Friends, we live in a divided world. Not just the part where it’s divided between those who voted for Donald Trump and the rest of us, although there’s certainly that. We are divided in ways far deeper and even more fraught.
In 2017, there are two kinds of people: those who are watching the same show as you…and those who aren’t.
For the past week I have begun every conversation – with friends, with relatives, with co-workers, with strangers, in person, via email and on whatsapp – like this:
“ARE YOU WATCHING THE HANDMAIDS’ TALE?”
I ask this in a needy, urgent way, multiple times a day.
And if the answer is no, you are dead to me. Not actually dead. I will not kill you, even with my eyes, but you are useless to me in terms of having a conversation because since watching the first episode, it is all I want to talk about. I am not angry with you. I am just disappointed.
LISTEN: The Binge unpack everything you need to know about The Handmaid’s Tale (post continues after audio…)
If someone says they’re not watching it or – gasp – they’ve never heard of it, you can see my face actually fall. I droop visibly.
And today I have noticed the same look of disappointment and crushing dismissal in the eyes of all my co-workers who are watching the new season of Game Of Thrones – a show I have never watched and will never watch.
Please don’t leave a comment urging me to give it a go because I would rather eat a dry teabag. Not my thing. Never going to be my thing. The end.
Top Comments
Country practice never gets old. Have the box sets watch them with my kids. I was very forwarding thinking in terms of gay rights, disability rights, drugs, aids, vaccination.
Love the show. My kids even love the show. They have not seen the Molly death bit though.
I recall Molly dying as vividly as I recall actual milestones from my life. I was probably around 10 y/o, sitting on the lounge room rug with my Mum behind me in her favourite chair and I was mortified to find tears rolling down my face in torrents. So embarrassed was I by my reaction, I hid my face and ran to the bathroom to cry bucket loads for a good half an hour. Mum tried to coax me out but I kept insisting I was okay. Took me weeks to get over that sense of loss...I hope your kids will be okay when they reach that episode!
Do you watch 'EastEnders' ?
You don't!! Gasp! 😔
Goodbye. 👋