Whether you’re coming to The Handmaid’s Tale completely green, or you’re ready to rewatch the first season of the critically-acclaimed series all over again, this experience is an essential one for anybody who calls themselves a fan of great television. Adapted from the Margaret Atwood novel of the same name, the show is unlike anything else we’ve seen on the small screen in modern years, allowing a whole bunch of important themes and tones to rise to the surface, bringing prominence to hugely important subjects without forcing them down the throats of the viewer.
The Handmaid's Tale season 1 is perfect television
Taking place in a dystopian future, viewers will see events unfold in a place that used to be known as the United States. The roster of compelling characters live in Gilead, where fertile women are kept as “Handmaidens” to serve the “Commanders”. As the only females able to maintain a pregnancy, they’re forced into an incredibly dark form of slavery, and when their time comes to be impregnated by a “Captain”, they’re to lay between the legs of his infertile wife. That doesn’t stop jealousy from brewing however, and Handmaidens would often see violence come their way from the wives of the men who would impregnate them.
At times, the scenes can be incredibly hard to watch, but audiences find hope in Offred, a Handmaiden played by the brilliant Elisabeth Moss. Refusing to ever give up her dreams of escaping the life of servitude she’s been forced into and finding the daughter that was stolen from her arms, she quickly realises her power in being one of the women who actually hold the future of society in her hands. Going up against those in Gilead who like the new status quo however proves to be a tricky task, and it will take bringing all of her fellow Handmaidens on board if she’s to stand any chance of changing the new normal. Of course, nothing is ever that simple, and in a world like Gilead, anyone could be working for the other side…
Moss proves in many of her scenes that she’s the star of this production, but enough good can’t be said about those who also work alongside her. Joseph Fiennes and Yvonne Strahovski tackle the roles of Captain Fred Waterford and his wife Serena Waterford with excellence, for example. Their journey moving from some of the most powerful people in their society to their ultimate realisation that their Handmaiden holds all of the cards is a compelling one to watch play out.
As well as the complete season, fans get their hands on a pair of exclusive featurettes delving deeply into the world of Gilead with the new DVD release. Both are essential viewing for fans of the series. Now, we look forward to the release of the show’s second season! Bring it on…
The Handmaid’s Tale season 1 is available now on DVD.