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The Handmaid's Tale:

Season 1

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The Handmaid's Tale

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• 2017
• Season 1
• 10 episodes

• Sci-fi

Summary

In Season 1, Offred struggles to cope with her repressive existence, Offred and her fellow handmaids help with the birth of Janine's baby and Offred and Serena Joy visit Ofwarren's baby.

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Episode 2: Birth Day

Summary

Offred and her fellow handmaids are called on to assist as Janine prepares to give birth on behalf of her owners. The experience brings back upsetting memories, as she looks back on having a baby of her own in the years before the despotic Gilead regime came to power. Offred develops a closer relationship with Ofglen, but fears for her future when she is summoned to a secret meeting with the Commander. Second episode of the drama based on Margaret Atwood's dystopian novel, starring Elisabeth Moss

Review

David Butcher

A high-status woman offers Offred (Elisabeth Moss) a biscuit. “You shouldn’t spoil them – sugar is bad for them,” chides her mistress, Serena Joy, casually referring to handmaidens as children – or slaves.

There are plenty of ugly echoes like that in this dystopian drama, but they’re not overdone. The allegory of religious oppression in a near-future America can hit hard, but mostly the horror is painted in delicate, Vermeer-style images that belie the pain involved.

The main scene tonight is a childbirth ritual where Ofwarren (aka Janine, the handmaiden who briefly rebelled) goes through labour in a pristine mansion surrounded by other handmaidens chanting “Breathe!” or “Push!” in sinister unison. Meanwhile, her mistress, who isn’t pregnant, mimes the same process in the room next door. It could almost be comic, but it’s deeply creepy and strange.

How to watch

Next showing

There are no live broadcasts scheduled for this show. But it is available via the streaming providers below.

Streaming

• Prime Video
• Disney+

❚ We may earn commission from links on this page. Our editorial is always independent (learn more).

Details

Released on

2017-06-04

Languages

English

Formats

Colour

Credits

Cast

rolenameOffredElisabeth MossThe CommanderJoseph FiennesOfglenAlexis BledelJanineMadeline BrewerSerena JoyYvonne StrahovskiAunt LydiaAnn DowdLukeO-T FagbenleNickMax MinghellaRitaAmanda BrugelNaomi PutnamEver Carradine

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Crew

rolenameDirectorReed MoranoWriterBruce Miller

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All episodes

• 
  
  Episode 10
  
  Night

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• 
  
  Episode 9
  
  The Bridge

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• 
  
  Episode 8
  
  Jezebels

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• 
  
  Episode 7
  
  The Other Side

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• 
  
  Episode 6
  
  A Woman's Place

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• 
  
  Episode 5
  
  Faithful

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• Episode 5
  
  Seeds

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• 
  
  Episode 4
  
  Nolite te Bastardes Carborundorum

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• 
  
  Episode 3
  
  Late

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• 
  
  Episode 2
  
  Birth Day

  Summary

  Offred and her fellow handmaids are called on to assist as Janine prepares to give birth on behalf of her owners. The experience brings back upsetting memories, as she looks back on having a baby of her own in the years before the despotic Gilead regime came to power. Offred develops a closer relationship with Ofglen, but fears for her future when she is summoned to a secret meeting with the Commander. Second episode of the drama based on Margaret Atwood's dystopian novel, starring Elisabeth Moss

  Review

  David Butcher

  A high-status woman offers Offred (Elisabeth Moss) a biscuit. “You shouldn’t spoil them – sugar is bad for them,” chides her mistress, Serena Joy, casually referring to handmaidens as children – or slaves.

  There are plenty of ugly echoes like that in this dystopian drama, but they’re not overdone. The allegory of religious oppression in a near-future America can hit hard, but mostly the horror is painted in delicate, Vermeer-style images that belie the pain involved.

  The main scene tonight is a childbirth ritual where Ofwarren (aka Janine, the handmaiden who briefly rebelled) goes through labour in a pristine mansion surrounded by other handmaidens chanting “Breathe!” or “Push!” in sinister unison. Meanwhile, her mistress, who isn’t pregnant, mimes the same process in the room next door. It could almost be comic, but it’s deeply creepy and strange.

  How to watch

  Next showing

  There are no live broadcasts scheduled for this show. But it is available via the streaming providers below.

  Streaming

  • Prime Video
  • Disney+

  ❚ We may earn commission from links on this page. Our editorial is always independent (learn more).

