One Villainous Scene -Abusive tactics and Aunt Lydia

[@twothefuture]

This video was meant to go on my main channel, but I badly butchered, well, EVERYTHING. The filming, the editing, the sound, the BLAH. So it ended up here. Really cool if you spotted it here! The next video on the main channel will be On Writing: Killing Characters and, if I may say, it's pretty damn good!

[@613aristocrat]

Perfectionism is a disease, but I'm glad to see that you can find an outlet for projects that don't meet your high quality standards.

[@Dee-jp7ek]

I'm sad that I didn't know about the second channel and thus haven't supported it sooner BUT I'm happy that now I have a bunch of new content from you to binge.

[@JeffRebornNow]

Tim, I've never read Margaret Atwood. My mom likes her books. Is she at all worth reading? My mom's literary taste is somewhat suspect

[@TheZombieButler]

This was damn good. Stop telling me how to judge your work. 😊 I'm glad I found this. Looking for the link you talked about.

[@slavthesage5661]

Man this is fine. Good video.

[@zoeb3573]

Lydia is one of the most interesting characters of the show. She has both the ability to be your caring mother and your worst nightmare, but her love is twisted and conditional. She treats Janine as her "favourite child" yet she's also the handmaid she's tortured and maimed the most and most brutally. She has no shame doing harm to the girls for their "own good" yet even she seems to have limits (she shows genuine disgust when she sees the handmaids of the capital have their mouths forcefully closed at all times and comforts June when she has a breakdown over seeing it). You never quite know what you're going to get out of her when she's on screen, affection or violence, and that makes her simple presence stressful. She's the perfect representation of an abuser who claims to love you, and might even do.

[@mznerdtheories]

And the actress does such a wonderful job at blending all of those characteristics too. It's genuinely chilling to watch Aunt Lydia's scenes because they are delivered so well.

[@ChristoTitan]

This guy can't make a bad video. His understanding of these highly sensitive/personal themes is absolutely outstanding.

[@Covenfan-lg4mx]

Something that I found interesting reading the testaments after watching the show is that I actually think show Lydia and Book Lydia are both very good but different character book Lydia merely assimilated into Gilead as a means to survive while show Lydia not only drank the Gilead cool aid but probably help concoct it

[@AkuraTheAwesome]

I see what you mean there. I think in the series she is a perfect example of good, ordinary people having a monstrous side deep down, waiting for their fucked up beliefs to become the status quo. In a way, I believe she thinks she loves the girls and is doing what is best for them. Like those crazy religious people that desperately try to convert you because they're afraid you'll go to hell.

[@WobblesandBean]

Thing is, I don't know if that's really the case. I think hers is a case of going with the status quo to save your own behind, but in doing so, it does become second nature. Just like what she said, it's amazing what a person can get used to.

[@AkuraTheAwesome]

@@WobblesandBean The episode that focuses on Aunt Lydia showed that she was a nut-job christian before Gilead. *spoilers* She fucked over a single mother and had her kid taken away because she believed she was a corrupting slut. *spoilers* I think, at least in Aunt Lydia's case, that we are shown how she was basically waiting for Gilead her whole life, it is what she truly thinks is best.

[@sbh2888]

@@AkuraTheAwesome I think the “before” scene shows how Lydia’s behavior stems from her own need to feel special and chosen, and when she isn’t, she cannot bare the self loathing and deep down hatred of herself. I believe she would have been a handmade happily (sex she can have without feeling guilty about, etc.) She is broken inside with a streaming path of mental illness amplifying her worst characteristics. She honestly believes the bullshit and is more faithful to the cause than pretty much any of the men on the council (though power and control and self importance do influence her behavior just as much). The most noteworthy fact is that when she sees the corruption, she ignores it, she makes allowances for the men, and in general is humbled by their perceived status. An example would be nuns who allow abuse without speaking up. They see the man as the powerful one that a woman should demure to. Even when she allows the women to kill a man, the goal behind it is to give them a semblance of control that is nonexistent (since the killing is not only allowed, it is required). The point is, she believes what she does because she is a broken person. It isn’t about survival-she loves her position. And that’s what makes her evil.

