I thoroughly enjoyed the first two seasons, and I'd perhaps go as far as to say that they're two of the best seasons of television ever made. The performances by everyone involved are nothing short of fantastic, and the writing is consistently strong as well. Season 3, although still enjoyable, was a noticeable step-down in my opinion, and I began to feel as though the show was beginning to overstay its welcome, with many of the character arcs and plotlines essentially just repeating themselves over and over. But the writing and performances were still very good, certainly better than the majority of stuff on TV these days. Season 4 was again a noticeable step-down from the season that came before it. Still enjoyable TV (for the most part), and still far from being bad, but the writing clearly started to get sloppy. Season 5 simply should not have happened, and is an even larger downgrade in quality than any of what had come before. It's all-out laughable fanfiction at this point. The fact they're going to have a season six is a travesty, and this is now just a stain on the first two seasons, which are some of the best TV ever.
Season 1: 9.5/10
Season 2: 9/10
Season 3: 8/10
Season 4: 6.5/10
Season 5: 4.5/10
Average: 7.5/10
Watch the first 2 or 3 seasons, but I do not suggest watching further; it will only disappoint.
Phenomenal performance from Elizabeth Moss, but she is a brilliant actress anyway. She just has this natural ability to say a 1000 words with her eyes and facial expressions.
I first started to watch it when it was released, but gave up after two episodes; it was very slow with lots of annoying flashbacks.
However, since I’ve heard such great things, I decided to try again. Half the first season is slow, but it is worth it. Plus the first season is full of annoying flashbacks; some were relevant but many were unnecessary, thankfully these fade out to only occasional and relevant flashbacks.
This show despite being excellent, is extremely difficult and distressing and disturbing to watch; especially if any females have suffered in reality form rape, domestic abuse. It could be extremely triggering.
As much as I understand the message etc of the show, I found it too much, too graphic with the abuse scenes. I’ve watched plenty of other programs that portray these things well without being so graphic. Which is why I’ve given it a lower rating.
It’s a good show, but it’s not for the faint hearted and should be watched with caution if you’ve a past where you’ve suffered abuse.
Im somwhere in season 3, what a depressing, but also scary story, if you look at the times we live in and how fast a nation can turn on eachother, like they fear Trump will try to do, upcoming election. Some things I wonder, how is that even possible, but the show keeps it relatively small. It's either in Gilead or Canada, but in Gilead you don't see men or women walk down the streets, only the handmaidens and armed guards everywhere, but no citizens, just the small part they do show through the characters, which is very bleak, if you live in Gilead, even for the women there, it will become unsustainable in the real world, but just the thought and to make such a show, that does show how religion can be abused to keep ppl in their place, but their bible is the most extreme version, capitol punishment for cheating on your spouse, take a finger or a hand when they did somethig they shouldn't, like reading or not obeying your husband and no LGBTQ allowed. (Spoilers). Great roles from the women, from the cold but passonate Serena to the brave June/OfFred and Emily/Of more than one family, send to the colonies, which reminds you of the workcamps in WWII. Afer a terroristattack of one of the handmaidens are back, coz they need furtile women, the reason this treasoness act against the US Government, like North and South, only now it's conservative, religious zealots against intelleqtuals, non believers, liberals and those who didn't fit their description of what a human being should be like, how to act, how to speak, how to stay indoctrinated by their extreme beliefs, taken from a Bible in the way it fits their vision on how we should be as a Nation. It makes a very sober, brutal, rebelious but scary world,(spoiler) where these furtilie,, but "fallen women" are raped to get those who can't have babies, Made with the couple in a sort of religious (right:rolling_eyes:) ritual where she has to lay on the bed, the wife holding her hands, while the ma stands in front of the bed to push in his seamon, but some of these men aren't even capabel, so it endangers the handmaiden, who than has to find another way to get pregnant, like June did with Nick, whp works for the Commander Fred. In a world like that, you'll need someone, since her husband is save in Canada, somthing she heard much later, and her daughter Ruby, who still lives in Gilead somewhere and mommy ain't leaving her behind, but with the help of Serena, Emily's new "öwner" and June herself, who got the baby out, but chooses to stay, to get her daughter back. Very intense, nothing like this out there, so original, even if it depresses the hell out of you, its also abt hope, resilliance, frgiveness and so much more, a real must see for pl who love these kind of series, which are many, mostly women I suppose...