  Details

  Released on

  2017-06-04

  Languages

  English

  Formats

  Colour

  Credits

  Cast

  rolenameOffredElisabeth MossThe CommanderJoseph FiennesOfglenAlexis BledelJanineMadeline BrewerSerena JoyYvonne StrahovskiAunt LydiaAnn DowdLukeO-T FagbenleNickMax MinghellaRitaAmanda BrugelNaomi PutnamEver Carradine

  Show more

  Crew

  rolenameDirectorReed MoranoWriterBruce Miller

  • Share on facebook
  • Share on twitter
  • Share on pinterest
  • Share on reddit
  • Email to a friend

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• 
  
  Episode 1
  
  Offred

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IMDB

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8.1/10

How to watch

Next showing

There are no live broadcasts scheduled for this show. But it is available via the streaming providers below.

Streaming

• Prime Video
• Disney+

News & features about The Handmaid's Tale

• 
  
  The Testaments cast: Who stars in The Handmaid's Tale sequel?
  
  Your essential guide to the cast of Handmaid Tale sequel, The Testaments.

• 
  
  The Testaments showrunner reveals the "lessons" learned from The Handmaid's Tale
  
  "If, unfortunately, it's 'torture porn', so is our world."

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• 
  
  The Handmaid’s Tale was a fiction that talked to a reality - and our documentary Stolen Babies shows just that
  
  Producer Lorraine McKechnie on the shocking scandal of postwar mother and baby homes.

• 
  
  The Handmaid's Tale and Ugly Betty favourites revealed to be cast in Rooster season 2 episodes
  
  The feel-good comedy from Ted Lasso creator Bill Lawrence is returning for another run...

• 
  
  Why is The Testaments holding back a game-changing The Handmaid's Tale secret?
  
  The first three episodes are now streaming, leaving us with more questions than answers.

• 
  
  The Testaments soundtrack: Every song featured in The Handmaid's Tale sequel series
  
  This dystopian Handmaid's Tale story comes with a angst-ridden, female-driven soundtrack.

• 
  
  The Testaments finale airs heartbreaking scenes – and The Handmaid’s Tale legend makes surprise appearance
  
  Did you spot her?

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• 
  
  The Testaments gets future confirmed as The Handmaid's Tale spin-off concludes dramatic run
  
  Gilead’s next chapter is only just getting started.

• 
  
  The Testaments episode 7 airs shock return scenes for another Handmaid's Tale character
  
  And she has some very important advice for Daisy...

• 
  
  Grey's Anatomy favourite confirmed to star in new courtroom drama opposite The Handmaid's Tale legend
  
  Kevin McKidd will join Elisabeth Moss in new drama series Conviction.

• 
  
  How to watch The Handmaid's Tale season 6 in the UK
  
  How to catch up in the UK.

• 
  
  The Testaments boss confirms how many seasons he's planning of The Handmaid's Tale spin-off
  
  The dystopian tale has been capturing the imagination of viewers since its launch

• 
  
  The Handmaid's Tale ending explained: Goodbye June, hello Hannah
  
  Let's break it down.

• 
  
  The Handmaid’s Tale sequel unveils moody first-look trailer with returning and new cast
  
  Sequel series, The Testaments, stars One Battle After Another's Chase Infiniti.

• 
  
  The Testaments finally begins to reveal the true horrors of Gilead – but in a very different way to The Handmaid's Tale
  
  The latest episode, titled Green Tea, ends with a deeply disturbing realisation.

• 
  
  The Handmaid's Tale cast: Meet the characters in season 6
  
  Rebellion is brewing.

• 
  
  The Handmaid’s Tale star explains "genuine pressure" of joining Industry season 4
  
  Max Minghella admits to being a fan of Industry before joining the cast of the hit financial drama.

• 
  
  The White Lotus season 4 casts The Thursday Murder Club and The Handmaid's Tale favourites in new roles
  
  Filming is currently underway in France.

• 
  
  The Testaments showrunner Bruce Miller teases more surprise appearances from The Handmaid's Tale cast in future seasons
  
  "They exist in this world, and they're still driving towards the same kind of justice they were driving to before."

• 
  
  The Handmaid’s Tale brings back a surprise character for season 6
  
  It's been a while. ***Season 6 spoilers ahead***

• 
  
  The Testaments showrunner teases what will come next in season 2
  
  "When I start on a project, I sit down and I try to think of 200 story ideas..."

• 
  
  The Handmaid’s Tale sequel The Testaments confirms release window as first-look at spin-off is revealed
  
  First-look images see Ann Dowd returning as the fearsome Aunt Lydia.

• 
  
  The Handmaid's Tale sequel TV series The Testaments confirms UK release date with first-look images
  
  The expansion of Margaret Atwood's literary universe is landing on screens soon.

• 
  
  Scooby-Doo live-action TV series finally confirms main cast joining The Handmaid's Tale favourite
  
  Netflix has cast the series’ Shaggy, Velma, and Fred to round out the Mystery Inc. crew.

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