Hulu adapts Atwood’s ‘Handmaind’s Tale’
Hulu embarks on its 10-part adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s 1985 dystopian novel “The Handmaid’s Tale.” Three episodes are available for streaming today and more will become available in later weeks.
Set in the near future, “Tale” takes place in the fictional nation of Gilead after a Christian fundamentalist military dictatorship is established in the former United States. This occurs against the backdrop of a widespread fertility crisis. So few women can give birth that those who can are taken from their homes and forced to be “Handmaids” to important officials.
Elisabeth Moss (“Mad Men”) stars as Offred, a Handmaid to Commander Fred Waterford (Joseph Fiennes). Offred’s past life and the brutal takeover of civil society is shown in flashbacks. She’s seen being captured and indoctrinated into Handmaidenhood after trying to escape to Canada with her husband. Further back, we see the female employees of her publishing firm being fired from their jobs and subject to the laws of Gilead, where women aren’t allowed to work, handle money, read or assemble.
Public utterances are limited to biblical pieties. And public hangings of dissidents are a daily occurrence. Among her friends and secret conspirators is Ofglen (Alexis Bledel, “Gilmore Girls”), whose fertility protects her from the sins of being a former professor and a lesbian to boot.
Uncompromisingly harrowing, “Tale” is gripping from the start. Offred’s caustic, obscene and sarcastic interior monologues contrast with the enforced and official religious jargon, providing the gallows humor that make her life, and this drama, bearable.
RETURN TO NATURE
Many of us associate wilderness with areas remote and untouched. Tonight’s “Nature” presentation, “Forest of the Lynx” (8 p.m., PBS, TV-PG), is set in Kalkalpen National Park in Austria, an area once heavily mined for limestone and other minerals. Over the decades it has reverted to old ways and now lynx have begun to return. Given its location far from urban areas, it also features one of the darkest night skies in the developed world.
TECH TRICKSTERS
“Outlaw Tech” (10 p.m., Science) follows hackers, computer experts and other gearheads who have operated outside the law, from carrying out cyberattacks and stealing from bank accounts to engineering the famous prison escape of drug lord El Chapo. For some of these rogues, not even prison bars can keep them from their high-tech activities.
TONIGHT’S OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
› A “Law & Order: SVU” (9 p.m., NBC, TV-14) episode about sexual harassment in the newsroom seems torn from headlines about Roger Ailes, Bill O’Reilly and the culture of Fox News.
› Angelo surprises Cookie on live TV on “Empire” (9 p.m., Fox, TV-14).
› “NOVA” (9 p.m., PBS, TV-PG) examines engineering efforts to “entomb” the radioactive ruins of the Chernobyl reactor.
› The anniversary of Faith’s death inspires Grace on “Greenleaf” (10 p.m., OWN, TV-14).
› Ray and Nikki recalibrate on “Fargo” (10 p.m., FX, TV-MA).
› Noah seeks a new path on “Underground” (10 p.m., WGN, TV-MA).
› Strategies abound on “Survivor” (8 p.m., CBS, TV-PG).
› Undercover on “Blindspot” (8 p.m., NBC, TV-14).
› A riot erupts on “Shots Fired” (8 p.m., Fox, TV-14).
› Murray receives an award on “The Goldbergs” (8 p.m., ABC, TV-PG).
› Adrian evades capture on “Arrow” (8 p.m., CW, TV-14).
› The great escape on “Speechless” (8:30 p.m., ABC, TV-PG).
› Contagious cardiac events on “Criminal Minds” (9 p.m., CBS, TV-14).
› On two helpings of “blackish” (ABC, TV-14), Bow’s sister (9 p.m.), college acceptance letters (9:30 p.m.).
› Clarke tries to keep the peace on “The 100” (9 p.m., CW, TV-14).
› Peril in central Asia on “Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders” (10 p.m., CBS, TV-14).
› A weapon is linked to a very old case on “Chicago P.D.” (10 p.m., NBC, TV-14).
› The veepstakes continue on “Designated Survivor” (10 p.m., ABC, TV-PG).
Contact Kevin McDonough at kevin.tvguy@gmail.com.