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. 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
  2. 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
  3. 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.
  4. 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
  5. 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
  6. 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
  7. 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
  8. 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?
  9. 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
  10. OlivierPiel
    Apr 21, 2018
    4
    vastly overrated show. If I were American I would be on the left side of the political spectrum but this kind of show does a lot of disservice to what some critics can consider "the cause": The premise of the whole exercise seems illogical (if procreation were to become such a hot commodity, then women with that power would naturally rise to political power as well). Likewise, if avastly overrated show. If I were American I would be on the left side of the political spectrum but this kind of show does a lot of disservice to what some critics can consider "the cause": The premise of the whole exercise seems illogical (if procreation were to become such a hot commodity, then women with that power would naturally rise to political power as well). Likewise, if a Franco-like government were to rule America, the country would fall into rapid economic decline and not be such a belligerant state.
    To me, it seems to try to just pay lip-service to what some conservatives rightfully call libtards, trying to exploit all these female empowerment, LGBTXQEYZ#$% rights nonsense that is masking the true economical problems of America.    … 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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