The Handmaid 's Tale ( TV series ) - wikipedia The Handmaid 's Tale ( TV series ) The Handmaid 's Tale Genre Drama Dystopian fiction Created by Bruce Miller Based on The Handmaid 's Tale by Margaret Atwood Starring Elisabeth Moss Joseph Fiennes Yvonne Strahovski Alexis Bledel Madeline Brewer Ann Dowd O.T. Fagbenle Max Minghella Samira Wiley Composer ( s ) Adam Taylor Country of origin United States Original language ( s ) English No. of seasons No. of episodes 10 ( list of episodes ) Production Executive producer ( s ) Bruce Miller Warren Littlefield Reed Morano Daniel Wilson Fran Sears Ilene Chaiken Producer ( s ) Margaret Atwood Elisabeth Moss Location ( s ) Toronto, Ontario Hamilton, Ontario Cambridge, Ontario Running time 47 -- 60 minutes Production company ( s ) Daniel Wilson Productions, Inc. The Littlefield Company White Oak Pictures MGM Television Hulu Originals Distributor Hulu Release Original network Hulu Original release April 26, 2017 ( 2017 - 04 - 26 ) -- present External links Website The Handmaid 's Tale is an American web television series created by Bruce Miller, based on the 1985 novel of the same name by Margaret Atwood. It was ordered by streaming service Hulu with a straight - to - series order of 10 episodes, with the production beginning in late 2016. The plot follows a dystopian future following a Second American Civil War where women, called `` Handmaids '', are forced into sexual and child - bearing servitude. The first three episodes of the series premiered on April 26, 2017, with the subsequent seven episodes added on a weekly basis every Wednesday. In May 2017, it was renewed for a second season to premiere on April 25, 2018. The Handmaid 's Tale received widespread critical acclaim and won eight Primetime Emmy Awards from thirteen nominations, including Outstanding Drama Series, becoming the first series on a streaming platform to win an Emmy for Outstanding Series. It has also won Golden Globe Awards for Best Television Series -- Drama and Best Actress for Elisabeth Moss. Contents 1 Plot 2 Cast 2.1 Main 2.2 Recurring 2.3 Guest stars 3 Episodes 4 Production 5 Broadcast and release 6 Reception 6.1 Accolades 7 See also 8 References 9 External links Plot In the near future, human fertility rates collapse as a result of sexually transmitted diseases and environmental pollution. With this chaos in place, the totalitarian, Christian theonomic government of `` Gilead '' establishes rule in the former United States in the aftermath of a civil war. Society is organized by power - hungry leaders along a new, militarized, hierarchical regime of fanaticism and newly created social classes, in which women are brutally subjugated, and by law are not allowed to work, own property, handle money, or read. Worldwide infertility has resulted in the conscription of the few remaining fertile women in Gilead, called `` Handmaids '', according to an extremist interpretation of a Biblical account. They are assigned to the homes of the ruling elite, where they must submit to ritualized rape with their male masters in order to become pregnant and bear children for those men and their wives. Alongside the red - clad Handmaids, much of society is now grouped into classes that dictate their freedoms and duties. Women are divided into a small range of social categories, each one signified by a specifically colored dress in a similar style. Handmaids wear red, Marthas wear green, and Wives wear blue. Econowives, the lower - class women who still have minimal agency, are sort of a mixture of all these categories, so they wear stripes. Wives are expected to run their households, Marthas are housekeepers and cooks, Aunts train and oversee the Handmaids ; additionally, the Eyes are a secret police watching over the general populace for signs of rebellion, Hunters track down people attempting to flee the country, and Jezebels are prostitutes in secret brothels catering to the elite ruling class. June Osborne, renamed Offred ( Elisabeth Moss ), is the Handmaid assigned to the home of Gileadan Commander Fred Waterford ( Joseph Fiennes ) and his wife Serena Joy ( Yvonne Strahovski ). She is subject to the strictest rules and constant scrutiny ; an improper word or deed on her part can lead to brutal punishment. Offred, who is named after her male master like all Handmaids, can remember the `` time before '', when she was married, had a daughter and had her own name and identity, but all she can safely do now is follow the rules of Gilead in the hope that she can someday live free and be reunited with her daughter. The Waterfords, key players in the rise of Gilead, have their own conflicts with the realities of the society they have helped create. Cast Main Elisabeth Moss as June Osborne / Offred, a woman who was captured while attempting to escape to Canada with her husband, Luke, and daughter, Hannah. Due to her fertility, she becomes a handmaid to Commander Fred Waterford and his wife, Serena Joy, and is named `` Offred ''. Joseph Fiennes as Commander Fred Waterford, a high - ranking government official and June 's master. Both he and his wife played an instrumental role in Gilead 's founding. He wishes to have more contact with June outside of what is lawful between a handmaid and her master, and starts inviting her to nightly games of Scrabble. Yvonne Strahovski as Serena Joy Waterford, Fred 's wife and a former conservative cultural activist. She appears to have accepted her new role in a society that she helped create. She is poised and deeply religious, but capable of great cruelty and is often callous to June. She is desperate to become a mother. Alexis Bledel as Emily / Ofglen, June 's shopping partner. Although June is initially wary of her, it is revealed she is not as pious as she seems and the two become friends. She had a wife and son, and was a university lecturer in cellular biology. Being homosexual is punishable by death in Gilead and most university professors are sent to labour camps, but she was spared, due to her fertility. She is later captured and punished for her relationship with a Martha, and is sent to another household where she becomes `` Ofsteven ''. She is involved with a