Joseph Fiennes joins the stars in C4’s amazing new drama The Handmaid’s Tale
CHANNEL 4, SUNDAY 28 MAY, 9PM
When Donald Trump was elected President, the bouffant-headed megalomanic immediately started dismantling all sorts of environmental protection measures and messing with the reproductive rights of women. Which – while terrifying for those of us in the real world – was brilliant timing for the makers of The Handmaid’s Tale.
Based on Margaret Atwood’s classic 1985 novel, what might have otherwise been just a bloody great TV show suddenly became alarmingly prescient, and had everyone clamouring to watch it. Up until now, we feared we might not see the acclaimed ten-parter (made for Netflix rival Hulu) over here, but Channel 4 just snapped it up, so we get to see what all the fuss is about. STAR PERFORMANCE The show has been hugely well received in the US, but – despite a dramatic opening – don’t expect a non-stop thrill fest. It’s a thoughtful, heavily stylised slow-burner, relying on a harrowingly powerful story and towering performances. Top Of The Lake’s Elisabeth Moss takes on the central role of
Offred. A wife and mother, she’s ripped from her family and forced to become Handmaid to Joseph Fiennes’ Commander and his not-at-all-happy-about-it wife, who compares prepping Handmaids for their new lives as like “training a dog, only not a very smart one.” Excruciatingly, Offred’s major role seems to involve sitting between angry Mrs Commander’s legs while her husband has perfunctory sex with her. Offred isn’t allowed relationships or any kind of life of her own (although that doesn’t stop her giving the attractive chauffeur the onceover), but this is a woman who isn’t about to take her new situation, er, lying down. As Moss says, “She is inspiring because she won’t give up, no matter what happens.”
FUTURE THRILLS
A second season of the show, which also stars Orange Is the New Black’s Samira Wiley and
Gilmore Girls’ Alexis Bledel, has already been commissioned, so we can enjoy this one knowing there’s more to come. Blessed be the fruit.