The Handmaid's Tale

:

Season 1
  • Network: HULU
  • Series Premiere Date: Apr 26, 2017
Season #: 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 532 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 429 out of 532
  2. Mixed: 31 out of 532
  3. Negative: 72 out of 532
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User Reviews

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  1. DukeCumberjack
    Apr 26, 2017
    10
    Don't believe the low user ratings. Excellent distopian drama. Leave politics aside while you watch--it has been an incredibly well done series so far after three episodes.
  2. StanCliffBroad
    Apr 29, 2017
    4
    As mentioned by another reviewer the premise is a good one, but just how much money did they spend on the show. Did they get a costume job lot at Disney, who were about to throw out all their Little Red Riding Hood outfits? I can't complain about the acting, because I actually feel sorry for the people that have to use (and they work hard) this script and that is my main beef. The scriptAs mentioned by another reviewer the premise is a good one, but just how much money did they spend on the show. Did they get a costume job lot at Disney, who were about to throw out all their Little Red Riding Hood outfits? I can't complain about the acting, because I actually feel sorry for the people that have to use (and they work hard) this script and that is my main beef. The script is dire, along with the difficulty of suspending disbelief, made it hard work to watch.… Expand
  3. LamontRaymond
    Apr 30, 2017
    6
    It begins with an interesting premise, but it feels a little "samey". Feels like I've seeing it before, whether it was Children of Men, or Man in the High Castle. I feel that it needs to play with its score a bit more like Leftovers does so effectively. And one of my faves, Yvonne Strahovski, feels like she's being wasted. You can't just have her sitting there, seething, through theIt begins with an interesting premise, but it feels a little "samey". Feels like I've seeing it before, whether it was Children of Men, or Man in the High Castle. I feel that it needs to play with its score a bit more like Leftovers does so effectively. And one of my faves, Yvonne Strahovski, feels like she's being wasted. You can't just have her sitting there, seething, through the first two episodes. I know it's early, and I'll revise my score if need be as more episodes unfold. [Added after 3rd Ep;] Things picked up during the 3rd episode, and one thing became clear - this series is one hell of an endorsement for stronger 2nd Amendment protections. Can't imagine this anti-woman regime would ever gain a foothold in the United States with the number of legally armed women we have now.… Expand
  4. sjdetails
    May 9, 2017
    0
    Watched the first three episodes and had to drag myself through it. It's very dramatic, depressing, and full of dystopian garbage. Even though there are some wonderful actresses in this series, it has failed to keep my interest. I'm all for feminism but this is just too strange for my personal watching preferences.
  5. hajin
    Apr 30, 2017
    3
    I lean left myself but the blatant political ideology this show is pushing is so heavy handed it kind of ruins what might have otherwise been a decent show. There is, for example, absolutely nothing wrong with gay characters, but when there is a statistically unlikely number of gay people who are friends with the protagonist it goes from entertaining fiction to slightly cringey,I lean left myself but the blatant political ideology this show is pushing is so heavy handed it kind of ruins what might have otherwise been a decent show. There is, for example, absolutely nothing wrong with gay characters, but when there is a statistically unlikely number of gay people who are friends with the protagonist it goes from entertaining fiction to slightly cringey, unnecessary propaganda that detracts from the story. Also, a dystopian future where gay people are killed by Christians seems kind of tone deaf and insensitive to the fact that a certain other major religion really does kill people for being gay right here in the real world.… Expand
  6. All_ButTrU4
    Dec 19, 2021
    10
    Holy **** this was powerful!
    This adaptation had alot going for it even before it's release from the big name cast to the exceptional source material. But with the stark prospect of a Trump presidency which would've meant a tightening on many rights sich as those of lgbtqia folkx (specifically trans) and on women. The right has been especially vocal in it's religious leanings or it's    Holy **** this was powerful!