[@AkuraTheAwesome]

@@sbh2888 wow, yeah. That's an excellent assessment of Lydia's character.

[@MikaelaKMajorHistory]

I love this. I could never watch The Handmaid’s Tale because it made me feel sick inside. Having grown up gaslit and having a child out of wedlock that people tried to take away from me, it hits too close to home. When I managed to watch the first episode, Lydia really stood out to me, and that’s why I’m here.

[@johnwalker8427]

I didn’t think this was butchered, all the info was well conveyed and interesting, so don’t worry :)

[@Tokahfang]

Yeah, this was spot and very watchable!!

[@localloser7415]

Doesn't butchered mean bad

[@leighanndepamphilis7453]

Ok who else needs like a solid 3 hours of the excellent character analysis going on here??? The Handmaids Tale is so captivating BECAUSE it feels like it could happen, and its terrifying and fascinating!

[@eflanagan1921]

@petal drops How do you boil a frog?

[@kellharris2491]

Sadly this is what's going to happen in Afghanistan as the Taliban takes over again...

[@pacrat190]

@petal drops I feel like it could happen considering certain sickos who are in power could contribute to it just because of how it treats women. Then again it wouldn’t be because of it being hard to have children thats for sure

[@motorcitymangababe]

She reminds me of my abusive grandmother and it makes her... Terrifying on a level most villains arent. She could give you a cookie or torment you depending on how well you perform to her standards. My mom is in her 50' s and still unlearning the behaviors instilled in her by that woman. Thats not my story to tell but i did watch her try it on my older sister during an extended visit, and her descent into madness when my sister got into contact eith my parents was... Disturbin9 swift and ended with us being chased out of the house at 3am and locked out 8 states away from home until my dad got his friend to drive across texas.

[@N22883]

This is super fascinating, I appreciate the taking a more tangible type of villainous scene

[@joshuam772]

I thought it was a great video, and an engaging discussion around the pervasiveness and passivity of abuse, and how they've used that to make one villainous scene. And I can't wait for the Killing Characters video. I have a feeling that KILLING CHARACTERS WILL BE COMPLICATED!

[@ActualOphelia]

This was so clearly explained, thank you for outlining how abusive relationships "capture" their victims

[@nasimanolova9993]

The video was pretty good actually, and analysing stuff this way can actually be helpful for a lot of people who've experienced such things to feel seen, to be validated, to feel empowered

[@nasimanolova9993]

Like, when you're getting abused, often times your mind is too busy trying to figure out what's happening, why is it happening, basically trying to find sense in it a when there's no sense present, and putting it so clearly that "Abusers to this and that to make their victim do this and that" can help them sort out their thoughts, make them know exactly what they're fighting against/running from, and eventually help them leave the situation

[@CaolánTheCryptidCrow]

I was gonna say the same thing. I know my mom had emotionally abused me, but I’m always learning new things. Like… I know something is wrong but it’s nice to have words put to the things she does. If that makes sense.

[@nasimanolova9993]

@@CaolánTheCryptidCrow Same, if you need any tips for dealing with this I have plenty (+some resources that can be quite helpful as far as mental clarity about things goes)

[@chiklachikla7641]

@@CaolánTheCryptidCrow sorry that you did have to deal with this

[@GrumpSupport]

I’m going to rewatch this to help me break down my own abuse and figure out how to rewrite it into my narratives so I can work through it. This helps SO much in figuring out the practical cause and effect and the actual methods. When you’ve been abused it’s hard to look at the tactics objectively and go “yeah that would work” because it sounds so simple, and and it sounds like anyone looking from the outside in would just see right through it. The Handmaids Tale does such an incredible job at showcasing both abuse in personal relationships, and in overall structures of society. Thank you for the video.

[@FallenAngelHiroko]

Video was fine. You are your own worst critic. I'd like to see you delve deeper into Aunt Lydia as a character more like you did with Azula.