I'm starting Season 4, and I felt like I wanted to write out my thoughts regarding the last 3 seasons of this show. As a whole, I would first like to praise and applaud the creators, writers, producers, crew members, actors, actresses, and all the other components that made this show work. Now, I would like to say that this show probably is one of the best I've ever watched. It's an impeccable and heart-wrenching interpretation of the dystopian genre. I don't consider myself overly political, but this show brings up interesting questions and implications. But, the beauty of this show can be boiled down to the believable and immersive world that this show brings to life. I was genuinely engaged and horrified by the norms of Gilead, and this incredible setting is heightened by immaculate performances from Elisabeth Moss and the other actors/actresses. Here is an overview of my thoughts regarding each season.
Season 1: 10/10
- For myself, this show had an incredible opening episode. I was immediately engaged in this dystopian world, with horrific practices that are seen as "normal." Throughout this season, we see Offred (Elisabeth Moss) experiencing life as a Handmaid. The incorporation of flashbacks, her past life, and other scenes was interwoven seamlessly, providing a stark contrast from normal life to Gilead, which can be generally described as a theocratic dystopian regime. Overall, this was a strong season marked by haunting images and immaculate acting.
Season 2: 10/10
- This season was a continuation of Season 1, and I was not disappointed by the new twists and turns that engulf Offred's life. We see the complexities of the other characters, such as Mrs. Waterford, come to life in this season. It's really surprising, but even with the Commanders and their Wives, they should be the most hateable characters but come off as simply humans, who are irredeemable, but humans stuck in a lose-lose situation. It was a tense and nuanced season, yet this heightens the experience as a whole. Furthermore, I have to say that for this specific season, Elisabeth Moss was incredible. Her acting was top-notch and heart-wrenching. In the end, you will not be disappointed by this work.
Season 3: 9/10
- I loved this season, but it was the one where certain directions are taken that make some aspects feel convoluted. I won't comment on the overarching theme of this show, but it's probably the one I was most hyped for. Imagine someone standing up to their oppressors and performing a feat that was nearly impossible. Just saying, the ending for this season confirms that this show is still amazing.
Season 4: N/A
Once upon a time, I saw the movie , which led to my obtaining the book, making me aware of Margaret Atwood & led to reading more by her. I truly felt the movie didn't do the book proper justice. Fast-forward twenty yrs, to the one of the best examples of a book adaptation ever made. Elizabeth Moss impressed during her "Mad Men" days, but nothing could have prepared me for her tour-de-force performance as June. From the second episode of season one, June has demanded my attention, never letting go, as I have accompanied her on the nightmare her life has become. I feel I'm there in every scene she's in, a connection on a basest of feminist levels. June is my sister, my friend. The material & the cast have done the amazing job of creating a story that makes viewers like myself wanting to join the resistance & fight right alongside her. Television, when it's this good, is meant to entertain, provide viewers a way to escape (no pun intended), make you care about the characters (good ones anyway). There's a lot of comparisons right now with the show & possible directions our country could be heading, giving the show yet another element of eeriness. No one can ignore the possibilities drawn from life here. In addition to Elizabeth Moss, the discovery of Ann Dowd has been a treasure to watch. She was cast perfectly in role of Aunt Lydia, no one else can act this part any better than she. The series is a shining example of just how good television is these days.
Review by salvatore del giudiceBlockedParent2017-11-01T11:38:11Z— updated 2018-01-09T01:11:22Z
The human darkness and the inhuman ability to resist even in deep struggling: this is Handmaid's Tale. And it's definitely not for the faint-hearted. It pushes our minds into an universe of evil and cruelty: if the women's condition is one of the (few) things that western society concords about, here we see this fall apart completely in front of us. All directors (especially Morano) plays with our perspective: the power of details is incredible. Facial expressions, sounds, scenery, all lead to reveal the world as it is: a place not fit for humans like this. The Janine' suicide attempt scene in the ninth episode is the most powerful example of this: one can really hope that the suicide take place, because, for a fragile mind like her, death can be the only pain-relief possible, a vision that Offred refuses during the entire season. Offred is just a baby-making slave, but the character evolves to became a powerful leader that can literally save the world, because the pain she suffered has created a monster in her, maybe even more powerful than her masters. By the end, the story turns into a carousel of resistance images.
The level of oppression really stands up near the one in Oldboy (Chan-wook Park, 2003), which is one of the most terrifying in cinema history.