    This adaptation had alot going for it even before it's release from the big name cast to the exceptional source material. But with the stark prospect of a Trump presidency which would've meant a tightening on many rights sich as those of lgbtqia folkx (specifically trans) and on women. The right has been especially vocal in it's religious leanings or it's opinions on reproductive rights and this is placed centerfold. A horrifyingly possible "what if church was state" dystopia that rather than reaching for sci-fi or extra-terrestial threats our own zealous opposes us. Offred who is given a name in this adaptation is relentlessly compelling. Her asides are just as stunning as the scenes Elizabeth Moss dominates. Extremly nuanced political drama in the sense it's says alot with it's realities to how we behave in ours,the flashbacks giving difficult epiphanies to all the things we take for granted as freedoms or even how powerlessness can become an easier choice. Unflinching writing that honestly improves on the source material. You are constantly uncomfortable, anxious and scared. You ask yourself the credibility of this only to realize the roots of these nightmares exist around you.the ache of June's separation or the other handmaids exploitation. It's disingenuous to say rarely is a show this visceral when television is as great as it is but to not acknowledge how monumental this reason is in comparison cannot go unsaid. A master of tension,emotion and storytelling you can tell not a single piece of this vision hasn't been laboured over,from the crystalline cinematography to the award worthy music choices&scoring.irrespevtive of the rest of the show trajectory after this it's sure to say it started with a bang, landmark television    … Expand
  7. zedzded
    Jan 29, 2018
    4
    tired identity politics, a leaden message which you are browbeaten with at every turn. patriarchy bad. woman good. except for token bad woman and token good man here and there. oh dear spare us from this turgid preachy nonsense.
  8. Hedy44
    Jun 27, 2018
    2
    Oh my gosh why did I watch this depressing show.. c'mon Hulu! Your very disappointing.. this show is PERFECT for people enjoy seeing the suffering of others with no type of revenge or self empowerment..it is sick to watch, when you think it's about to get awesome and finally get some justice it just get more sick and depressing.. if there is a season 3 you have a while lot of work to makeOh my gosh why did I watch this depressing show.. c'mon Hulu! Your very disappointing.. this show is PERFECT for people enjoy seeing the suffering of others with no type of revenge or self empowerment..it is sick to watch, when you think it's about to get awesome and finally get some justice it just get more sick and depressing.. if there is a season 3 you have a while lot of work to make things right for a comeback other then that..I'm sticking to Netflix.
    Acting was good tho ;)    … Expand
  9. Deckz
    Aug 6, 2017
    6
    it's ok, easy to follow the story, you will get into it,but you need to look at it with a grain of salt, because the story is told from the perspective of a neo marxist feminazi, wanna be feminist person. almost every bad person on the show is a white man. it's totally ok to tell a story where every bad person is white, but we have inforrmation that the person who tells the story is ait's ok, easy to follow the story, you will get into it,but you need to look at it with a grain of salt, because the story is told from the perspective of a neo marxist feminazi, wanna be feminist person. almost every bad person on the show is a white man. it's totally ok to tell a story where every bad person is white, but we have inforrmation that the person who tells the story is a sexist lady. so it feels weird to watch it. but, to take the story for what it is, and the way it is told, there are focus points on offred that takes away from the other characters, the overall quality is sadly just above medium. i would recommend to check it out if you have nothing else, you will enjoy it, it's just a little akward with the forced narative, wich i think could hold the show back from exploring angles.… Expand
  10. goggomobile
    Sep 25, 2020
    0
    FM! You have to be a narcissistic-misogynist-sadist to watch this torturous & sickening show! It should come with a warning that it may/will cause depression, I'll pass, not for me.
  11. Dpriest
    May 16, 2018
    5
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I was leery of where they could take this show after season one as season one ended exactly where the book ended. So far everything seems a bit far-fetched except for June's storyline. I think it was a mistake to include the colonies because there is no way they could've accurately captured the toxic wasteland hell that was described in the book. I don't understand what kind of "work" the women there are supposed to be doing. Why are they just digging in the sludge all day? It makes no sense. Filler! There was a reason Atwood didn't make a subplot out of it. The Canada storyline feels like a carrot being dangled in front of our eyes. I can see this show turning into season after season of June trying to escape. If it does go down that cliché road, the show is done. The torture that we have to watch her endure would not be