[@percivallavoie4415]

Seconding this

[@Sysyphony]

As I am going through the playlist… all villainous scenes have been great. But Tim… You picked one that is chilling…

[@raraavis7782]

I could never make myself actually watch the Handmaid's Tale...just short scenes like these basically give me nightmares. And did watch shows like The Walking Dead or Vikings without issue. Aunt Lidia especially freaks me out. She's scary as fuck, as far as I'm concerned - and I just pray, I never have to deal with anyone half as evil ever in my life.

[@cinnamonsparrowdesigns]

Yeah this whole concept makes me uncomfortable. Quiet evil people like her are more scary to me than the outright ones. The psychological mind fuckery was my mother's thing so it just makes me feel sick.

[@pacrat190]

Yea when I first started watching I had no idea what I was watching(had never heard about what it was about) and there are still scenes that make me feel sick The ones that make me the most upset with aunt lydia is scenes where she’s actually kind to the main character(June) like comforting her when she’s crying or helping her, then she’ll immediately yell at her(and hurt her) or do something to someone else that she knows will upset June. It makes her character so scary

[@mznerdtheories]

It's definitely a show where you can't binge it. It's too heavy a subject to binge watch. I get through one maybe two episodes before I have to move on to something else and take a break (unless it wasn't a particularly heavy episode) but that's exactly the point. It's supposed to be an uncomfortable narrative, it's telling a very uncomfortable story, and that people are feeling something is good. I loved the show more than the book though because it was a much less jarring narrative.

[@elliot.woohoo]

@@mznerdtheories I'm usually someone who binges shows back to back and I had to take breaks like weeks before I could keep going,max 1 or 2 eps because some episodes were just too much. I also sometimes had nightmares?I was overall paranoid,I've never had a show do this to me, I can handle gore,horror movies and most shocking things but this show was very unsettling and disturbing. Especially Aunt Lydia,she terrifies me.

[@mznerdtheories]

@@elliot.woohoo me too. All of it. It has set me on edge a lot. I'm on a break right now.

[@FlyToTheRain]

I second everyone's sentiment that I thought this video was great! but at the same time im sort of glad it wasn't more... cinematic? immersive? because any sort of dive into the handmaid's tale, deep or shallow, always leaves me feeling physically ill

[@robertzarfas9556]

“…that they’ll do it too themselves.” That’s chilling to think about.

[@eflanagan1921]

Answered my staying at the worst job for 7 years.

[@Yertle_Turtle]

This is the best on the playlist because it's so helpful to recognize and contend with genuine villains in our own lives.

[@godnoble]

Choosing this scene, and your analysis of it, was brilliant. Thank you.

[@RatKingN7]

Speak for yourself mate… when Aunt Lydia steps on screen i shit myself WAY more than when Darth Vader shows up😅

[@valerashan6050]

Tim, I think you're being too hard on yourself. Your filming was pretty great in my opinion, and you conveyed a highly sensitive topic with a lot of respect and maturity. I don't think that this was butchered at all. It's actually pretty amazing and informative.

[@iantaakalla8180]

This is still as informative and high quality. And while I do understand wishing a video essay to be cinematic or at least incredibly detailed, this also works.

[@Evan.the.Butler]

This made my experiences with an abusive parent feel validated. She always said "good" things about me, but, like Aunt Lydia, used it to manipulate. She could switch from emotional abuse to compliments in an instant, always making me weary and second guessing whether I remembered her actually being abusive or not. She also always treated me like a child, always making decisions and speaking for me. It's been hard to put it into words, which often makes me feel like I made everything up, so thank you

[@tutking2203]

I almost jump out of my skin when he slapped the book at 6:27

[@elousie1187]

THANK YOU TIM, YOU GAVE ME SO MUCH INSPIRATION!!! Thou I need to watch it fragment by fragment to handle my own sanity, it's worth to watch. It's not that your video is very disturbing or something, it's just that I am directly involved in this kind of thing in the real life, so I need many many distractions throughout the video to prevent my mind to access the traumatic 'files'

[@Heothbremel]

Thank you for taking this one on..... heavy hitter for sure. Lots of love to anyone who needs it ❤

[@jobobminer8843]

Wow. Heavy stuff. Thank you for sharing what you see here.