resistance movement called `` Mayday ''. Madeline Brewer as Janine / Ofwarren, a handmaid who entered the Red Center for training at the same time as June, and considers June a friend due to her kind treatment. Initially non-compliant, her right eye is removed as a punishment. She becomes mentally unstable due to her treatment, and often behaves in temperamental or childlike ways. She gives birth to a child for Warren and Naomi Putnam ; they name her `` Angela '' but Janine insists that her name is `` Charlotte ''. She is later reassigned and becomes `` Ofdaniel ''. Ann Dowd as Aunt Lydia, a woman in charge of overseeing the handmaids in their education and duty. She is brutal and subjects insubordinate handmaids to harsh physical punishment, but she also cares for her charges and believes deeply in the Gileadean mission and doctrine. She appears to have a soft spot for Janine, even going so far as to address her by her given name on occasion. O.T. Fagbenle as Luke Bankole, June 's husband from before Gilead. As June is his second wife, their union is considered invalid in the new society and Hannah is considered illegitimate. Initially June believes him to have been killed, but it is later revealed that he managed to escape to Canada. Max Minghella as Nick Blaine, Commander Waterford 's driver and a former drifter from Michigan who has feelings for June. June and Nick develop an intimate relationship, and she eventually discovers that he is an Eye, a spy for Gilead. Samira Wiley as Moira, June 's best friend since college. She is already at the Red Center when June enters handmaid training ; but escapes before being assigned to a home. She is recaptured and becomes `` Ruby '', a Jezebel. She seems to have given up hope of ever being free, but on meeting June again regains the conviction to escape again. Amanda Brugel as Rita, a Martha at the Waterford home. She had a son who died fighting in the civil war when he was nineteen years old. Recurring Ever Carradine as Naomi Putnam, Commander Warren Putnam 's wife. She views her baby largely as a status symbol and has no sympathy for the handmaids. Kristen Gutoskie as Beth, a Martha at Jezebel 's. She has an arrangement with Nick where she trades illegal alcohol and other contraband for drugs, which the Jezebels use. She has a casual sexual relationship with him and is aware that he is an Eye. Tattiawna Jones as Ofglen # 2, who replaces Emily in the position after she 's captured by the Eyes. She follows the rules and does not wish to upset the status quo, but this is because she believes her life as a handmaid to be better than the difficult, impoverished life she led prior to Gilead, rather than out of religious piety. Nina Kiri as Alma, another handmaid who trained at the Red Center with June, Moira and Janine. She is frank and chatty, often trading gossip and news with June. She is also involved with Mayday and becomes June 's first contact with the resistance group. Jenessa Grant as Ofsamuel, a local handmaid with a friendly and talkative nature. Jordana Blake as Hannah Osborne, June 's daughter. Erin Way as Erin, a young mute woman who was being trained to become a handmaid but managed to escape. Sydney Sweeney as Eden ( season 2 ), a pious and obedient girl who dreams of one day being a Commander 's wife. Bradley Whitford as Commander Joseph Lawrence ( season 2 ), the architect of Gilead 's economy, who is gruff and intimidating, with a disheveled mad genius vibe. His sly humor and flashes of kindness make him a confusing, mysterious presence for his newest Handmaid. Guest Stars Marisa Tomei as TBA ( season 2 ) Cherry Jones as Holly Osborne ( season 2 ), June 's mother. Clea DuVall as Sylvia ( season 2 ), Emily 's wife. Episodes No. Title Directed by Teleplay by Original release date `` Offred '' Reed Morano Bruce Miller April 26, 2017 ( 2017 - 04 - 26 ) A family is pursued by a group of armed men. The woman is caught and separated from her young daughter and husband as shots are fired in the distance. She is now known as Offred, the handmaid to Commander Fred Waterford. While walking with another handmaid, Ofglen, they pass by a wall of men who have been hanged for crimes such as being gay, working in an abortion clinic, and being a Catholic priest. In a flashback, various women are indoctrinated into their handmaid roles by Aunt Lydia and Offred notices Moira, a woman she knew in college. Handmaid Janine, taunts Aunt Lydia and is shocked with a cattle prod and later her right eye is removed as punishment. In the present, Commander Waterford tries to impregnate Offred during `` the Ceremony '' as she lies in the lap of his wife, Serena Joy. The next day, the handmaids are encouraged to beat a man to death after Lydia announces he raped a pregnant handmaid. Janine tells Offred that her friend Moira is dead. On the way home, Ofglen tells Offred that she had a wife and son and warns her there is an Eye in the Waterford house. Offred affirms to herself that her true name is June and that she intends to survive to find her daughter. `` Birth Day '' Reed Morano Bruce Miller April 26, 2017 ( 2017 - 04 - 26 ) Offred and Ofglen go shopping and they reveal more personal information about themselves to each other. While they are walking, they see St. Paul Catholic Church, their local church being destroyed by the new régime. Ofglen tells Offred that the régime also bulldozed St. Patrick 's Cathedral in Manhattan to try to `` erase '' the fact that it ever existed. When Offred asks how Ofglen knows this information, she reveals that she is part of a resistance against the government, but Offred declines to join. Commander Waterford 's driver, Nick, tells Offred that the Commander wants to see her alone later that night, which is forbidden and warns her it 's dangerous. Offred and other handmaids visit a home to witness the birth of Ofwarren 's ( Janine ) 's child, named Angela by the Puttnams, but Charlotte by Ofwarren. In flashbacks, June ( Offred ) remembers the birth of her own daughter, Hannah. At that time healthy births were already rare, and a woman who tried to kidnap baby Hannah was arrested. Warily, Offred goes to the Commander 's office, but