worth the payoff. If this season doesn't end with June having a realistic path to freedom, I won't watch anymore. I feel there are too many side stories happening also. I only care about what happens to June and how the resistance is going to take down Gilead. I really don't care about any of the other characters. The Luke and Moira situation fell flat as soon as it showed them in Canada together. It's clear that the writers had no idea how to approach that. They skipped over their relief at finding each other and went straight into the humdrum of day to day life. So far, I'm not impressed with this season. The writers have taken way too many liberties with the story. There is one part in particular that makes no sense at all, women that aren't handmaids or wives that were allowed to keep their children. Ha!… Expand
  12. ndrgdsdc
    Jun 10, 2018
    4
    The show is set in Gilead, a male-dominated dystopian society clearly intended as a reflection of the patriarchy/misogyny/homophobia present in far-right Christian politics in the US. However, the portrayal is so hyperbolic that any useful social commentary gets lost. For example, this is how the show deals with misogyny: all male characters in the show are two-dimensional, most are whollyThe show is set in Gilead, a male-dominated dystopian society clearly intended as a reflection of the patriarchy/misogyny/homophobia present in far-right Christian politics in the US. However, the portrayal is so hyperbolic that any useful social commentary gets lost. For example, this is how the show deals with misogyny: all male characters in the show are two-dimensional, most are wholly evil, and all policy they seek to implement in Gilead is motivated solely by their desire to dominate women sexually. Religion is used by them to justify all their bad behavior and is portrayed with the same lack of complexity. Ultimately, the show leaves itself open to reasonable accusations of misandry, bigotry toward Christians, and that it relies on mostly straw-man arguments to make its point, which is, ironically, that misogyny and bigotry are bad.… Expand
  13. farmerfan
    Dec 29, 2017
    0
    This is the kind of show that the critics are falling over themselves to praise it and the feminists love because of it's political message that it shoves down your throat.
    But take all that away and it's just really slow, depressing and so tortuous and boring to sit through.
    I watch TV for entertainment , not torture, life is bad enough without ruining your evenings watching boring    This is the kind of show that the critics are falling over themselves to praise it and the feminists love because of it's political message that it shoves down your throat.
    But take all that away and it's just really slow, depressing and so tortuous and boring to sit through.
    I watch TV for entertainment , not torture, life is bad enough without ruining your evenings watching boring garbage like this    … Expand
  14. judahjsn
    Jul 7, 2017
    3
    Just finished this third episode and I really don't understand where all the unanimous praise is coming from with this one-note show. It's overwrought, emotionally simplistic, manipulative and tonally dull. Having just finished the brilliant second season of Fortitude (completely different kind of show but still) in which I rarely knew for certain how I should feel about a plot twist or aJust finished this third episode and I really don't understand where all the unanimous praise is coming from with this one-note show. It's overwrought, emotionally simplistic, manipulative and tonally dull. Having just finished the brilliant second season of Fortitude (completely different kind of show but still) in which I rarely knew for certain how I should feel about a plot twist or a character, with Handmaid's Tale there is never a question. Every slow-motioned second of this story is edited and performed to make you feel one thing and one thing alone. This show has the emotional content of a music video or a television commercial. It never quite feels like real life. Morally it's just preaching to the choir. There are a lot of complicated aspects to the human story, and for Westerners we have plenty of present day sins to take a look at before we invent hyperboles about the persecution of women.… Expand
  15. starwalkerzone
    Jun 1, 2017
    3
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Having seen the first (1990) movie version of this book, I was greatly disappointed and often too frustrated with this current iteration. This thing suffers greatly from a terribly slow pace. I mean it's so dragged out in parts, you could leave the room, go cook dinner, do the laundry and never miss a beat. The acting was mostly passable, but I found the main protagonist Offred, to be painful to watch and forced at times. The cinematography was good, but the dark and dank atmospherics left a bad taste in my mouth. Yes I know it's suppose to reflect a dystopian reality, but its overused.

