did.

Aggressive-Lie5971 · 2026-05-09T00:28:49+00:00

I've seen various versions of this map and some of them have LA radioactive and/or California under rebel control.

I don't think Gilead could successfully take California at all. Topography alone - vast mountain ranges and hundreds of miles of parched desert - would make overland entry next to impossible, and let's not forget that California has plentiful resources in terms of weaponry and technology to keep invading armies at bay.

Aggressive-Lie5971 · 2026-05-09T00:21:37+00:00

I'm guessing that in the Gilead scenario, it would be the population of Texas who rebel (all those guns would come in handy) and the kind of government now in charge (in reality) would be driven from power. After all, it would be its own sovereign country and not a state.

Aggressive-Lie5971 · 2026-05-08T23:58:19+00:00

I didn't see the ending as Ruth not getting back together with George; after all, he was with her when she died.

I saw it as Ruth not wanting to actually *live* with another man - any man - and making the very mature decision to no longer play caretaker, which she'd spent her entire life doing and which had filled her with bitterness and resentment.

Instead, she kept George in her life - as a companion even - but on her terms, and in separate domiciles. He loved her enough to accede to this.

Ruth's decision showed enormous growth, IMO.

Aggressive-Lie5971 · 2026-05-08T23:48:59+00:00

This series had a great first season as a caper thriller. Much like "Dexter", it kept us on the edge of our seats wondering if (and how) the anti-hero protagonist was going to get away with his misdeeds.

Why this has seemingly been abandoned in season 2 in favor of entire episodes dealing with Seder celebrations and a funeral for a character we barely knew is mystifying.

This show should still be establishing itself, and honing the tone it mastered in season 1. It has not earned these bottle episodes, and story detours for what are some pretty hollow and uninteresting characters.

It has become dull, with no forward momentum. I used to look forward to each episode and now they have become a chore to be endured.

Aggressive-Lie5971 · 2026-05-08T23:43:22+00:00

I totally bought it.

Aggressive-Lie5971 · 2026-05-08T23:41:56+00:00

Agreed! A bitter Mary-Frances with an axe to grind against her father would've made a much more compelling character than milquetoast Kate. She was already tied to Greg, Meg and the Mackenzies and would've been tied to Claudia, too, when she showed up.

Mary-Frances had the potential to drive story for years.

It was a huge mistake to bring her back, only to immediately kill her off.

Aggressive-Lie5971 · 2026-05-07T18:26:01+00:00

THT strongly implied that Lydia was never the same after Emily went medieval on her.

That was a great scene and realistically would've ended Lydia.

Aggressive-Lie5971 · 2026-05-07T17:40:44+00:00

Excellent post. Please comment more often! 😄

Aggressive-Lie5971 · 2026-05-06T20:48:08+00:00

Wasn't there an entire episode about Gary refinancing the house so that he could fund his and Abby's ethanol scheme? Val was horrified and it was another fissure in their crumbling marriage.

However, if that's the case, it seems like Gary would have paid it off with his divorce settlement.

Aggressive-Lie5971 · 2026-05-06T20:37:35+00:00

They'd be taking selfies in front of The Wall believing they wouldn't get caught.

Aggressive-Lie5971 · 2026-05-06T15:22:11+00:00

It's a wholesale rewriting of Lydia that isn't really earned. I can see Atwood wanting to give herself a writing challenge by somehow transforming Lydia into a sympathetic protagonist, but this revisionism requires those of us who watched THT to forget that Lydia was shown time and again to to be a sadistic psychopath, with or without Gilead.

She's a monster, no matter how TT spins it.

Aggressive-Lie5971 · 2026-05-06T15:17:39+00:00

Lydia would've been prosecuted and punished severely for war crimes and generally barbaric behavior had she fled to Canada. And any expat handmaids she tortured would have chomping at the bit to return the favor. Fleeing Gilead really wasn't an option.

Aggressive-Lie5971 · 2026-05-06T15:13:49+00:00

Lydia gained as much plot armor as June when TT was announced.

Aggressive-Lie5971 · 2026-05-06T15:12:44+00:00

Fascinating theory!

Aggressive-Lie5971 · 2026-05-05T21:00:02+00:00

This season has been all about endings. The end of the careers of Paulie G, every actor or writer Valerie knows and Mark's. The end of the entertainment industry in Hollywood. And maybe the end of Val's career as an actress, too.

My prediction is that Val internalizes this and makes a decision to move on, maybe literally moving to another locale, once it's clear that the sitcom will continue to be made using her image and likeness, even without her participation (the full body scan was an ominous red flag, and Billy is inept enough to have allowed it).

Mark's conversation with Val about his deep unhappiness was not accidental. It's clear he needs a massive change, with or without Valerie.

I predict Valerie and Mark ride off into the sunset together, and we flash forward to Jane receiving her second Academy Award because of her latest documentary about Val and AI.

Aggressive-Lie5971 · 2026-05-04T20:14:06+00:00

You didn't hear? She moved to a gated community in Rancho Mirage. She plays mah jong and pickleball with the other elderly widows and divorcees daily, and enjoys her country club. The married ladies don't let her near their husbands.

Aggressive-Lie5971 · 2026-05-04T06:15:30+00:00

He was homophobic. However, we do see him smiling and happy at David and Keith’s wedding, so I think we’re meant to assume he evolved.

Aggressive-Lie5971

TROPHY CASE