he just wants to play Scrabble to her relief. The next day, when Offred prepares to tell Ofglen what happened that night, a different woman introduces herself as Ofglen. `` Late '' Reed Morano Bruce Miller April 26, 2017 ( 2017 - 04 - 26 ) In flashbacks, the rise of Gilead is detailed. June and all the other women at her office were fired, the government froze women 's bank accounts and ruled they could no longer own property. In the present, Serena takes Offred to see Ofwarren and the baby and Offred fears Ofwarren is delusional. Back home, Offred is interrogated by an Eye and Aunt Lydia about her knowledge of Ofglen. Offred eventually reveals she knew Ofglen was gay and quotes one of the Beatitudes from the Bible. For this, Aunt Lydia shocks Offred with a cattle prod. Before she can leave the room, Offred again quotes the Bible which would have earned her a much more serious beating but Serena intervenes, believing that Offred is pregnant. When Offred later tells Serena that she 's not pregnant, Serena angrily locks her in her room. In a flashback, June and Moira attend a protest against the new laws amidst automatic gunfire and explosives. In the present, Ofglen and the Martha she 's in a relationship with are charged with `` gender treachery ''. The fertile Ofglen receives a lesser sentence, but Martha is executed by hanging as Ofglen watches, sobbing and horrified. Later, Ofglen ( now referred to by her `` old '' name, Emily ) to her grief and anger undergoes female genital mutilation surgery as explained by Aunt Lydia. `` Nolite Te Bastardes Carborundorum '' Mike Barker Leila Gerstein May 3, 2017 ( 2017 - 05 - 03 ) Banished to her room, Offred retreats to her closet where she finds what appears to be a Latin phrase Nolite Te Bastardes Carborundorum scratched discreetly into the wall. When Rita, the Commander 's housekeeper, finds Offred lying on the closet floor, Offred tells her that she fainted. Serena then has Offred sent to the hospital for a check - up. During the examination the physician remarks that the Commander is most likely sterile as is common. He offers to personally impregnate her but she declines. In flashbacks, Aunt Lydia teaches the handmaids about The Ceremony in which a commander endeavours to fertilize a handmaid. Later, June and Moira assault Aunt Elizabeth and Moira takes her outfit. They plan to escape via train to Boston, which has safe - houses. Moira manages to catch the train without June who lets Moira know it 's okay. June is later punished by having her feet whipped. Commander Waterford has an unsuccessful Ceremony night with Offred, but later that night, they have another game of Scrabble. She asks him about the Latin phrase and he tells her it means Do n't let the bastards grind you down. When she inquires about the previous Offred, he tells her that she committed suicide because life was unbearable. He then releases Offred from her solitary confinement 5 `` Faithful '' Mike Barker Dorothy Fortenberry May 10, 2017 ( 2017 - 05 - 10 ) Serena suggests to Offred that she have sex with Nick in case Commander Waterford is sterile. Later that day, Serena leads Offred up to Nick 's room where she waits by the door while they have detached, Ceremony - like sex. Flashbacks detail Luke and June 's first meeting and courtship. At the grocery store, Offred talks to the original Ofglen, now called Ofsteven, but she is not as responsive as she used to be. During a Ceremony night, The Commander touches Offred 's thigh, which she later tells him never to do again. In their ensuing conversation, the Commander admits that while they thought they were building a better world, they knew that `` better never means better for everyone. '' Nick reveals to Offred that he is indeed an Eye. At an open - air market, Offred questions Ofsteven about the resistance group called Mayday. Ofsteven jumps behind the steering wheel of a security car and drives erratically around the plaza. She hits a guard, is caught and put into a black van. Offred returns to Nick 's coach house alone and they have passionate sex. 6 `` A Woman 's Place '' Floria Sigismondi Wendy Straker Hauser May 17, 2017 ( 2017 - 05 - 17 ) Mexican trade delegates visit the Commander 's home to evaluate the effects of the Gilead cultural movement. The female head of the delegation questions Offred about her experience, but she lies, saying that she is happy. Offred visits the Commander 's office later but there is tension. She reluctantly meets his demand to kiss him, but ferociously brushes her teeth afterwards. The handmaids and children are then taken to a function to demonstrate Gilead 's success. Offred 's friend remarks that the delegates are only interested in fertile women. The next day, as the delegates are leaving, Offred tells them the brutal truth about Gilead. She pleads for their help, but the Mexican ambassador only explains her own country 's dire situation. However the ambassador 's assistant quietly claims her husband is alive and that he can deliver a message to him. A flashback details Serena and Fred 's life at the beginnings of the Gilead movement when Serena was a conservative cultural activist with passion and intelligence equal to that of her husband. She wrote a book about her beliefs, titled A Woman 's Place. However, after the takeover, she is completely shut out of the new government planning, and accepts her new limited role in the society she helped create. A copy of her book is seen being thrown out with the trash. 