The Handmaid's Tale

:

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

Generally favorable reviews- based on 529 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 429 out of 529
  2. Mixed: 30 out of 529
  3. Negative: 70 out of 529
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User Reviews

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  1. 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.
  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. 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.
  5. 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
  6. 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
  7. 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
  8. 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.
  9. 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.
  10. 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
  11. 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
  12. 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
  13. 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
  14. 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
  15. pwpwpw
    Jun 19, 2017
    0
    It was the most perverted book I've ever read and believe me I've read a lot of stuff. Actually I stopped reading it what I never ever done. The show is even worse and I'm sorry to say this because the conception is good. I love dystopias and depressing, sick shows but I can't rate this.
  16. SimboTheKing
    May 18, 2020
    3
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This show is about a dystopia where certain women (known as handmaid's) are made to be forced surrogates/ sex slaves.

    I only made it to episode 4 so take everything I'm saying with a pinch of salt.

    I started watching this show after just finishing the novel. I already didn't think the novel was that great and thus I think this may have affected my enjoyment of the show. I didn't like this and I think it's mainly because it never hooked me, on an individual level most things are good. Acting is fine, cinematography is fine, music etc. but it just felt gratutious. All the torture felt so over-the-top compared to the book and I just ended up finding it boring - there's only so many ways you can show characters having horrible things done to them before they blur together. A lot of the characters just ended up feeling 2D caricatures of villians too.

    Basicallly, I just found myself bored when watching it. I tried to give it a chance but I gotta say that overall it's kinda wack.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

6
#6 Best TV Season of 2017
13
#13 Most Discussed TV Season of 2017
3
#3 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.
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  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.
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  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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