    But what really irritates me the most is the whole premise of this show. An earlier reviewer said it best, "it's too politically driven and not relative to the 21st century". The plot calls for more than a suspension of disbelief. You have to discount any/every common sense or that something like this is reasonably possible. It's as if the writers all got together and developed an idea that ALL Christians who somehow, completely overthrow the government, round up or kill hundreds of millions of other Americans, or at least convince people to throw off the old US Government, in favor of a Theological government ruled by a small and select few. even worse one ruled almost exclusively by white men.

    Furthermore, it's an indictment against white women giving up any control or advances in order to kowtow to said men folk. I mean come on people, Christians have their moments of stupidity, but none are about to do anything resembling that. And then there's the issue of being politically correct in writing this mess. The producers and writers would have us believe all other ethnic groups would be in cahoots and allow this type thing to happen. In the original book, blacks and other undesirables are round up and placed in extermination camps, ala nazi death camps, and not integrated into this new society. The book explains that there was a limited civil war using nuclear weapons on its own populace which lead to the coup. In my mind, the premise of the novel would more appropriately fit this view.

    Then there's the idea that women would so easily give up their human rights and be easily lead to breeding ceremonies. Forced rape is acceptable, but a single man accused of rape is torn to shreds? Come on really! But the coup de gras has to be (SPOILER ALERT) the handmaids are used as commodities to be traded? WTF. Now after all the build up and hyping the handmaids being vassals to breed a new generation to allow this society to rebuild and thrive, they would for some reason trade away their future. And as said earlier, ever hear about IVF? Would that not be more acceptable to such a pious society? This is the height of stupid ideas. Why cut off your nose to spite your face. If Gilad did such a thing, that would doom said country.

    Again here is a perfect example of how the writers and producers just using that as a plot device to both exploit women or push gratuitous sex. It's just bad writing in my mind. Why can Hollywood make films without the need for explicit and pornographic sex. Instead or writing a good, solid, and believable human drama, we the audience are again subjected to using sex as a draw and going one up on the shocking sex. Yet another example of poor writing talent.

    Lastly for me, has to be the total disregard for Offred's life and love for here husband Luke and missing daughter. Yes they touch a bit on their backstory, but Offred seems to have immediately forgotten all about her husband. Even if she thought he was dead. Barring Luke being a complete cretin who beat and cheated on her, I don't think this a reasonable assumption. Preferring instead to focus on Offred becoming romantically attached to Nick the Driver. This then would suggest that Offred is indeed a very loose woman who cares only for herself. Although the producers did do one episode about Luke, it's as if someone on the writing floor suddenly remembered Offred was married to him before and decided, "Hey guys maybe we should say something about Luke".

    I just can't watch this thing anymore. Too many stupid mistakes, poor scripting, plot and slow as molasses pacing make this show unwatchable. The 1990 version and book were far more relevant and believable. I knew it was doomed halfway into the first episode. Still I wanted to be fair and give the show time to develop. Now it has become an assault to intelligence. Instead focusing on ridiculous, politically motivated ideals without a snowballs chance in hell if succeeding. Unfortunately there's far too many people who go for this sort of thing, regardless if nothing like it is remotely possible. Choosing instead to indict Christianity as the true Satan of our time.    … Expand
  16. rhonda09
    Jun 21, 2018
    0
    You and the actors and actresses would have to be sick to like Hand maidens Tale. Margeret Atwood is obviously sick to have that sort of imagination. No wonder the world is like it is today, no thanks to you.
  17. AthanasiosT
    Jun 7, 2017
    3
    This is not dystopia, but atopia! The whole story is hard to accept as something that could actually happen. Lots of scenario holes and quite discriminating against the christian religion. Nice directing and photography.
  18. Vasot
    Jan 14, 2018
    1
    What a boring feminist propaganda piece of trash. With stupid trash like this I am happy that Donald Trump get elected as President. Only good about this movie are the sex scenes everything else in it is sterile boring feminist trash
  19. Maeve
    May 6, 2017
    3
    Loved the book, liked the film, but after watching the first three episodes, I'm disappointed and, well, annoyed by the series. It must be the director (and maybe some of the writing) that have steered it into its lack of subtlety. The contrast between the horrific circumstances themselves and the acceptance of them as normal, day-to-day life is what makes the story chilling, but hereLoved the book, liked the film, but after watching the first three episodes, I'm disappointed and, well, annoyed by the series. It must be the director (and maybe some of the writing) that have steered it into its lack of subtlety. The contrast between the horrific circumstances themselves and the acceptance of them as normal, day-to-day life is what makes the story chilling, but here it's as if you were reading a book that had all the letters in caps. I get it, I get it. More Hitchcock, less Freddie Krueger.… Expand
  20. flamer180
    Dec 27, 2017
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This show doesnt even deserve stars, is how bad it is.

