TV review: The Handmaid's Tale, episodes 1-3, on Hulu

I have been watching a lot of really, really good TV lately - and it's mostly been on streaming services such as Netflix or Hulu. I binged Girlboss (Netflix) last weekend, I watched 13 Reasons Why (also Netflix) a few weeks ago, and this week, I watched all three episodes of The Handmaid's Tale (Hulu) in one day.

To give you some background on me: this is not my only blog. I write here and also at my book blog, so when Hulu announced last year that they planned on making an adaptation of The Handmaid's Tale, by Margaret Atwood, I was very excited. I read the book in high school (and still own it, actually) and it was great.

I watched half of the first episode on Wednesday, when it premiered, before work; I finished it on my lunch break that day; and I (mini) binged episodes 2 and 3 after work that day.

Needless to say: all of them were very, very good. (and now I want to binge ALL of them, but can't because Hulu is only releasing one per week, on Wednesdays. Why must you toy with us like this, Hulu?!)

Elisabeth Moss as Offred/June, and Samira Wiley as Moira

Elisabeth Moss (Mad Men) plays Offred, but before the United States became Gilead, she had another name and life: June, who was a mother to a young child, Hannah (Jordana Blake), and a wife to Luke (O-T Fagbenle). When it looks like it's no longer safe for them to stay in their home, they make a run for it to Canada, through the Maine border; unfortunately, (semi-spoiler) Luke is murdered, and Hannah is taken from June.

Now, Offred is a handmaid, who lives in the home of Commander Fred Waterford (her new name is literally, Of-Fred - if she were to be re-assigned to another house, her name would change) and his wife, Serena Joy. In the new republic, most women are infertile; as a handmaid, Offred's job is to get pregnant by her Commander, so that he and his wife can have a baby. June's personality still lives inside Offred, though, and although Offred is meek and religious on the outside, June wants to change her circumstances by any means possible.Read more »