7 `` The Other Side '' Floria Sigismondi Lynn Renee Maxcy May 24, 2017 ( 2017 - 05 - 24 ) A flashback chronicles the story of Luke after he becomes separated from his wife and daughter. Luke is shot by Gileadan guards but he escapes when the ambulance crashes and he takes some medical supplies. He reaches a small abandoned town and after passing out from his wounds, he is rescued by a resistance group who are traveling to Canada. These survivors included a Roman Catholic nun, an escaped handmaid, a homosexual man and a daughter of a US army soldier. Initially reluctant, Luke joins them after one of the survivors, Zoe, shows him that Gileadan authorities hung townspeople from the rafters of their church for resisting. As they board a boat, Gileadan guards open fire, killing several members of the group, but Luke and Erin Way survive. A further flashback shows Luke, June and their daughter Hannah before being separated. June and Luke are helped by Mr. Whitford, a man who knew June 's mother. He leaves them at a secluded cabin in the woods while he arranges documentation for them to escape to Canada. Later, a local hunter tells them Whitford has been caught and hanged, but he helps them to cross the border. Three years later, in the present, Luke and Erin live safely in `` Little America '', based in Toronto, Ontario. While in the main administrative office, Luke receives the letter from June, which reads `` I love you so much. Save Hannah. '' 8 `` Jezebels '' Kate Dennis Kira Snyder May 31, 2017 ( 2017 - 05 - 31 ) Commander Waterford gifts Offred with makeup and a dress as he is taking her out for the night. Nick drives them to Boston to an underground brothel where prostitutes known as `` Jezebels '' work. Offred spots Moira working in the club and they briefly reunite. Nick trades drugs and pregnancy tests for alcohol with one of the brothel 's Marthas. Offred goes to see Moira again, where she explains to Offred about how Quakers tried to help her escape, but were caught. Moira had the choice of either being sent to the colonies or one of the brothels. Moira tells Offred, `` Forget about escaping. This is Gilead. No one gets out. '' Offred reveals to Moira that she knows Luke is alive. Flashbacks detail how Nick got involved with the Gilead movement and how he became an Eye after reporting a Commander for breaking protocol with his handmaids. There are other flashbacks to the suicide of the previous Offred, with Serena pointedly saying to her husband, `` What did you think was going to happen ? '' In the present, after Nick drives Waterford and Offred home, he ends his relationship with Offred, which upsets and angers her. Offred receives a gift from Serena, a music box. The episode closes with Offred etching `` You are not alone '' into the closet wall. 9 `` The Bridge '' Kate Dennis Eric Tuchman June 7, 2017 ( 2017 - 06 - 07 ) Ofwarren 's daughter is handed over to Commander Putnam and his wife and Ofwarren is transferred to another couple and renamed Ofdaniel. However, Offred is worried about her mental state. During the first Ceremony night with her new Commander, Ofdaniel forcefully stops it. At the market, Alma pulls Offred aside and tells her that she is involved with the resistance group Mayday and requests that Offred retrieve a package from the bar at Jezebel 's. Offred convinces Waterford to take her to Jezebel 's again that night. After Offred and Waterford have sex in their room, he presents Moira as he believes they have a sexual attraction. Offred asks Moira to retrieve the package, but she refuses, seemingly resigned to her fate. The next day Offred is taken to a bridge where Ofdaniel is standing on the edge with baby Charlotte while Gileadan guards, the Putnams, Waterfords, and Aunt Lydia stand fearfully by. Ofdaniel shouts that Commander Putnam promised to leave his wife for her. Offred convinces Ofdaniel to give her the child but Ofdaniel then jumps into the icy water below. Later, while Ofdaniel lies comatose in hospital, Commander Putnam is led away by guards. When Serena Joy tries to offer comfort to Mrs. Putnam, she reminds Serena of the fate the first Offred, causing Serena to doubt her husband 's loyalty. At the market, Offred is given a package by the butcher, sent by Moira from Jezebel 's. At the brothel, Moira kills a client and takes his clothes, jubilantly driving off in his car. 10 `` Night '' Kari Skogland Bruce Miller June 14, 2017 ( 2017 - 06 - 14 ) A flashback shows June 's capture and indoctrination by Aunt Lydia at the Red Center. After Serena discovers Fred 's trips to Jezebel 's, she forces Offred to take a pregnancy test which is positive. Serena then angrily accuses her husband, telling him the child is not his. On learning the news, Nick shares a brief, tender moment with Offred. Serena takes Offred to where Hannah now lives, but Offred is unable to attract her daughter 's attention. Serena warns Offred that Hannah will be cared as long as the unborn child is safe. Fred participates in Commander Putnam 's trial advocating leniency, but Mrs. Putnam wants the harshest punishment possible, and ultimately Putnam 's left arm is amputated at the elbow. The package from Jezebel 's contains letters from women who have lost family members and been enslaved in the Gilead takeover. Later, an emotional Aunt Lydia gathers the handmaids for the execution of Janine / Ofdaniel. The handmaids hesitate and Ofglen # 2 is brutally beaten when she voices her angry refusal. Offred, then the other handmaids, drop their stones. The guards prepare to kill them all, but Aunt Lydia saves them, although assuring them that there will be consequences. Not long after, a black van comes for Offred. Nick urges her to trust him and go with them and Offred whispers to Rita where to find the hidden letters. In a side story, Moira reaches Canada and is reunited with Luke. Production A straight - to - series order by Hulu of The Handmaid 's Tale was announced in April 2016, with Elisabeth Moss set to star. Based on the 1985 novel of the same name by Margaret Atwood, the series was created by Bruce Miller, who is also an executive producer with Daniel Wilson, Fran Sears, and Warren Littlefield. Atwood serves as consulting producer, giving feedback on some of the areas where the series expands or modernizes the book. She also co-wrote every episode and also had a small cameo role in the first episode. Moss is also a producer. In June 2016, Reed Morano was announced as director of the series. Samira Wiley, Max Minghella, and Ann Dowd joined the cast in July 2016. Joseph Fiennes, Madeline Brewer and Yvonne Strahovski were cast in August 2016, followed by O.T. Fagbenle and Amanda Brugel in September 2016. In October 2016, Ever Carradine joined the cast, and Alexis Bledel was added in January 2017. Filming on the series took place in Toronto, Mississauga, Hamilton, Oakville, and