Created by Bruce Miller.
The Handmaid’s Tale first premiered on April 26, 2017.
Distributed by Hulu.
The Handmaid’s Tale TV Series Review
The Handmaid’s Tale is a serious and emotional TV show that tells a powerful story about freedom and control.
Season 1 shows a future America called Gilead, where women lose their rights. June’s life as a Handmaid is scary and heartbreaking, and the season pulls viewers in right away.
Season 2 goes deeper into June’s struggle. It shows how dangerous Gilead really is and how much people suffer under its rules.
Season 3 focuses more on fighting back. June becomes braver, and the story moves between Gilead and Canada.
Season 4 is very emotional. It shows escape, anger, and the pain that comes after freedom.
Season 5 looks at the results of past actions. Characters face guilt, power, and difficult choices.
Season 6 brings the story toward an ending, offering answers, justice, and a small sense of hope.
Overall, the show is dark but meaningful, with strong acting and an important message.
CR Rating – 8.5/10
The Handmaid’s Tale Actors
Elisabeth Moss as June Osborne / Offred
DOB: July 24, 1982.
Bio: Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning actor and producer renowned for her nuanced, emotionally intense performances on stage and screen.
She rose to prominence with Mad Men and has continued to build a career centered on complex, psychologically rich female characters in both television and film.
Role: June Osborne is the heart of The Handmaid’s Tale.
Forced into reproductive servitude in the totalitarian state of Gilead, she navigates oppression, seeks to reunite with her child, and becomes a symbol of resistance.
Seasons & Episodes: S1-6 (66 eps).
Interesting facts: Moss served as a producer and directed episodes, and she has spoken often about the show’s cultural impact and the responsibility of playing a figure tied to protest imagery.
Notable Works: Mad Men, Top of the Lake, Us (film).
Yvonne Strahovski as Serena Joy Waterford
DOB: July 30, 1982.
Bio: Australian-born Yvonne Strahovski gained fame in Chuck and has since become acclaimed for portraying morally complex, emotionally layered women.
Strahovski is known for her capacity to convey internal conflict while maintaining commanding screen presence.
Role: Serena Joy is the wife of Commander Waterford and a public enforcer of Gilead’s ideology.
Trapped within the rigid structures she once promoted, Serena evolves from an icy, manipulative hostess to a character scarred and morally conflicted by the very system she helped shape.
Seasons & Episodes: S1-6 (58 eps).
Interesting facts: Strahovski has received Emmy and Golden Globe nominations for the role and has discussed the challenge of depicting a woman who is both perpetrator and victim.
Notable Works: Chuck, Dexter.
Joseph Fiennes as Commander Fred Waterford
DOB: May 27, 1970.
Bio: English actor Joseph Fiennes comes from a strong stage background and has a distinguished film career.
He is known for bringing precision, gravitas, and theatrical clarity to morally complex or chilling roles.
Role: Commander Fred Waterford is one of the architects of Gilead.
Outwardly urbane, composed, and persuasive, he is centrally responsible for the regime’s oppressive policies.
Fiennes portrays Fred as a man capable of chillingly casual cruelty, blending manipulative charm with moral blindness.
Seasons & Episodes: S1-4 (36 eps).
Interesting facts: Fred Waterford’s combination of human vulnerability and moral corruption made him one of the series’ most discussed and unsettling characters.
Notable Works: Shakespeare in Love, Elizabeth: The Golden Age, theatre work.
Alexis Bledel as Emily Malek (Ofglen / Ofsteven)
DOB: September 16, 1981.
Bio: Alexis Bledel rose to international fame as Rory Gilmore on Gilmore Girls and later reinvented her career in more mature dramatic roles.
Her work on The Handmaid’s Tale showed a fierce, emotionally scarred performer capable of deep transformation.
Role: Emily Malek, formerly known as Ofglen/Ofsteven, is a Canadian handmaid whose journey encompasses abuse, exile, and resistance.
Bledel portrays Emily as stoic, haunted, and morally unflinching, giving voice to the suffering and quiet rebellion of Gilead’s oppressed.
Seasons & Episodes: S1-6 (21 eps).
Interesting facts: Bledel won critical praise for taking a fan-favorite “Gilmore” persona into darker, far more complicated territory.
Notable Works: Gilmore Girls, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, theatrical work.
Madeline Brewer as Janine Lindo / Ofwarren
DOB: May 1, 1992.
