“The Handmaid’s Tale” – A Review Of The Hulu Series
I just recently finished the Hulu series The Handmaid’s Tale. And yes, I know it first came out on Hulu back in 2017. This isn’t the first, nor will it be the last time, I’m late to the game regarding a TV series. I’m not sure why, but I just don’t seem to get pulled into the hype when a show comes out. Part of it could be the fact that I hate watching shows week-to-week. There’s nothing like being left with a cliffhanger and having to wait to see what happens. Binge-watching has ruined regular TV shows for me.
I know I was behind in watching How To Get Away With Murder. That was on ABC originally, I think. But I didn’t watch it until all 6 seasons were on Netflix. Another more recent example was Yellowstone. Pretty sure that one was about to start the fifth season before I watched the first episode. I’ve also been late to shows like New Girl, Schitt’s Creek, and Orange Is The New Black.
So, why did I just recently get around to watching The Handmaid’s Tale? For one, I had other shows I was working on getting through. But also, I didn’t get Hulu until earlier this year. Once I subscribed to Hulu, I was overwhelmed by all my options. I started adding shows to my list, but up first was The Bear. Once we finished that one, I decided to start The Handmaid’s Tale.
Binging The Handmaid’s Tale
I started this show by myself. I didn’t think it would be a show my fiance would enjoy, so it became one of those shows I’d watch at home in the afternoons before he got home. It was also my go-to show to distract me when I was running on the treadmill.
I knew the topic was going to be a little dark, but I honestly didn’t know what I was in for. I will say that I usually choose a light-hearted show for my treadmill runs. That way, it doesn’t take too much brain power to follow the storyline. Also, a little romance or comedy can help distract me from the fact that I’m running on those days I really didn’t want to. I know some people who will have a “treadmill show” that they can only watch on the treadmill. It’s supposed to motivate you to get in that walk or run. Maybe I should do that…
Anyway, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from The Handmaid’s Tale. I didn’t read much about it or see any trailers for the show. But I’d heard people talk about it and recommend it, so it was on my list. I think part of my hesitation was not knowing the type of show it was. I am not a fan of sci-fi or things that are unrealistic. If a show encompasses things that could happen in real life, that’s way more appealing to me. And once I started the first episode, I started to see this was going to be dark, but not out of the realm of possibility.
Immediately, I was captivated by the storyline. However, I was also a little confused because I wasn’t sure what time period this show was set in. I honestly thought it was set further back in time. But after looking, I saw it was more modern than I expected. And I think the fact that it was modern made it even creepier to me.
The Storyline
This isn’t a show for kids. It’s centered on the Republic of Gilead, which is a part of the United States that has been taken over by these leaders. There are some very strict rules within the state and women are given very little rights and aren’t even permitted to read anymore. But the big issue within Gilead is fertility. The birthrates are extremely low, so the rulers in Gilead decided to use the Biblical practice of using a handmaid to produce offspring for couples.
Fertile women are taken captive and brought to the Red Center where they are informed about the expectations and punished if they don’t comply. Then the handmaids are assigned to a Commander and his wife. The main role is to perform “the ceremony” once a month until she gets pregnant. Then once she gives birth, she may or may not have any further contact with the child.
The main character is June Osborne, who was taken from her husband and had her own daughter taken away from her. The show follows her journey through being a handmaid, trying to escape, trying to find her daughter, and reuniting with her husband. June is played by actress Elizabeth Moss. The cast also includes Alexis Bledel.
There are some very intense moments during the show. I’ll admit, some parts had me stressed out. But I loved watching June as her character evolved. She shows so much strength and resilience. I love her determined spirit. It was hard to watch the torture she had to endure. There were so many emotions throughout the show.
There’s so much to the storyline. The range of characters includes the Commanders and their wives, the Marthas (servants in the households), the Aunts (the women responsible for the Handmaids), the “Eyes” (the men watching to ensure compliance), and so many more. It’s a very complex and deep story. The characters evolve throughout the show, and some even leave you shocked by their actions. There were only a few characters that I truly “liked” and wanted to see overcome their struggles.
But again I go back to the idea that this is something that could happen in real life. I think the fact that our government is in so much turmoil right now doesn’t help when I think about it. It made me grateful for the freedoms we endure, but also made my heart hurt for those who have been subjected to assault.
Overall, I enjoyed The Handmaid’s Tale. At times I got a little lost, but that could be because I got distracted doing something else, or the fact that some scenes jump back to the past. It’s definitely not for the faint of heart. There are some Biblical references, although the way the government uses those references is controversial in many respects. There’s also a lot of violence, references to and scenes of sexual assault, and other heavy topics.
The show was well-produced with excellent acting and visuals. The series and many of the actors have been nominated and won various awards. And as I was getting ready to finish up my binging, I saw that there will be another season coming in 2025. So even though I hate having to wait, I am interested to see where the next season will take June Osborne.
The Book – The Handmaid’s Tale
For the first few seasons, I didn’t pay any attention to the opening credits. It wasn’t until I was searching for something about the show that I realized it was based on a 1985 novel by Margaret Atwood, also titled The Handmaid’s Tale. I think the fact that this book was written almost 40 years ago and yet the things that occur in the book could easily happen in today’s world is mindblowing.
I decided once I finished the series, I wanted to get the book. So, yesterday, I went to the Nancy Carson Library in North Augusta and checked it out. I just started reading it last night, but I’m anxious to see how close the show is to the book. I did read in the introduction that Margaret Atwood didn’t write about anything that hasn’t already happened in some capacity in our history. While it might not have been as widespread as it is portrayed in the book and show, these are still things that have been a reality.
I’ll have to let you know what I think of the book. If you’ve read it and/or watched the show, I’d love to hear what you think! Shoot me an email or message me on Instagram. I’d also love your show and book recommendations.