Cambridge, Ontario, from September 2016 to February 2017. The first full trailer of the TV series was released by Hulu on YouTube on March 23, 2017. The series premiered on April 26, 2017. On May 3, 2017, The Handmaid 's Tale was renewed for a second season to premiere in 2018. Moss told the news media that the subsequent episodes will cover further developments in the story, filling in some of the unanswered questions and continuing the narrative already `` finished '' in the book. The second season will consist of 13 episodes and began filming in fall 2017. Alexis Bledel will return as a series regular. Showrunner Bruce Miller stated that he envisioned ten seasons of the show, stating `` Well, you know, honestly, when I started, I tried to game out in my head what would ten seasons be like ? If you hit a home run, you want energy to go around the bases, you want enough story to keep going, if you can hook the audience to care about these people enough that they 're actually crying at the finale. '' Broadcast and Release The first three episodes of the series premiered on April 26, 2017, with the subsequent seven episodes added on a weekly basis. In Canada, the series is broadcast by Bravo, beginning with the first two episodes premiering on April 30. In Scandinavia, the series is available on HBO Nordic. In the United Kingdom, the series premiered on May 28, 2017, on Channel 4. In Ireland, the series premiered on February 5, 2018 on RTÉ2, with a showing of the first two episodes. In New Zealand, the series was released on the subscription video on demand service Lightbox on June 8, 2017. In Australia, the series premiered on the TV channel SBS 's video streaming service SBS on Demand on July 6, 2017. The first season will be released on Blu - ray and DVD on March 13, 2018. Reception On Rotten Tomatoes, the first season has an approval rating of 95 % based on 103 reviews, with an average rating of 8.59 / 10. The site 's critical consensus reads, `` Haunting and vivid, The Handmaid 's Tale is an endlessly engrossing adaptation of Margaret Atwood 's dystopian novel that 's anchored by a terrific central performance from Elisabeth Moss. '' On Metacritic, it has a weighted average score of 92 out of 100 based on 40 critics, indicating `` universal acclaim ''. Daniel Fienberg of The Hollywood Reporter called it `` probably the spring 's best new show and certainly its most important ''. Jen Chaney of Vulture gave it a highly positive review, and wrote that it is `` A faithful adaptation of the book that also brings new layers to Atwood 's totalitarian, sexist world of forced surrogate motherhood '' and that `` this series is meticulously paced, brutal, visually stunning, and so suspenseful from moment to moment that only at the end of each hour will you feel fully at liberty to exhale ''. There was much debate on whether parallels could be drawn between the series ( and by extension, the book it is based on ) and American society following Donald Trump 's and Mike Pence 's election as President of the United States and Vice President of the United States, respectively. A comparison has also been made to the Salafi / Wahabbi extremism of ISIL, in which enslaved women of religious minorities are passed around and utilized as sex objects and vessels to bear new jihadis. Accolades Year Award Recipients Result Ref. 2017 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Drama Series Elisabeth Moss, Joseph Boccia ( producers ), Bruce Miller, Warren Littlefield, Daniel Wilson, Fran Sears, Ilene Chaiken ( executive producers ), Sheila Hockin, Eric Tuchman, Frank Siracusa, John Weber ( co-executive producers ), Kira Snyder ( supervising producer ), and Leila Gerstein ( consulting producer ) Won Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series Elisabeth Moss Won Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Ann Dowd Won Samira Wiley Nominated Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series Reed Morano ( for `` Offred '' ) Won Kate Dennis ( for `` The Bridge '' ) Nominated Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series Bruce Miller ( for `` Offred '' ) Won Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series Alexis Bledel Won Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series Russell Scott, Sharon Bialy and Sherry Thomas Nominated Outstanding Cinematography for a Single - Camera Series ( One Hour ) Colin Watkinson ( for `` Offred '' ) Won Outstanding Period / Fantasy Costumes for a Series, Limited Series, or Movie Ane Crabtree and Sheena Wichary ( for `` Offred '' ) Nominated Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Contemporary or Fantasy Program ( One Hour or More ) Julie Berghoff, Evan Webber and Sophie Neudorfer ( for `` Offred '' ) Won Outstanding Special Visual Effects in a Supporting Role Brendan Taylor, Stephen Lebed, Leo Bovell, Martin O'Brien, Winston Lee, Kelly Knauff, Zach Dembinski, Mike Suta and Cameron Kerr ( for `` Birth Day '' ) Nominated Gold Derby TV Awards Drama Series The Handmaid 's Tale Nominated Drama Actress Elisabeth Moss Won Drama Guest Actress Alexis Bledel Won TCA Awards Program of the Year The Handmaid 's Tale Won Outstanding Achievement in Drama Won Outstanding New Program Nominated Individual Achievement in Drama Elisabeth Moss Nominated 2018 ACE Eddie Awards Best Edited Drama Series for Non-Commercial Television Julian Clarke and Wendy Hallam Martin ( for `` Offred '' ) Won Art Directors Guild Awards One - Hour Contemporary Single - Camera Television Series Julie Berghoff ( for `` Offred '', `` Birth Day '', `` Nolite Te Bastardes Carborundorum '' ) Won Andrew Stearn ( for `` The Bridge '' ) Nominated Cinema Audio Society Awards Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for Television Series -- One Hour John J. Thomson, Lou Solakofski, Joe Morrow and Don White ( for `` Offred '' ) Nominated Costume Designers Guild Awards Excellence in Contemporary Television Series Ane Crabtree Won Critics ' Choice Television Awards Best Drama Series The Handmaid 's Tale Won Best Actress in a Drama Series Elisabeth Moss Won Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Ann Dowd Won Golden Globe Awards Best