Bio: Madeline Brewer rose to prominence through high-profile streaming series and is known for portraying emotionally raw, unpredictable characters.
She excels in roles that demand vulnerability, intensity, and wide-ranging emotional expression, often bringing authenticity and nuance to difficult subject matter.
Role: Janine Lindo, known as Ofwarren in Gilead, is one of the series’ most poignant figures.
Her arc spans trauma, survival, brain injury, and political awakening, reflecting the human cost of the oppressive regime.
Seasons & Episodes: S1-6 (46 eps).
Interesting facts: Brewer has said the role stayed with her for years; press around the show’s final season noted her emotional goodbye to Janine.
Notable Works: Orange Is the New Black, Shining Girls, Hemlock Grove.
Ann Dowd as Aunt Lydia Clements
DOB: January 30, 1956.
Bio: Award-winning American character actor whose work spans stage, television, and film.
She is renowned for bringing intelligence, emotional precision, and moral complexity to every role, often transforming supporting or secondary characters into unforgettable presences.
Role: Aunt Lydia is Gilead’s formidable enforcer and handmaid instructor, a woman who wields ideology, discipline, and fear as tools of control.
Dowd imbues Lydia with chilling conviction, making her simultaneously terrifying, disciplined, and occasionally hinting at hidden compassion.
Seasons & Episodes: S1-6 (51 eps).
Interesting facts: Dowd won an Emmy for her work on the series and has spoken about the challenge of playing a character who believes she is “saving” women while brutalizing them.
Notable Works: The Leftovers, Compliance, Hereditary, extensive theatre work.
O-T Fagbenle as Luke Bankole
DOB: January 22, 1981.
Bio: British actor, writer, and director with a versatile career spanning theatre, television, and film.
He is acclaimed for emotionally grounded, precise performances and his ability to move seamlessly between drama, comedy, and genre work.
Role: Luke Bankole is June Osborne’s husband and a doctor whose life represents the freedom and stability June yearns to reclaim.
Throughout the series, Luke becomes both a voice of resistance and a source of emotional refuge, anchoring June’s story in human connection outside Gilead.
Seasons & Episodes: S1-6 (46 eps).
Interesting facts: Fagbenle earned awards recognition for the role, and his interviews emphasize the emotional realism he aimed for.
Notable Works: Avenue 5, The Handmaid’s Tale theatre productions, The Interceptor, and other TV and film projects.
Max Minghella as Nick Blaine
DOB: September 16, 1985.
Bio: British-American actor and writer-director known for his intelligence, subtle charisma, and versatility.
He has earned praise for quietly compelling performances in both indie films and prestige television.
Role: Nick Blaine is June Osborne’s complex and morally conflicted ally, a driver, a member of the Eyes, and a central figure in the resistance.
As June’s sometimes-romantic interest, Nick navigates loyalty, love, and survival under Gilead’s oppressive regime.
Seasons & Episodes: S1-6 (46 eps).
Interesting facts: Minghella received Emmy nomination attention for the role and later moved into directing and larger film projects.
Notable Works: The Social Network (early), Babylon, Teen Spirit (director).
Samira Wiley as Moira Strand
DOB: April 15, 1987.
Bio: Emmy-winning American actor known for her ability to combine humor, resilience, and emotional depth in complex roles.
She first gained widespread recognition on Orange Is the New Black and has since earned acclaim for performances that bring dignity and strength.
Role: Moira Strand is June Osborne’s best friend and a fellow survivor of Gilead’s brutality.
A fiercely independent and rebellious figure, Moira’s arc spans escape, exile, and active defiance against the regime.
Seasons & Episodes: S1-6 (46 eps).
Interesting facts: Wiley won awards recognition and is celebrated for making Moira both fierce and emotionally accessible.
Notable Works: Orange Is the New Black, The Sitter.
Amanda Brugel as Rita Blue
DOB: March 24, 1978.
Bio: Canadian actor known for bringing grounded authenticity and depth to supporting roles in film and television.
She has earned acclaim for her work on The Handmaid’s Tale, where her nuanced performances capture the courage.
Role: Rita Blue is a domestic worker in Gilead who becomes closely connected to June’s life and later plays a pivotal role in the Underground network.
Brugel’s portrayal emphasizes practicality, loyalty, and subtle bravery, showing the everyday courage of individuals resisting oppression from within the system.
Seasons & Episodes: S1-6 (42 eps).
Interesting facts: Brugel’s casting underscores the show’s commitment to strong ensemble supporting players who provide vital human context.
