Intro: The Handmaid's Tale Season 5 Review
Where to stream it? Hulu (First two episodes premiere Wednesday, September 14th)
Starring: Elisabeth Moss, Bradley Whitford, Yvonne Strahovski, Max Minghella, O-T Fagbenle, Samira Wiley, Ann Dowd, Madeline Brewer, Amanda Brugel, Sam Jaeger
Executive Produced by: Bruce Miller, Warren Littlefield, Elisabeth Moss, Daniel Wilson, Fran Sears, Eric Tuchman, Yahlin Chang, Rachel Shukert, Sheila Hockin, John Weber, Frank Siracusa, Steve Stark, Kim Todd
The first eight episodes of season five were screened in advance for this review.
After season four’s explosive finale where June Osborne (Elisabeth Moss) killed Commander Waterford (Joseph Fiennes), viewers have been left wondering what would become of the handmaid-gone-rogue. Season five answers those questions, and makes some promising developments in the story of Gilead.
As with previous seasons, this tale gets dark. And now that we live in a post-Roe world it can feel at times hard to watch. Yet through that darkness shines something that can inspire both our characters and the viewers: hope.
Sins of the past
For this review, I was able to screen eight of the ten episodes from the show’s fifth season. I’ll avoid any major spoilers as I give my overall impressions.
Like many others, I thought the Emmy-winning first season of The Handmaid’s Tale, like the Margaret Atwood novel that inspired it, was spectacular (if not unsettling). As subsequent seasons continued on past the plotline of the source material, however, I found the results to be a mixed bag.
When June escaped the Waterford's estate, she’d find herself once again in the home of Commander Fred Waterford and his wife Serena (Yvonne Strahovski). When members of the supporting cast seemed like their stories had played themselves out, they’d get written back into the show in ways that felt a bit convenient.
My biggest hangup with past seasons was that when the most exciting elements of the story were teased such as a handmaid rebellion or reunions with certain characters, those events seemed to be perpetually pushed back.
Season four laid the groundwork for certain elements of the plot to finally move forward. June and Luke (O-T Fagbenle) were reunited as she made it out of Gilead into Canada. Plus she finally got to confront Commander Waterford in a way that… you know… didn’t end well for him.
Early episodes of the latest season focus on June’s reckoning with her actions against Commander Waterford. While the show seems a bit hesitant to make a full justification for the violence she perpetuated, it does raise the interesting question over the difference between revenge and justice.
A story in motion
Serena plays a significant role in this season. She gets out of prison and find herself as something of a saint to Gilead loyalists. Despite her elevated status, she must deal with the reality of existing in a misogynistic society as an expectant, single woman.
Likewise Aunt Lydia (Ann Dowd) finds herself at odds with Commander Lawrence (Bradley Whitford) when the circumstances a handmaid is in push even Aunt Lydia’s flawed value system to the brink.
Although the characters are separated by geographic and political borders, they still find themselves colliding back together. Once again, certain explanations given for these circumstances seem a bit contrived. That being said, this season carries forward some long-awaited story lines.
There are some fascinating developments for Serena in particular. Strahovski and Moss both deliver some of the most powerful scenes yet in the show. Not to mention as the director of multiple episodes once again, Moss proves that she is the Queen of Prestige TV on BOTH sides of the camera.
Yet for as intrigued as I was by this season’s episodes, what seems the most interesting to me is where the story will head in the future. At least I’m confident now that we’re making some progress forward.
Final Thoughts: The Handmaid's Tale Season 5 Review
The cast and crew of The Handmaid’s Tale have delivered an engaging season that provides enough character development and suspense to make it worth a watch for long-time viewers. Time will tell how much momentum this very heavy-handed show has for future seasons, though.
For now, I’ll continue to root for June and the other handmaids of Gilead. But after five seasons of ruminating over the worst possible societal outcomes, I hope things end on a positive note.