Television Series -- Drama The Handmaid 's Tale Won Best Actress -- Television Series Drama Elisabeth Moss Won Best Supporting Actress -- Series, Miniseries or Television Film Ann Dowd Nominated Location Managers Guild Awards Outstanding Locations in Contemporary Television John Musikka, Geoffrey Smither Nominated Producers Guild of America Awards Norman Felton Award for Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Drama The Handmaid 's Tale Won Satellite Awards Best Drama Series The Handmaid 's Tale Nominated Best Actress in a Drama / Genre Series Elisabeth Moss Won Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries or TV Film Ann Dowd Won Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Madeline Brewer, Amanda Brugel, Ann Dowd, O.T. Fagbenle, Joseph Fiennes, Tattiawna Jones, Max Minghella, Elisabeth Moss, Yvonne Strahovski and Samira Wiley Nominated Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series Elisabeth Moss Nominated USC Scripter Awards Best Adapted TV Screenplay Bruce Miller and Margaret Atwood ( for `` Offred '' ) Won Writers Guild of America Awards Drama Series Ilene Chaiken, Nina Fiore, Dorothy Fortenberry, Leila Gerstein, John Herrera, Lynn Maxcy, Bruce Miller, Kira Snyder, Wendy Straker Hauser, Eric Tuchman Won New Series Won See also List of original programs distributed by Hulu References Jump up ^ Vilkomerson, Sara ( January 14, 2018 ). `` The Handmaid 's Tale : Here 's the first trailer for season 2 ( and a premiere date ! ) ''. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved January 14, 2018. Jump up ^ Hipes, Patrick ; N'Duka, Amanda ( September 17, 2017 ). `` Hulu 's ' The Handmaid 's Tale ' Win Marks First Best Series Emmy For A Streaming Service ''. Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 19, 2017. Jump up ^ Douthat, Ross ( May 24, 2017 ). `` ' The Handmaid 's Tale, ' and Ours ''. The New York Times. Retrieved July 28, 2017. The first situates the Gilead regime 's quest to control the means of reproduction in the context of an enormous fertility collapse, caused by the combination of environmental catastrophe and rampant S.T.D.s. Jump up ^ Douthat, Ross ( May 24, 2017 ). `` ' The Handmaid 's Tale, ' and Ours ''. The New York Times. Retrieved July 28, 2017. Now, in the era of the Trump administration, liberal TV watchers find a perverse sort of comfort in the horrific alternate reality of the Republic of Gilead, where a cabal of theonomist Christians have established a totalitarian state that forbids women to read, sets a secret police to watch their every move and deploys them as slave - concubines to childless elites. Jump up ^ Segovia, José de ( June 22, 2017 ). Daniel Wickham, ed. `` There is no balm in Atwood 's Gilead ''. Evangelical Focus. A clear example of Atwood  ́ s focus on the Reconstructionism of theonomy is his way of representing the death penalty. Missing or empty url = ( help ) ; access - date = requires url = ( help ) ^ Jump up to : Williams, Layton E. ( April 25, 2017 ). `` Margaret Atwood on Christianity, ' The Handmaid 's Tale, ' and What Faithful Activism Looks Like Today ''. Sojourners. Retrieved June 18, 2017. Jump up ^ Stanhope, Kate ( August 17, 2017 ). `` ' The Handmaid 's Tale ' Promotes Amanda Brugel to Series Regular ( Exclusive ) ''. The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 19, 2017. Jump up ^ Grady, Constance ( November 28, 2017 ). `` The Handmaid 's Tale season 1, episode 7 : `` The Other Side '' takes us out of Gilead to check in on a familiar face ``. Vox. Retrieved January 26, 2018. Jump up ^ Dowling, Amber ( May 24, 2017 ). `` ' The Handmaid 's Tale ' Season 2 Taps Sydney Sweeney ( EXCLUSIVE ) ''. Variety. Retrieved January 26, 2018. Jump up ^ Andreeva, Nellie ( February 15, 2018 ). `` ' The Handmaid 's Tale ' : Bradley Whitford Joins Hulu Drama Series For Season 2 ''. Deadline. Retrieved February 16, 2018. Jump up ^ Moraes, Lisa de ( January 14, 2018 ). `` Marisa Tomei To Guest On Hulu 's ' Dystopian ' The Handmaid 's Tale ' ''. Deadline. Retrieved January 14, 2018. Jump up ^ Heldman, Breanne L. ( January 25, 2018 ). `` The Handmaid 's Tale casts Cherry Jones in key role for season 2 ''. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved January 26, 2018. Jump up ^ Goldberg, Lesley ( October 26, 2017 ). `` The Handmaid 's Tale casts Cherry Jones in key role for season 2 ''. The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 26, 2018. ^ Jump up to : Pacatte, Rose ( May 10, 2017 ). `` Hulu 's ' The Handmaid 's Tale ' presents striking oppression, silent sisterhood ''. National Catholic Reporter. Retrieved June 20, 2017. They walk past a priest, doctor and gay man hanging dead from a wall in their Cambridge, Massachusetts neighbourhood along the river ; they see St. Paul 's Catholic Church where Offred was baptized, being torn down. Jump up ^ Blondiau, Eloise ( April 28, 2017 ). `` Reflecting on the frightening lessons of ' The Handmaid 's Tale ' ''. America. Retrieved June 20, 2017. In the screen version, Offred and her friend Ofglen ( Alexis Bledel ) surreptitiously lament the demolition of St. Paul 's, their local church. Jump up ^ Sabelhaus, Kate Jackson ( May 3, 2017 ). `` ' The Handmaid 's Tale ' Recap : Ofglen and Jeanine 's Birth Stories ''. Teen Vogue. Retrieved June 20, 2017. On their stroll, they walk past the remains of St. Paul 's, a historic cathedral in Boston. Burned and bombed, it resembles the churches of Europe during WWII. Offred pauses to remember her daughter 's baptism, which took place there years prior, and Ofglen notes that Gileadean thugs were also successful in taking down St. Patrick 's cathedral in New York City. `` They blew it up and dumped every stone in the Hudson River. They erased it. '' Upon hearing this bit of news, Offred asks, `` How do you know that ? And how do you know there 's an Eye in my house ? '' Jump up ^ Hudson, Laura ( May 24, 2017 ). `` The Handmaid 's Tale Recap, Episode 7 : The Other Side ''. Vulture. Retrieved July 23, 2017. Jump up ^ Locke, Charley ( May 25, 2017 ). `` Handmaid 's Tale : Make Sure You Escape The Dystopia Before It 's Too Late ''. Wired. Retrieved June 26, 2017. The group has a plan to escape, but Luke