[@carlinc.christensen3478]

WOW, just an amazing video. Thank You for bringing to light these issues and topics! Great Job Tim!!

[@yarabande9230]

you described everything that happened in my past relationship

[@jackwriter1908]

This is the Third Video about One Villainous Scene I am going to watch and can't wait to finish it.

[@_gremlinboy]

I like this approach to the subject, actually. Felt kind of understated which I appreciate in a way. And the analysis was just as good as your usual! Glad you posted it!

[@BogdanRabulea]

Tim this was a fantastic video!

[@antonyslack1]

What an amazing video well done for covering a brilliant character and sensitive issue so well.

[@ColdDaveball]

I have to re-read the Handmaid's Tale. It is chillingly terrifying yet solemly defying in the mundanity of abuse in this world.

[@emp9413]

Extremely insightful! Looked at many resources about this sort of thing but this was a very penetrative analysis! Great job 👏

[@AB-cy2wf]

This is a great representation of the world today. Making someone that wants bodily autonomy out to be the worst, while putting those that are responsible for 10’s of thousands of deaths... on pedestals. • “Because while the truncheon may be used in lieu of conversation, words will always retain their power. Words offer the means to meaning, and for those who will listen, the enunciation of truth. And the truth is, there is something terribly wrong with this country, isn't there? Cruelty and injustice, intolerance and oppression. And where once you had the freedom to object, to think and speak as you saw fit, you now have censors and systems of surveillance coercing your conformity and soliciting your submission. How did this happen? Who's to blame? Well certainly there are those more responsible than others, and they will be held accountable, but again truth be told, if you're looking for the guilty, you need only look into a mirror. I know why you did it. I know you were afraid. Who wouldn't be? War, terror, disease. There were a myriad of problems which conspired to corrupt your reason and rob you of your common sense.” • -Alan Moore, V for Vendetta

[@emilyclarke8222]

And everything said in this video is why this novel is seen as a critical deep understanding of what it is like to be a woman in the world.

[@TheGoddon]

When Gaurdians of The Galaxy 3 is about to release and Nando comes up with “one familial scene” I call dibs on ‘August Osage County’

[@kikankuro]

I can't believe I didn't know that you had a second channel, take my subscription!

[@WobblesandBean]

This was great, what are you talking about? I'm glad you covered this, I wish more people would read The Testaments. Aunt Lydia is so terrifying BECAUSE she is so ordinary. The Testaments shows how anyone can become such a monster, not just the few "evil" ones who we can point at and go "see, THEY'RE the bad guy, what I'M doing is just fine".

[@abbeybevan8225]

👏👏👏 I only wish this video was longer. Blew my mind

[@Darkthestral1]

I had to stop watching the show because it was so disturbing and Aunt Lydia was a huge part of that Great breakdown of who she is and why she's so viscerally terrifying

[@meghanmonroe]

I just gotta say the music is really the MVP of this show.

[@DebonairDylan]

Video was fine and really interesting. I do feel that in a lot of media abuse is not shown very accurately

[@hannahmiller4663]

Her actress is a very sweet woman in contrast, and I just love her.

[@maxkenner1078]

i have always been a fan of thinking about villains and always liked discourse around the handmaid's tale, i think this is the fastest subscribe + notification bell ring i have done

[@galaxychar]

This video’s been in my reccomended for a while and I avoided it because I find a lot of commentary about the show to be very shallow. But I absolutely loved this and it’s really inspired me to want to read the books.

[@christinaify]

This video is good! You didn't "butcher" anything. There are just so many aspects of this story - both the book and the show - that are just as terrifying as they are infuriating. I had to both read and watch it in moderation even though I'm the binge type.

[@joshuajohnson2027]

Gosh darn it Tim you hit me everytime and everytime I fly in like it won’t happen

[@aaravos4371]

Okay wait i dont know whats happening but I think im going to like it

[@JynxedKoma]

Please do a video on psychoanalyzing June's/Offred's descent into crazy.

[@rosemarycat5]

One other detail that is very interesting in the book is use of punctuation. A lot of time, there are no quotation marks on lines from Aunt Lydia, which shows how deeply they are internalized in Offred and sometimes blurs the line between who said what -- Lydia or Offred herself.

