Hulu's 10/10 Psychological Thriller Masterpiece Is Not An Easy Binge

Despite a massive résumé that includes the likes of Mad Men and The West Wing, Elisabeth Moss' best work just might be The Handmaid's Tale, which came to a close in 2025 after six seasons. The Handmaid's Tale made a star out of Max Minghella and started a career renaissance for Bradley Whitford, but the performances only underscore the story's intense heart and purpose.

The series proved the timeless importance of Margaret Atwood's 1985 dystopian novel of the same name. The series follows Handmaid June Osborne as she resists the oppressive society of Gilead that has taken over what was formerly the United States. Hulu's The Handmaid's Tale expands on the novel with such raw honesty that it can at times be difficult to lock eyes with — but that is why we must.

The Handmaid's Tale Is A Perfect Continuation Of Margaret Atwood's Novel

Like many adaptations, The Handmaid's Tale series covered the entirety of the novel in its first season. Its success led to a season 2 renewal and beyond, though it's always a risk when an adaptation goes rogue, plowing beyond its source material. Yet The Handmaid's Tale remains stunning, gutting, and hopeful throughout all of its six seasons.

In the novel's introduction, Atwood insisted that she "would not put any events into the book that had not already happened... No imaginary gizmos, no imaginary laws, no imaginary atrocities." The TV series stayed the course of this vision even as it broached new ground.

The final season was especially ambitious as it made some bold executive decisions about Minghella's Nick, the driver and "Eye" who becomes a friend and lover to June during her time as a Handmaid. Throughout the novel and the majority of the series, Nick is a bright spot for June, but as the series goes on, he blurs the line between being a double agent and being complicit.

Ultimately, The Handmaid's Tale uses its final climax to make an important statement about it never being too late to change for the better — or for the worse. It feels like a perfect and powerful way to capitalize on the groundwork laid in the novel.

The Handmaid's Tale Is A Difficult But Important Watch

The premise of The Handmaid's Tale is gruesome: Gilead was formed in response to a global fertility crisis, and its society's methods of combating that are traumatic, to say the least. The novel is a somber read. Seeing it visually is another thing altogether.

Elisabeth Moss' performance leaves no room to avoid June's harsh realities. She often looks directly into the camera, directly at us, with unforgettable expressions on her face. The love and pain June carries as a mother is palpable as she cries, screams, or forces herself to wear a brave face.

The story's brutal premise and Moss' gutting performance come together into something that is nothing short of emotional to take in. But Atwood's care and intention in crafting a story that is 100% plausible make it incredibly important that we not turn away.

Amidst all its hardship, The Handmaid's Tale series makes a point to never let the show veer into despair or helplessness. It is, above all else, empowering and invigorating.

A Sequel To The Handmaid's Tale Is Coming Soon

In 2019, Margaret Atwood released The Testaments, a sequel novel to The Handmaid's Tale. The novel alternates perspectives between Aunt Lydia and two girls who are implied to be June's daughters, Hannah and Nichole, and is set 15 years after The Handmaid's Tale.

The Testaments is being adapted into a spinoff TV series set to premiere in April 2026, with Elisabeth Moss functioning as an executive producer. This makes now a perfect time to catch up on The Handmaid's Tale and all the raw emotions it carries with it.