Based on the bestselling novel by Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid’s Tale is a thrilling story about a dystopian society where birth rates have fallen drastically and fertile women are captured and forced to bear children for infertile couples.
The series which can be streamed on Amazon Prime is set in The Republic of Gilead, a theocratic state, governed by “commanders”. These men are the founders of Gilead, a regime that enslaves fertile women known as “handmaids”, executes gay people, and sends rebels to the “colonies” which means certain death.
The story is told from the point of view of the protagonist, June, or her handmaid name “Offred” who is played by Elisabeth Moss. She is an American actress who has won many awards for her performances including two Golden Globe Awards and two Prime Time Emmy Awards. She is also best known for her iconic role as Peggy Olsen in the 2007 American drama series Mad Men.
In her role as Offred, she plays an intelligent and subversive woman whose love for her family drives her to escape the horrors of Gilead. Before she was captured and enslaved, she lived a fairly normal life with her husband, Luke, and a daughter named Hannah. But everything changed when the Sons of Jacob, a religious group, overthrew the government, much like the attempted siege on the US Capitol in January this year. People began to flee to Canada but the unlucky ones were captured and taken to the Red Centre where women are indoctrinated into Gilead’s ideology in preparation for becoming handmaids.
The director, Reed Morano, did a great job capturing the story from Offred’s perspective and the cinematography did justice to that. Gilead is a place where women aren’t allowed to read or write, so creating a world without words was exceptionally done by Reed.
Offred is assigned to Commander Waterford’s house, where she will live until she bears him and his wife, Serena, a child. Offred’s first inkling for a resistance movement known as “Mayday” comes via a shopping partner, Ofglen, who warns her that a member of the Waterford household is an “Eye”, or a spy for Gilead. The “Eye” is Nick, Commander Waterford’s driver who is played by British actor Max Minghella.
Nick falls in love with Offred and the onscreen chemistry between them is undeniably intense. In an interview, Max said that being a romantic person in real life helped him in his intimate scenes with Elisabeth Moss.
In episode 2, Commander Waterford invites Offred into his study for a late-night game of Scrabble which becomes a constant affair. Scenes of the Commander and Offred alone in his study show the vulnerability of the Commander’s character and the manipulative side of Offred. One night, the Commander takes her out to Jezebel’s, a “forbidden” place where commanders mingle with women who are neither handmaids nor colony slaves. There, she meets her best friend, Moira, who manages to escape the Red Centre.
Moira’s character, a lesbian, represents a strong female resistance to the conservative rules of Gilead. She is persistent in her efforts to abscond and brave to stand up to authorities. She proves to be a symbol of hope when she finally escapes to Canada. As a real-life member of the LGBT community, Samira Whiley’s meticulous portrayal of Moira is brilliant.
In the Waterford household, Serena finds out about Offred’s clandestine trip to Jezebel’s and promises to punish her. Suddenly, Nick comes into her room and tells her that the Eyes are Mayday members who have come to save her. Despite the Commander’s objections, Offred leaves with them on her way to prison or freedom; she does not know which.
The Handmaid’s tale offers more than just a story about domineering men and submissive handmaids. Throughout the episodes, themes of love, friendship, loyalty, and storytelling are brought to light by different characters. Offred’s flashbacks give an idea of who she was before she was captured.
The show features several brutal scenes which are uncomfortable to watch.
In episode 1, a man is beaten to death for raping a pregnant handmaid, and Commander Waterford tries to impregnate Offred.
Regardless of the explicit content, the Handmaid’s Tale is something unique. It is unpredictable and female-driven. The season ends on a cliff-hanger.
And the show has been renewed for a second season leaving viewers wondering about what will happen to Offred who is now pregnant with Nick’s child and headed to either her freedom or death.