[@william6621]

This is the truth. Thank you Tim for speaking the truth about this sensitive topic

[@ShaytheFae]

I forgot you even said this was supposed to be bad. Lol. It was great and yiu explained abuse very well and respectfully.

[@kjarakravik4837]

Thank you for making this

[@hulmhochberg8129]

"a career highlight for both" lololol thats soo good.

[@alicedubois1348]

I have yet to see the show or read the book. After watching this video though, I will definitely order the audiobook next month and try to find a streaming channel that has the show. Your video was really well made and chilled me a few times. Thanks for that! You have earned a happy new subscriber!

[@mznerdtheories]

Honestly, I would recommend the show over the book unless you're very good at keeping tabs on timelines (and don't mind a lack of quotation marks for dialogue). Margaret Atwood is great at setting up a world but her writing style can be quite jarring. I never finished the book but I have been watching the show. Never tried the audiobook but there might be a certain amount of difference to that as well.

[@alicedubois1348]

@@mznerdtheories Thank you so very much for the recommendation! I will keep it in mind.

[@xevious21]

I'm glad this series is doing well, it's just hard to watch for me. I made it to episode 6 or 7 of the first season and couldn't take anymore.

[@simonsheridan5906]

I love how you know your videos are such a cut above the rest in this playlist that you forgot what the playlist was even called.

[@viviana8577]

I think that part was rude to other creators and Nando. Tim should have made his own video if he was going to be so dismissive about the playlist.

[@simonsheridan5906]

I know Tim didn’t mean anything by it, but I got a kick out of it. Especially after watching other “villainous” videos first.

[@isabelnoyer5893]

Love your content!

[@wyattmiller9539]

This just scares me into thinking I'm abusive, not because I do any of this stuff, at least I don't think I do, but because I have horrid anxiety and self-hate.

[@Crazael]

You know, everytime I hear about a setting like Gilead, I can't help but think of ways to take the basic idea, but do it sanely. In this case, a combination of artificial wombs and social engineering in a different direction. Instead of the Handmaids being some kind of second class citizen, used and abused by their owners, they would be treated with the highest respect, for they are the Mothers of Humanity, or something along those lines. It's a bit of a half-formed idea, really. But I've only thought about it for a bit more than five minutes. I'm sure some more consideration would improve it greatly.

[@nataliabeltran710]

Amazing video, since your review of the book I've been thinking about reding it, now I'm totally convinced.

[@enriquejoseantequerasanche6180]

I hate the handmaiden's tale in how it's either a political fantasy or has been hijacked to be one about how authoritarian-left is right because capitalist right will make an apocalyptic scenario where women are raped as a way of life (as if we didn't have that already on certain parts of the planet, some of them self-identified as auth-left and some as auth-right. Religion, economic and political beliefs don't make a society evil, being evil does) but I agree with your "one villainous scene" and how this character is masterfully written as an abuser. I myself have suffered psychological abuse at various stages in my life (I can only imagine something in my demeanor makes abusers attracted to me, even if I can defend myself both physically and ideologically), and aunt Lydia sounds scarily familiar of how these people used to sound in my head. Thankfully I do or don't do things based on my own thoughts, no longer on what these people would insult me about.

[@leadvendor]

Ann Dowd is SO fucking great.

[@loopingmalone8242]

very good analysis, very interesting

[@CptnXplosion]

Just because it wasn't the single most well edited and put together video on the entire dang platform doesn't mean you butchered the video, Well done Mr future

[@donaghb7307]

I hope filmento has been included in the playlist this time

[@kellharris2491]

Well I think we can all agree that she earned that Emmy. She was acting.

[@viviana8577]

Tim you deliver

[@elousie1187]

I got a mini panic attack at 1:15 forgive me for not listen to you, coz I'm gonna continue watch it

[@sbh2888]

Absolute truth in everything you said

[@WrongKindOfPot]

Ann Dowds performance in this role is incredible, Aunt Lydia is a horrendous person and yet I still cannot bring myself to hate her.