wo n't go, refusing to leave his wife and daughter behind -- until Zoe ( Rosa Gilmore ), one of the rebels, shows him a whole town that was hanged from the rafters of their church after trying to resist. Jump up ^ Blunt, Tom ( May 24, 2017 ). `` ' The Handmaid 's Tale ' Episode 7 Recap : The Other Side ''. Signature Reads. Retrieved June 26, 2017. Finally, one of these guardian angels discreetly escorts him to a local church building, driving home the point of what 's at stake for those who attempt to survive and resist from within. This mass - hanging in the belly of a church is more than just the episode 's visual centerpiece : it 's a wake - up call, underscoring once and for all that Gilead is n't a religious movement or a political revolution, it 's not something you can reason with or withstand on your own. Jump up ^ Truong, Peggy ( April 24, 2017 ). `` '' The Handmaid 's Tale '' Glossary - A Guide to All the Handmaid 's Tale Terms Before You Watch the Show ``. Cosmopolitan. Retrieved June 26, 2017. Following her great escape from Handmaid training, Moira is helped by a Quaker family. ^ Jump up to : Roots, Kimberly ( May 31, 2017 ). `` ' The Handmaid 's Tale ' Recap : Season 1, Episode 8 -- ( Spoiler ) Returns in ' Jezebels ' ''. TVLine. Retrieved June 26, 2017. Since we last saw the escapee, she made it to Boston, hooked up with some Quakers who had ties to the Femaleroad that helped smuggle handmaids out of the country. She did n't make it farther than an office park outside the city. `` They shot the guys who helped me, '' Moira sadly tells Offred, adding that because she was a `` corrupting influence, '' she was interrogated and then given a choice : the colonies or the jezebels. ^ Jump up to : Petski, Denise ; Andreeva, Nellie ( April 29, 2016 ). `` Elisabeth Moss To Star in Drama Series The Handmaid 's Tale On Hulu ''. Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 15, 2017. Jump up ^ Dingfelder, Sadie ( April 13, 2017 ). `` What Margaret Atwood thinks of the new Hulu adaptation of ' The Handmaid 's Tale ' ''. The Washington Post. Retrieved May 30, 2017. Jump up ^ N.E.G. ( September 19, 2017 ). `` The temptations and pitfalls of adapting your own novel for the screen ''. The Economist. Retrieved September 20, 2017. Jump up ^ Atwood, Margaret ( March 10, 2017 ). `` Margaret Atwood on What The Handmaid 's Tale Means in the Age of Trump ''. The New York Times. Retrieved March 15, 2017. Jump up ^ Onstad, Katrina ( April 20, 2017 ). `` The Handmaid 's Tale : A Newly Resonant Dystopia Comes to TV ''. The New York Times. Retrieved April 20, 2017. Jump up ^ Jafaar, Ali ( June 22, 2016 ). `` Reed Morano in Talks To Direct The Handmaid 's Tale Starring Elisabeth Moss For Hulu ''. Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 12, 2017. Jump up ^ Roshanian, Arya ( July 25, 2016 ). `` Orange Is the New Black 's Samira Wiley Joins Hulu 's The Handmaid 's Tale ''. Variety. Retrieved July 26, 2016. Jump up ^ Hipes, Patrick ( July 25, 2016 ). `` Samira Wiley Joins Hulu 's The Handmaid 's Tale ''. Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 12, 2017. Jump up ^ Petski, Denise ( July 15, 2016 ). `` Max Minghella & Ann Dowd Join The Handmaid 's Tale Drama Series on Hulu ''. Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 12, 2017. Jump up ^ Prudom, Laura ( August 23, 2016 ). `` Joseph Fiennes to Star in The Handmaid 's Tale for Hulu ''. Variety. Retrieved August 23, 2016. Jump up ^ Goldberg, Lesley ( August 19, 2016 ). `` Hulu 's Handmaid 's Tale Adds Madeline Brewer ''. The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 12, 2017. Jump up ^ Andreeva, Nellie ( August 29, 2016 ). `` Yvonne Strahovski To Star in Hulu 's The Handmaid 's Tale Series ''. Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 12, 2017. Jump up ^ Petski, Denise ( September 7, 2016 ). `` The Handmaid 's Tale Casts O-T Fagbenle ; Sofia Wylie Joins Andi Mack ''. Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 12, 2017. Jump up ^ Petski, Denise ( September 28, 2016 ). `` The Handmaid 's Tale Casts Amanda Brugel ; Jemar Michael Joins Dear White People ''. Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 12, 2017. Jump up ^ Pederson, Erik ( October 27, 2016 ). `` Ever Carradine Books Role On Handmaid 's Tale ; Sibo Mlambo To Recur On Teen Wolf ''. Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 12, 2017. Jump up ^ Andreeva, Nellie ( January 5, 2017 ). `` Alexis Bledel Joins New Hulu Series The Handmaid 's Tale As Recurring ''. Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 5, 2017. Jump up ^ Dowling, Amber ( April 26, 2017 ). `` The Secrets From Hulu 's ' The Handmaid 's Tale ' Set Revealed ''. The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 11, 2017. Jump up ^ Bailey, Katie ( June 7, 2016 ). `` The Handmaid 's Tale to shoot in Toronto ''. Playback. Retrieved April 14, 2017. Jump up ^ `` The Handmaid 's Tale Trailer ( Official ) ''. YouTube. May 23, 2017. Retrieved March 24, 2017. ^ Jump up to : Petski, Denise ( December 16, 2016 ). `` The Handmaid 's Tale Gets Spring Premiere Date on Hulu ''. Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 16, 2016. Jump up ^ Petski, Denise ( May 3, 2017 ). `` ' The Handmaid 's Tale ' Renewed For Season 2 By Hulu -- Upfront ''. Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 3, 2017. Jump up ^ Strause, Jackie ( May 11, 2017 ). `` ' Handmaid 's Tale ' Stars, Director on Show 's Startling Relevance and Season 2 Plans ''. The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 11, 2017. Jump up ^ Stanhope, Kate ( June 22, 2017 ). `` ' Handmaid 's Tale ' : Alexis Bledel Returning as Season 2 Series Regular ''. The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 29, 2017. Jump up ^ Vineyard, Jennifer ( June 18, 2017 ). `` The Handmaid 's Tale Showrunner Bruce Miller on the Season 1 Finale ''. New York Times. Retrieved July 6, 2017. Jump up ^ Fitzpatrick, Kevin ( March 23, 2017 ). `` The Handmaid 's Tale Gets Disturbing Full Trailer, Three - Episode Premiere ''. Screen Crush. Retrieved April 14, 2017. Jump up ^ Yeo, Debra ( March 27, 2017 ). `` The Handmaid 's Tale finally gets Canadian distributor ''. Toronto Star. Retrieved March 30, 2017. Jump up ^ Ulrich, Lise ( April 28, 2017 ). `` ' The Handmaid 's Tale ' : Et overrumplende mesterværk har ramt HBO Nordic ''. SoundVenue ( in Danish ). Retrieved May 5, 2017. Jump up ^ Munn, Patrick ( May 16, 2017 ). `` Channel 4 Lands UK Rights To Hulu 's ' The Handmaid 's Tale ' ''. TVWise. Retrieved May 16, 2017. Jump up ^ Demolder, Kate ( February 3, 2018 ). `` One of 2017 's most popular shows is coming to RTÉ on Monday night ''. JOE. Retrieved February 5, 2018. Jump up ^ Casey, Alex ( June 1, 2017 ). `` Huge and true : The Handmaid 's Tale is coming exclusively to Lightbox ''. The Spinoff. Retrieved June 1, 2017. Jump up ^ `` The Handmaid 's Tale is coming to Australia on SBS on Demand ''. SBS. June 23, 2017. Retrieved June 25, 2017. Jump up ^ Lambert, David ( January 23, 2018 ). `` The Handmaid 's Tale - Blessed Be The Fruit ! Official ' Season 1 ' Press Release : Date, Extras, Final Box Art ''. TVShowsOnDVD.com. Retrieved February 9, 2018. Jump up ^ `` The Handmaid 's Tale : Season 1 ''. Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved January 8, 2018. Jump up ^ `` The Handmaid 's Tale : Season 1 ''. Metacritic. Retrieved April 24, 2017. Jump up ^ Fienberg, Daniel ( April 13, 2017 ). `` The Handmaid 's Tale : TV Review ''. The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 14, 2017. Jump up ^ Chaney, Jen ( April 13, 2017 ). `` Hulu 's The Handmaid 's Tale Is Your Must - Watch Show This Spring ''. Vulture. Retrieved April 14, 2017. Jump up ^ For articles that attempt to draw parallels between The Handmaid 's Tale and Trump 's election as President of the United States, see : Nally, Claire ( May 31, 2017 ). `` How The Handmaid 's Tale is being transformed from fantasy into fact ''. The Independent. Retrieved June 18, 2017. Brooks, Katherine ( May 24, 2017 ). `` How ' The Handmaid 's Tale ' Villains Were Inspired By Trump ''. Huffington Post. Retrieved June 18, 2017. Robertson, Adi ( November 9, 2016 ). `` In Trump 's America, The Handmaid 's Tale matters more than ever ''. The Verge. Retrieved July 29, 2017. Douthat, Ross ( May 24, 2017 ). `` The Handmaid 's Tale, and Ours ''. The New York Times. Retrieved July 28, 2017. Jump up ^ For articles that disagree with attempts to draw parallels between The Handmaid 's Tale and Trump 's election as President of the United States, see : Crispin, Jessa ( May 2, 2017 ). `` The Handmaid 's Tale is just like Trump 's America ? Not so fast ''. The Guardian. Retrieved June 18, 2017. Smith, Kyle ( April 28, 2017 ). `` Sorry : ' Handmaid 's Tale ' tells us nothing about Trump 's America ''. New York Post. Retrieved June 18, 2017. Cohen, Ariel ( May 2, 2017 ). `` Stop comparing ' The Handmaid 's Tale ' to Trump 's America ''. The Washington Examiner. Retrieved July 29, 2017. Jump up ^ Stanley, Tim ( May 30, 2017 ). `` What The Handmaid 's Tale can tell us about Islamic extremism ''. The Telegraph. Retrieved November 27, 2017. Jump up ^ Nicholson, Rebecca ( June 12, 2017 ). `` Hate crimes, honour killings and FGM : how The Handmaid 's Tale captures our age of fear ''. The Guardian. Retrieved November 27, 2017. Jump up ^ `` The complete list of 2017 Emmy winners and nominees ''. Los Angeles Times. September 17, 2017. Retrieved September 18, 2017. Jump up ^ Beachum, Chris ; Montgomery, Daniel ; Dixon, Marcus James ( July 26, 2017 ). `` 2017 Gold Derby TV Awards nominations : ' This is Us, ' ' Veep, ' ' The Leftovers, ' ' Stranger Things ' among top contenders ''. Gold Derby. Retrieved August 27, 2017. Jump up ^ Schwartz, Ryan ( August 5, 2017 ). `` TCA Awards : The Handmaid 's Tale, Atlanta, Big Little Lies, Carrie Coon Among Big Winners ''. TVLine. Retrieved August 6, 2017. Jump up ^ Pedersen, Erik ; Blyth, Antonia ( January 26, 2018 ). `` ' Dunkirk ' & ' I, Tonya ' Take Top Film Prizes At ACE Eddie Awards -- Winners List ''. Deadline. Retrieved January 27, 2018. Jump up ^ Petski, Matt Grobar, Denise ( January 28, 2018 ). `` Art Directors Guild Awards Live Blog & Winners List ''. Deadline. Retrieved January 28, 2018. Jump up ^ Sheehan, Paul ( January 10, 2018 ). `` 2018 Cinema Audio Society Awards nominations : Oscar frontrunner ' Dunkirk, ' ' Star Wars, ' ' Wonder Woman... '' Gold Derby. Retrieved January 10, 2018. Jump up ^ Tapley, Kristopher ( January 10, 2018 ). `` ' Greatest Showman, ' ' Young Pope, ' ' Phantom Thread ' Earn Costume Designers Guild Nominations ''. Variety. Retrieved January 10, 2018. Jump up ^ Swift, Andy ( January 11, 2018 ). `` Critics ' Choice Awards : Big Little Lies, Sterling K. Brown and More TV Winners ''. TVLine. Retrieved January 12, 2018. Jump up ^ Mitovich, Matt Webb ( January 7, 2018 ). `` Golden Globes : Big Little Lies, Handmaid 's Tale and Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Are TV 's Big Winners ''. TVLine. Retrieved January 8, 2018. Jump up ^ Sandberg, Bryn Elise ( February 22, 2018 ). `` ' The Crown, ' ' Dunkirk ' Among Locations Managers Guild International Awards Nominees ''. The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 23, 2018. Jump up ^ Marotta, Jenna ( January 22, 2018 ). `` Producers Guild Awards 2018 : The Complete Winners List, from `` The Shape of Water '' to `` Coco '' and `` Jane '' ``. Indiewire. Retrieved January 21, 2018. Jump up ^ Pond, Steve ( November 28, 2017 ). `` ' Dunkirk, ' ' The Shape of Water ' Lead Satellite Award Nominations ''. TheWrap. Retrieved November 29, 2017. Jump up ^ Schwartz, Ryan ( January 21, 2018 ). `` SAG Awards : This Is Us, Big Little Lies, Veep, The Crown Among 2018 Winners ''. TVLine. Retrieved January 22, 2018. Jump up ^ Tapley, Kristopher ( January 16, 2018 ). `` ' Wonder Woman, ' ' Lost City of Z, ' ' Big Little Lies ' Among USC Scripter Finalists ''. Variety. Retrieved January 16, 2018. Jump up ^ Marotta, Jenna ( February 11, 2018 ). `` 2018 Writers Guild Awards : ' Get Out, ' ' Call Me by Your Name, ' and ' Jane ' Win Film Honors ''. IndieWire. Retrieved February 12, 2018. 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Question: what is the handmaid's tale about on hulu
Answer: a dystopian future following a Second American Civil War where women, called "Handmaids", are forced into sexual and child-bearing servitude