In a dystopian future, birth rates has dropped drastically, a society on the verge of environmental disasters has found a way to combat the difficulties of the times. Gilead, a society carved out of the former United States of America has set up a totalitarian government , a society where women are treated as property of the government. In a desperate bid to repopulate, fertile women are forced into sexual servitude, serving as Handmaids to the Commanders, the top government officials of Gilead. It tells the story of Offred( taking the name of the house of Waterford), formerly known as June Osborne, as she navigates through her daily life as a handmaid in the Waterford's household. It’s about defiance, resilience, love, hate and hope.
Season one of this show was nothing anyone expected, it treated the audience to rivetting award winning spectacle. Elizabeth Moss ( Offred) was particularly impressive with her portrayal of character. Season one was all about the introduction of the idea. We were introduced to the Gilead society, the various characters who make up the hierarchy of the society, the duties and responsibilities of each of these characters.
In season one, we got introduced to the Handmaids, their duties, how they have come to be Handmaids, and their ultimate responsibilities to society and to God! The Marthas who are not worthy of the exalted position of the Handmaids, but who society has found a use for regardless, the commanders,their status, their duties to their wives and society and God; the Wives, their subservience ,their desire for offsprings; The Eyes, their undetectable presence .
The first season of The Handmaids Tale told it’s tale with astonishing clarity, the idea of a society was presented without haste neither was it botched. The character development was presented with utmost precision, perhaps that explains the length of each episode? While the whole season numbered only 10 episodes, the character development was not compromised as the directors painstakingly introduced each character, their fears, their aspirations, strengths and weaknesses.
The show did not try to over compensate for a lack of episode numbers by rushing through the season, in fact, at the conclusion of the season, we felt they had presented much more than we thought to expect. The introduction of the plot theme element, and the sub plots which were few, and we are seriously thankful for that, the introduction of the conflict all of which was presented in the first 5 episodes of the first season caught our fancy.
The presentation of Offred (Elizabeth Moss) as a handmaid, her character's development, her relationship with Serena Waterford, and commander Waterford. Her slow introduction as a willful handmaid, and her intricately woven introduction to the resistance. Her bond with Offglen and Offdaniel, as well as her seemingly Innocent partnership with Offwarren.
Season one was brilliant, we were most impressed with the presentation of conflict, however what we were most impressed with was not the presentation of idea or the conflict, it was the symmetry with everything in the society. Gilead is synonymous with symmetry. The procession of the Handmaids, the shopping runs of the Handmaids, everything is absolutely brilliant.
We must definitely not fail at appraising the acting of the characters. Worthy of absolute commendation are Elisabeth Moss (June Osborne), Yvonne Strahovski( Serena Waterford) ,Alexis Bledel(Ofglen), Ann Dowd ( Aunt Lydia) and my personal favourite Joseph Fiennes ( Commander Fred Waterford). These characters were absolutely brilliant. Them being in character was just amazing and brilliant. Aunt Lydia is a persona of good acting, her conversational mastery as well as emotional ( lack of) response was amazingly brilliant.
Elizabeth Moss on her on part was brilliant. Her change of mood, sequence of emotional diversity as the need requires was just amazing, deserving of some accolades. We are most highly impressed.
While we were evidently convinced that the first season set the bar for what a series ought to be, the season premier of the second season was top notch.
Repercussions for the activities of the season finale of the first season was presented in a manner you couldn’t have wanted to miss. We were enthralled all through the season premier that we forgot to complain about the length of the episode.
This perhaps brings us to the part where we finally rant. Having 55 minute episodes for the first season was brilliant, we needed it for the main reason of character development, however having the same length for the second season was absolutely not worth it. It brought with it lengthy episodes with boring and not so needed conversations and dialogues; and this is the first time we felt this way about this show.
However, let me tell you, the idea in season 2 is to make you not feel comfortable. Where you may have been feeling comfortable with the idea of the Handmaids despising their masters by reason of their position, you get the whole Serena Waterford angle before Gilead. If you felt comfortable with the Handmaids not wanting to be Handmaids, you get introduced to the idea of finding yourself in the colonies. Gbam! No o, let them remain as Handmaids. Even the perfect introduction of God's work for the Eyes seemed a little unnerving, I mean we know Nick was starting to love our heroine no? But he now has a wife, should we support his love or should we chastise himself for not loving his own wife.
Hey he has even met Lucas Bankole.. Will the love still remain or will morality sway his feelings?
We have said it, and we will continue to say it, the symmetry is absolutely spot on. Please who saw the funeral procession? With the black garmemts, we are absolutely amazed. We would have preferred a black box for the black garments though. Lol, we just can’t complain, can we?
Hey! Can they stop calling Luke Lucas Bankole? The guy name na Bankolé! Him be original yoruba guy! Period!! That’s all, I dn finish my own. I go still dey await season 3.
This is a superb TV show. I don’t care what anyone says, this is brilliant. It’s nominations and awards are testament of its brilliance. Hulu has found a golden cow here, and they must absolutely milk this one. This they seem to be achieving in aces of spades, what with the kind of cliffhangers they constantly leave us with episode after episode, plus a very huge cliffhanger in the season finale, to obviously keep us guessing and waiting for the 3rd season, and we absolutely just can't wait!
Elizabeth Moss
Joseph Fiennes
Yvonne Strahovski
Alexis Bledel
Ann Dowd
Madeline Brewer
O.T. Fagbenle
Max Minghella
Samira Wiley
Amanda Brugel.
With Elisabeth Moss, Bruce Miller and Margaret Atwood at the helm of affairs, we surely are going to get another rivetting and compelling season when it's 3rd season premiers. We can't wait for this one to drop.
FCA's AppR: 9/10
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