“The Testaments” Review: “The Handmaid’s Tale” Sequel That Surprised Everyone
Season one of “The Testaments” is now fully available on Hulu (and Disney+ if you have the bundle). As a fan of it’s predecesor, “The Handmaid’s Tale,” I had my reservations about whether they could put together something that could live up to that powerful series. I won’t keep you waiting to tell you, I watched every episode with rapt attention and looked forward to the next.
Light spoilers ahead. I won’t blow the whole story for you!
What is “The Testaments” About?
“The Testaments” is a direct sequel to “The Handmaid’s Tale.” It’s been four years since the events of the original series, and the daughter of June Osborne (Elisabeth Moss), Agnes/Hannah (Chase Infiniti), is about 16 years old. Along with other young women, she’s in school learning everything she’ll need to know to be a good wife to a Commander.
The series is a kind of coming-of-age story, but it has this dark thread running through it since the majority of the story takes place in Gilead, formerly part of the United States, where women are treated as inferior beings. Women are valued for their reproductive capability and to serve others (in various capacities).
The series begins with Daisy (Lucy Halliday), a teen who is younger than Agnes, losing her parents to murder, being rescued by Mayday (and June Osborne), and then becoming part of the rebel organization. Once inside Gilead as a Pearl Girl, she is paired with Agnes as her guide.
As the series progresses, we follow Agnes, Daisy, and their friends as they “graduate” from being Plums (potential wives) to being Greens (young women who have had their first menstruation and can be married off). The dangers and limitations women faced in “The Handmaid’s Tale” are still present in their lives. The girls have to navigate a life of strict rules and expectations where men hold the authority.
Are There Any Other Characters From “The Handmaid’s Tale?”
Yes! In addition to Agnes (and Daisy, though her identity hasn’t been officially revealed), Aunt Lydia (Ann Dowd) and June Osbourne are important parts of this story. Rita Blue (Amanda Brugel) also makes an appearance early in the season as we learn how Daisy became involved.
When the series was first announced, it wasn’t clear whether we’d see June, and though she doesn’t appear often, she’s a very important figure. She is, after all, Agnes’s mother (and, I suspect, Daisy’s too, although the timeline doesn’t make sense if that’s the case). At first, I was certain Daisy had to be her daughter, but then we found out she was adopted. Based on what we have seen, it seems like June is alone at this point. My understanding is that, in the book, Daisy is Nichole, but it’s not clear whether they’ve kept that thread.
Aunt Lydia’s inclusion seems like a given. She’s now in charge of the school for the daughters of Commanders and important men. There’s even a statue of her in the entry to the school. I appreciated learning more about how things went for her when Gilead was formed. As with many things about both series, that was tough to watch. But it was informative to learn about her past. She is also responsible for creating “Pearl Girls.” These are girls who came to Gilead by choice. Like Daisy, they come from Canada and possibly other places.
So, How Did it Measure Up?
“The Testaments” measures up to “The Handmaid’s Tale” very well. The storytelling here is solid, and the performances of these young women are impressive. There will be moments where you question what one of them is thinking in taking a certain action, but that’s only because it’s so easy to forget how young they’re meant to be. These are naive teenage girls who lack so much knowledge and wisdom. What they do makes sense in the context of the world that they know.
And, look at this final scene (above) from the season. Doesn’t this remind you of June and the handmaids at the end of their first season? These girls are the future, and they’re ready to make good trouble. My only disappointment is that I will now have to wait for another season to see what happens next.
“The Testaments” season one is available to stream on Hulu and on Disney+ if you have the bundle. Season two has been greenlit and, if the internet can be believed, could be hitting streaming as early as next year.
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