    The show is about some woman, and her cuck husband, who gets seperated from each other. And about a society that has to reproduce children because the stocks are low.

    It has anti-male propaganda, feminism, pro-climate change. All this left/liberal/elitist propaganda.

    Besides the agenda, even as entertainment it sucks. Explain to me in one of the scenes while the white girl was doing nothing when she and her black friend got separated. They could have easily just stuck together.

    This was no point in that dumb crappy plot. A monkey could have wrote something better. Or a two-year old.

    The show is also boring at times. Flash backs about the white girl and her cuck husband getting together. Yawn yawn yawn.

    It was a struggle to get through the first episode. Why are these things ONE HOUR LONG! Crap sakes I could be constructing a masterpiece painting with all that wasted time!

    I could be constructing a Michelangelo statue in the same amount of time my brain cells die from having to be tortured through this crap, just to say that I have watched this garbage so I can write a ACCURATE review!

    TLDR:

    In short, dont watch this show. If you dont want to obtain depression, dont watch this show.    … Expand
  21. P4inskiller
    May 6, 2018
    4
    This TV-Show is not bad written with good and professional actors. BUT: A very shortsighted view on the world: the decadent lifestyle of the american society what destroys our planet is not criticized: "the USA before were simply perfect". The "morality" opinions behind this show seem to be from Scientologists (make money, make more money, think selfish and unresponsible and don't reflectThis TV-Show is not bad written with good and professional actors. BUT: A very shortsighted view on the world: the decadent lifestyle of the american society what destroys our planet is not criticized: "the USA before were simply perfect". The "morality" opinions behind this show seem to be from Scientologists (make money, make more money, think selfish and unresponsible and don't reflect your behavior). Instead of capitalism critics (what would be really necessary) every episode is filled with feminist propaganda. Also there is a lot of misrepresentation and defamation of the christian religion as the evil itself. As the result the message of this show is very simple: it is ok when you destroy the environment for all the following generations as long as you can be a lesbian...is this the "modern" thinking of the americans what rate this show so high?? Simply ridiculous and boring. ;-)… Expand
  22. Ascospore
    Mar 18, 2018
    6
    Overrated and boring. Why is it that the same people who love this show reckon 50 Shades of Grey is the best book they've ever read?
  23. jgzeger
    May 8, 2017
    3
    This is a well-directed and well-acted series but the the story-line is too bizarre for my tastes. I never read the Margaret Atwood novel and having seen the first three episodes, I have no desire to, as it seems to be the work of a twisted feminist consciousness that sees the oppression of women everywhere. It is, as one critic called it, "paranoid poppycock". Things aren't that badThis is a well-directed and well-acted series but the the story-line is too bizarre for my tastes. I never read the Margaret Atwood novel and having seen the first three episodes, I have no desire to, as it seems to be the work of a twisted feminist consciousness that sees the oppression of women everywhere. It is, as one critic called it, "paranoid poppycock". Things aren't that bad --really! But then I'm a man. To this twisted consciousness, I am probably the enemy.… Expand
  24. MMCD
    May 21, 2017
    10
    Amazing story, this blows away anything on Netflix. Profound, amazing acting, incredible, I can't recommend this enough, its thought provoking. Its TV for smart people. Its powerful writing
  25. AnnieBitencourt
    Jun 12, 2017
    10
    Está aí uma série que eu praticamente esnobei acreditando se tratar a respeito de freiras. Fui positivamente surpreendida e a cada episódio que passa fico assustada com os acontecimentos da série que não estão tão distantes assim de acontecer na vida real
  26. infiniti
    Sep 4, 2017
    5
    Great premise, great show, SEVERE miscasting. When watching such a sombre show - where the lead character cries at least thrice per episode - you need something compelling to look at.

