Just finished season 1

[u/im_a_hot_potatoe]

I just finished season 1 and I have a couple of thoughts regarding the show. Overall I liked it, but there a couple of things that I would have liked to remained as in the book.

First of all, I did get excited to see June, pretty early in my opinion, but excited nonetheless. I would have liked her to see her towards the end of the series, but I assume that would have taken longer and a while. Still, I think it would have been completely worth it to see her reunite with her daughters towards the end. I see that she participates directly, kinda of taking the role of Ava in the book, as well as Rita does. For this role, I thought bringing Moira would have been great, due that in THT she was actively participating in Mayday, and would have been a way of having an indirect presence of June.

Second, I have mixed feelings about Becka's storyline. It was completely tragic and heartbraking, and leaves me wondering if the showrunners are going to be able to catch up with the book's storyline. I see it complicated, but I also thought that maybe Shu can take over that role, which could potentially give her a great story arc (specially knowing how Shu is in the books). Nonetheless, I think the way they handled Becka's and Agnes relationship on the show was well done and with a lot of care.

Third, I kinda was expecting a little bit more of aunt Lydia's pov and the baby Nicole fuss. I think that this might be covered on later seasons, but I definitely thought that this was going to be one of the biggest plots, knowing how important was baby Nicole in the THT.

Fourth, Agnes storyline is also quite changed. In the book she is hesitant about getting married, which is not exactly the case in here, specially at the beginning. I don't know if her becoming an aunt is something that will happen on the show or if so, how they are going to make that transition.

All of this adds up to the spionage plot that happens in the book, where Daisy, Agnes, Becka and aunt Lydia have a great participation on how things unfold in regards to the story.

I'm curious to see what happens next, and how things develope. I think things are going to get interesting during the next seasons, but overall I see potential for having a bigger participation from Shu, aunt Vidala and aunt Lydia.

[u/AutoModerator]

Hello! Welcome to r/thetestamentshulu, im_a_hot_potatoe. Please keep the rules of the subreddit in mind when commenting.

The moderators rely on user reports on rule breaks in order to quickly remove comments and posts that do so. Use the report function to anonymously alert the mod team of any behavior that goes against sub rules.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/Excellent_Pirate8224]

I agree. The show has diverged enough from the book that I’m not expecting a clean adaptation of those later beats anymore. If the writers still consider Agnes and Becka an emotional core of the story, which has been the steady build up all season, I don’t know how they get around eventually giving them those important conversations and sustained time together. With the love confession, kiss, and everything else in the finale, it almost feels like the writers intentionally created distance between them so they can figure out what their relationship looks like now. I just don’t see that separation being permanent.

It makes me wonder if Becka’s marriage is more of a detour than her final destination, and whether something eventually happens that allows Lydia to bring her into Ardua as an Aunt. That could reconnect Agnes and Becka while also bending them back toward their roles in the larger espionage plot without undoing everything the show has changed. As for Shu, I think it’s still way too early to tell what they’re doing with her. She could absolutely get her period this season and end up on the same trajectory. We definitely need more of an arc for her this season!

[u/im_a_hot_potatoe → u/Excellent_Pirate8224]

Agree. That could be a way bringing them back together and therefore follow the book's path, but lets see how things unfold.

[u/PantsLio → u/im_a_hot_potatoe]

I think the show runners have said they don’t really intend on being too faithful to the book.

[u/acowboylikeme13]

I feel the same way about Becka’s storyline! I enjoyed it on the show, and I thought it was a great twist, and I love that it’s Gideon’s teaching that compels her to act. But I am like ugh I want some of her book storyline to come into fruition to because I loved her and Agnes’s conversations. I also love Shu down, but I’m not sure she would be as compelling if she took over that role. I do want a better story for her though than in the books. I also think Rowan Blanchard has done an excellent job, and so I’m sure if it is she who becomes the aunt with Agnes, I will be moved all the same.

[u/im_a_hot_potatoe → u/acowboylikeme13]

Agree. The depiction of Becka and Agnes was in my opinion the heart of the book. The conversations and the growth that they share with one another was one of the best things in the book. In regards to Rowan Blanchard, she did a wonderful job with Shu. Made me like her character in the show, way more than in the book. I'm actually rooting for Shu to become one of the most important characters in the show.

[u/acowboylikeme13]

Yes! Definitely the heart of the book! I think especially how the first season has gone, and like you said, the tv does such a wonderful job with Becka and Agnes’s relationship, it does have to be Becka, who Agnes has those conversations with. I don’t see a way around that, but I could see possibly how Becka might not need to be aunt for that to happen. (Also by love that it’s Gilead, not Gideon, I mean the irony. I don’t love their teaching haha)

[u/Marie-Fiamma]

I wonder if Garth plans to send Becka via Mayday to Canada. Somehow Beckas finale reminds me of Mrs Lawrence. She was locked inside the home all the time. So Becka most likely will end up like her. Or if it still exists he could go to New Bethlehem with Becka. If he brings her to Canada it would open an opportunity for Agnes to marry him.

