Box Watch: The Handmaid’s Tale

The Handmaid’s Tale was my first Margaret Atwood book. It introduced me to her other writing. I’m a fan.

So when I heard last year about this television adaptation, I was prepped and ready to hate it hate it hate it so much that I wasn’t going to even bother wasting my time watching it. And then…

First ep in and I’m on the fence: great world-building but I don’t like the flashbacks — I’d read the book, dammit; viewers should either fill in the gaps or use their damned library cards if they were confused. Second ep in and I’m immersed: the flashbacks aren’t gratuitous; and lead (and producer) Elisabeth Moss’ performance is television gold. The eps are consumed in rapid succession — I read somewhere that it’s been renewed for a second season — and then the season ends just where the book ends and something goes off in my head:

They’ve gone off-book.

I haven’t been this excited about a sophomore season since I don’t know how long.

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6 Replies to “Box Watch: The Handmaid’s Tale”

    1. that’s pretty much how i watched the show; The Lovely Wife is made of sterner stuff.

      2018 seems a looong time away.

  1. In the meantime are you watching Apple Tree Yard with Emily Watson? Didn’t mean to get hooked … But you know how it goes 😉

    1. i’m a big Emily Watson fan — i shall procure it for The Lovely Wife’s consideration.

  2. From the novel by Louise Doughty if that helps the Lovely Wife’s consideration;)(should have noted scriptwriter too as dialogue believable.)

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