Notable Works: Becky, Canadian film and TV roles including Kim’s Convenience.
Bradley Whitford as Commander Joseph Lawrence
DOB: October 10, 1959.
Bio: Emmy-winning American actor known for his intelligent, nuanced portrayals of morally complex authority figures.
He rose to prominence in The West Wing and has since excelled in both film and television roles that demand subtlety, wit, and emotional depth.
Role: Commander Joseph Lawrence is a high-ranking figure in Gilead whose intellect, political savvy, and personal philosophy create tension and intrigue.
Whitford’s Lawrence is principled yet morally ambiguous, serving as both a foil and a complicated ally to other commanders and to June.
Seasons & Episodes: S2-6 (35 eps).
Interesting facts: Whitford’s turn brought a different kind of moral wrestling to the series and won awards attention.
Notable Works: The West Wing, Get Out, stage work.
Sam Jaeger as Mark Tuello
DOB: January 29, 1977.
Bio: American actor and writer recognized for grounded, emotionally resonant performances across both drama and comedy.
He is known for bringing warmth, everyman credibility, and subtle nuance to supporting roles, making him a dependable presence in ensemble casts.
Role: Mark Tuello is a government official whose responsibilities intersect with the commanders and June’s legal and political struggles.
He represents the bureaucratic and procedural side of Gilead’s power structure, offering insight into the external mechanisms that enforce the regime’s policies.
Seasons & Episodes: S2-6 (26 eps).
Interesting facts: Jaeger’s character often provides procedural exposition and human counterbalance to the more theatrical commander interactions.
Notable Works: Parenthood, Tell Me a Story, various film and TV appearances.
More Actors
Season 1 (2017)
• Nina Kiri as Alma.
• Ever Carradine as Naomi Putnam.
• Bahia Watson as Brianna.
• Stephen Kunken as Warren Putnam.
Season 2 (2018)
• Julie Dretzin as Eleanor Lawrence.
• Sydney Sweeney as Eden Spencer.
• Cherry Jones as Holly Maddox.
• Clea DuVall as Sylvia.
Season 3 (2019)
• Jonathan Watton as Matthew Calhoun.
• Ashleigh LaThrop as Natalie.
• Vanessa Burns as Mrs. Calhoun.
• Christopher Meloni as George Winslow.
Season 4 (2021)
• Mckenna Grace as Esther Keyes.
• Natasha Mumba as Danielle.
• Victoria Sawal as Tyler.
• Zawe Ashton as Oona.
Season 5 (2022)
• Carey Cox as Rose Blaine.
• Genevieve Angelson as Alanis Wheeler.
• Lucas Neff as Ryan Wheeler.
• Jason Butler Harner as Commander MacKenzie.
Season 6 (final season, 2025)
• Josh Charles as Commander Gabriel Wharton.
• Timothy Simons as Commander Bell.
• Athena Karkanis as Ellen.
• Tim Campbell as Commander Reynolds.
FAQ – The Handmaid’s Tale TV Series
What is The Handmaid’s Tale about?
It’s about a dystopian society called Gilead where women are oppressed and forced into servitude; the story follows June, a woman fighting for freedom.
Is the show based on a book?
Yes, it’s based on Margaret Atwood’s 1985 novel The Handmaid’s Tale.
Why do Handmaids wear red?
Red symbolizes fertility, the “fruit of the womb,” and the shame tied to their role in Gilead.
Will there be more story after the show ends?
A spinoff based on Atwood’s sequel book The Testaments has been announced to continue the world’s story. The Sun
How many seasons are there?
There are six seasons, with the final season premiering in 2025.
Is Season 6 the final season?
Yes, Season 6 is the final chapter of the main series.
Where is The Handmaid’s Tale set?
It primarily takes place in a fictional dystopia called Gilead, largely around Boston and the surrounding areas.
Where can I watch The Handmaid’s Tale?
The series streams on Hulu, and in some regions via Disney+ with Hulu included.
Conclusion
The Handmaid’s Tale is a powerful and unforgettable TV series that stays with you long after watching.
It tells a dark story about control, freedom, and survival, but it also shows strength and hope.
Each season builds on the last, making the characters deeper and the story more intense.
The acting, especially from Elisabeth Moss, is outstanding, and the show never shies away from difficult topics.
While it can be hard to watch at times, it is meaningful and thought-provoking.
Overall, The Handmaid’s Tale is not just a TV show but a strong warning and an emotional journey worth experiencing.