[@viviana8577]

I think you were being too dismissive when you mentioned the project. Nando's idea is pretty impressive

[@pelindoganay2863]

Its one of the most watched videos on this channel. The only reason is Nandos playlist. He should be more respectful to the other creators.

[@fire_boi6199]

Damn it's good

[@thisguy8106]

Wow. This video is incredible. New sub. New fan. 👏

[@SpiffyBanter]

Finally, a video I can learn something from

[@nox_cadit]

I hate what this series is doing to the books. They completely changed some characters, they made it way more brutal than the books are, because they completely failed to show to us that this is actually a powerful and feared tyrannic government that can penetrate so deep into it's subjects minds to a point they'll fear even the slightest thought of doing something against the dictatorship. They gave so much power to June turning her into someone almost unrecognizable compared to the book version. Aunt Lydia is also so different that I can't even imagine how they turn her into what she really is on the last book.

[@ilovemusic2543]

This video made me realize my mom has done all the same things ☹️

[@tdr_paraadvisor3996]

The exact same things as a narcissist abusive relationship.. I speak from experience.....never noticed this before until saw it isolated in this way ! 🤷🏻‍♀️🧐 but this is the exact same things narcissist do to their "targets"!!!

[@T2Master01]

😭😭😭 I switched to 1080p quality and it didn't do anything!

[@JeffRebornNow]

I've never read Margaret Atwood. My mom likes her books. Is she at al worth reading? My mom's literary taste is somewhat suspect.

[@morganleanderblake678]

dude the book thump was wayyy too loud and jarring. don't make me regret using headphones!

[@jenhalbert3001]

Fuck, I think you talked me out of wanting to read that book. I mean I probably still will, loved the original when I was in high school and I'm sure I'll get tons out of The Treatment in my 40s, but it was such a painful scene to listen to.

[@wickedamoeba8719]

4:30 Damn, that sounds like my mother.

[@VMSelvaggio]

Fantastic analysis, yes... Margaret Atwood is an amazing writer, and most of her material is based on fact/history.

[@SteveJubs]

But isn’t the point Aunt Lydia that she herself was a victim of the system of which she was a part? It’s been a long time since I read the book, so maybe it’s just me going soft, but I seem to recall a kind of tragic tone to her character/force in the story.

[@NayvieNoir]

…oh my god, my mother is Aunt Lydia.

[@selfimprovement5873]

Could give a warning before posting something like that? (8:54)

[@Eidmarion]

Despite of the warning in the beginning of the video, I actually think that this exact part should be warned. I felt so damn awful listening this. This is truly terrifying

[@littlebird5400]

the whole show is about sexual assault. please take care of yourself and dont watch these videos.

[@libbyhyett6625]

Not to make light of very serious subject matter, but Timmy, that moustache is abusive.

[@T2Master01]

I would like to watch the handmaids tail but with the main character being... Harley quinn.

[@kathrinjohnson2582]

Wow this guy is good!

[@brennanhearn6342]

I now have an all consuming hatred for Lydia. Thanks!

[@jennaowens6087]

Think your being a little hard and yourself, it sounds good!

[@LaneyStudios5]

Not gonna lie Tim I think you're being harsh on yourself, I can't find anything wrong with this video and feel like if you had not mentioned anything then no-one would be saying anything, though I appreciate that you care about your craft

[@methos1999]

Wait, is this Hello Future Me? Did he change the channel name?

[@alsimanche]

I fuckin love this show, but season4 just kinda ruined it for me 😭

[@waltercolombe6105]

This reminds me of a puritanical Robert Palmer video.

[@mznerdtheories]

Much like Dolores Umbridge, Aunt Lydia is a villain that is much more terrifying because she is real. Unlike characters like Darth Vadar or Lord Voldemort or Sauron, who are very clearly fictional and evil without being terrifying, Aunt Lydia is a character who very easily could exist in real life. Everything she does is capable of being done by a real human, and much like with Umbridge we've probably seen stories of or know of people who act like this which just makes it all the more real. They are not simple villains in a storybook. They are the monsters that live under the bed, in our closets, and down the street.