    Elizabeth Moss just isn't it. She's a good actress but has terrible screen presence, which really takes away from the story. Another huge miscast - Max Minghella! Come on! He doesn't fit the part! And    Great premise, great show, SEVERE miscasting. When watching such a sombre show - where the lead character cries at least thrice per episode - you need something compelling to look at.

    Elizabeth Moss just isn't it. She's a good actress but has terrible screen presence, which really takes away from the story.

    Another huge miscast - Max Minghella! Come on! He doesn't fit the part! And the blatant lack of chemistry between Offred and Nick... Who was their casting director?!

    Few key changes would have saved the show. Shame.    … Expand
  27. wrightfd
    Feb 9, 2019
    0
    I have not read the book so I will only comment on this TV show, from what I have seen this is a poor propaganda at best, that pushes the narrative extremist men will enslave all women for the purposes of procreation, i'm not really buying the acting, the main character is a perpetual victim that is hugely sexist, all the men are one dimensional evil sexual deviant, even in the mostI have not read the book so I will only comment on this TV show, from what I have seen this is a poor propaganda at best, that pushes the narrative extremist men will enslave all women for the purposes of procreation, i'm not really buying the acting, the main character is a perpetual victim that is hugely sexist, all the men are one dimensional evil sexual deviant, even in the most barbaric of countries this type of treatment has not become mainstream, so suspension of disbelief is particularly hard.

    TLDR; acting really poor, propaganda piece that soviet Russia would have found reasonable.    … Expand
  28. Glic2003
    Feb 27, 2019
    10
    This is probably the most perfect realization of Atwood's terrifying novel imaginable. Everything hits the right notes: the cast, the performances, the production. Even the (admittedly very slow) pacing seems right on point. It's still a horrible premise, but it's an excellent adaptation.
  29. Hua
    Apr 26, 2017
    10
    My newest tv obsession. For anyone worried about the politics or "feminism" or all that stuff we argue about - leave all your personal baggage/feelings aside - This is simply quality television! POWERFUL, well-written/acted, thought-provoking, harrowing, completely engrossing. Only 2 episodes in and it's already one of my fav. shows of all time, Haven't even read the book (honestly neverMy newest tv obsession. For anyone worried about the politics or "feminism" or all that stuff we argue about - leave all your personal baggage/feelings aside - This is simply quality television! POWERFUL, well-written/acted, thought-provoking, harrowing, completely engrossing. Only 2 episodes in and it's already one of my fav. shows of all time, Haven't even read the book (honestly never heard of it till I saw the trailer some months back, and even then I wasn't sure about it) and I'm just completely floored, shocked, horrified, captivated and in awe of this gem of a show. The first episode alone had me completely hooked, I couldn't believe what I was watching. 10/10… Expand
  30. JorgeLestre
    Apr 26, 2017
    10
    'The Handmaid's Tale' is scarrier than previously thought as it resembles a dystopian world which could be our very own right now. Elisabeth Moss is outstanding and the mystery is amazingly well written.
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Awards & Rankings

6
#6 Best TV Season of 2017
14
#14 Most Discussed TV Season of 2017
4
#4 Most Shared TV Season of 2017

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
92

Universal acclaim - based on 41 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 40 out of 41
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 41
  3. Negative: 0 out of 41
  1. Vanity Fair
    Reviewed by: Sonia Saraiya
    Apr 25, 2018
    85
    Beyond those deeper themes, there’s just enough B-movie sensibility in The Handmaid’s Tale to really thrill, from its visceral horror to its clever plotting.
    Read full review
  2. The New Yorker
    Reviewed by: Emily Nussbaum
    May 16, 2017
    70
    The icky, idiosyncratic force of Morano’s early episodes dims slightly, as the show hints at a more conventional path: “Escape from Gilead.” Maybe this move is inevitable; it might succeed. But there’s something lost along the way--the special beauty of a bleak ending.
    Read full review
  3. Under The Radar
    Reviewed by: Zach Hollwedel
    Apr 28, 2017
    85
    Moss is stellar in the role, perfectly able to convey simultaneous resistance and forced acceptance of the bleak social structure. It's in the show's writing, though, that the true genius lies. There's not a single dull moment the whole series. Even when it starts to feel a little too close to home, it's impossible to look away.
    Read full review
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