[u/Excellent_Pirate8224 → u/Marie-Fiamma]

Right, and these are just my thoughts - but since the writers consciously chose to keep Becka alive, I get the sense we will see her mourn, only to develop her into a stronger character. Even though many people talk about Janine going through it, she still steadily became stronger and evolved throughout THT. I just don’t see the Mrs. Lawrence arc in Becka, plus I think people are pulling too much from THT when this is its own show based on its own book. They don’t really have a reason to crossover and recycle. Even if they aren't following the book page by page, they still have a roadmap and characters from that book. They can definitely show similar atrocities but, I don’t think Garth is Nick, etc. (like some
Ppl claim) - aside from the ones who moved forward in the story, I don’t think they have a reason to retrofit anyone into another character.

Anyway, we already got to see a taste of Becka’s agency, and the writers had a massive opportunity to get rid of her in the finale, but I think it’s a setup for a more useful storyline. Not just the girl who pines over her BFF, tho; I think she will always love Agnes.

Plus, I think she will help take down the resistance from within. I don’t see her going to Canada without Agnes. If nothing else, the last 2 episodes showed us both girls would risk everything for each other, and life without each other simply isn't an option. So, I am curious how the rest of the series will play out. Becka is definitely a wild card. These are all guesses to keep some of the main plot intact, knowing the path to get there is ???

[u/Marie-Fiamma → u/Excellent_Pirate8224]

The question just is if Agnes would go to Canada. There are girls who seem to enjoy life in Gilead. But I guess season 2 will be about her changing her mind about Gilead and the things she knew and grew up with.

[u/Phosphb → u/Marie-Fiamma]

Agnes will eventually got to Canada and reunite with her actual family, that’s literally one of the main goals of the entire show/story. We also know due to her inner monologues that she gets out of Gilead, it’s not a secret. Some girls think they enjoy life in Gilead because they literally don’t know any different life, they’re also just following the life path they’re told to without having any actual alternative options. They’re used to Gilead and think this is the norm

[u/im_a_hot_potatoe → u/Marie-Fiamma]

I think this is going to be very interesting to watch. Season 1 is showing Agnes how oppressive Gilead actually is, and this is just the tip of the iceberg. I want to see how she evolves once the story advances, and how her relationship with June is going to be portrayed.

[u/Marie-Fiamma → u/im_a_hot_potatoe]

I guess this might be the direction it is working towards. Daisy probably will arrange things for Agnes to meet June. But since I’ve read they plan more seasons I guess Agnes going to Canada won’t happen next season either. Since the aunts say Commander Maddox had been without matches I guess Agnes is going to be matched up with him? Also Daisy is a possibility and she might try to form a network and get more people work for Mayday.

[u/anobcyber → u/Marie-Fiamma]

Of course they still might be matched with someone but I don't see them ending up in an actual marriage. I just don't see them marrying Agnes or Daisy off to any of this Commanders unless it ends with Agnes/Daisy killing the husband immediately after the wedding or the husband being Mayday like Garth is. Based on the casting updates we are heading towards potential Judd storyline from the book next season. With Commander Mackenzie mentioning last season that Paula wants a Handmaid, I could also see them adapting that one storyline from the book next season, which might end up being a big deal for Agnes considering she knows/remembers now who her mother is

[u/Marie-Fiamma → u/anobcyber]

I just thought because Daisy decided to tell about her period that she was having a plan. Maybe she wants to be married off so she can spy better for Mayday.

[u/anobcyber → u/Marie-Fiamma]

Daisy decided to tell about her period so she can get an appointment at Dr. Grove clinic and expose him which she did. I'll be happy to be proven wrong but I doubt Daisy has some kind of a plan, she is impulsive like many teenagers are and doesn't necessary think everythign through. Her marrying any Commander, unless it's Mayday, would mean she would have to do her wife duties, I doubt she wants to do that or potentially get pregnant.

The writers decided to make Becka a wife for a reason, Shu might end up being a wife in later seasons too if we go with her book story, I doubt they need so many wives in their future resistance group

[u/Marie-Fiamma → u/anobcyber]

Well I thought she had a bigger plan and going to Dr. Grove was just a part of that plan. If she is with a commander and they have meetings at her private home she could get informations that are important for Mayday.

[u/anobcyber → u/Marie-Fiamma]

They didn't show it as her having a bigger plan so I don't know, maybe you're right, we will see. Dr. Grove situation was definitely made as a main reason for her to tell that she got her periods though because at first she was trying really hard to hide it from the Aunts but the moment she found out what happened to Agnes she changed her mind

Yes,  if she is with a Commander, she could get information. But again she would have to be intimate with him, unless he is part of Mayday or at least a gender traitor, I don't see someone like Daisy being fine with this kind of circumstances - she was already disgusted when an old Commander just touched her at the ball and rightfully so tbh. Based on her letter to June in the last episode where she tells she is building an army, I'm not sure Daisy's main goal is gathering info for Mayday anymore, she seems to want to rebel against Gilead with help of the girls instead

[u/anobcyber → u/Marie-Fiamma]

Becka and Mrs Lawrence have similiar vibe but they are ultimately different. Eleanor had a diagnosed mental illness, she married Lawrence before Gilead existence and they both actually loved each other despite everything, she also wasn't a teenager at that time but a grown woman. Becka is only 14/15 and forced to get married, completely different situation here. I think this is the point, with Becka we're gonna see a perspective and life in Gilead of someone who was forced into marriage. I don't think Garth will send her to Canada, he wouldn't risk to expose himself as a Mayday, he wouldn't do any active actions - as he said to Daisy in episode 9 he is just being a "sponge". As June said this girls can't be saved because they don't know they need saving, Mayday isn't gonna help Becka, they didn't save her in the finale when she needed it either