Occasionally, a production arrives that is so impressive, you find yourself at a loss for words. The Handmaid's Tale, adapted from Margaret Atwood’s novel, really struck me. I haven’t gotten around to reading the book yet, but based on this series alone, I expect it will soon be part of my library. Initially, the concept might seem original. However, when you think about how women have been treated in religious societies throughout history and today, it's not as far-fetched as it appears. Atwood has cleverly taken elements from places like Medieval Europe and Puritan America and put them into a futuristic setting, using a civil war to move the story along. A biological crisis is also introduced—pollution has made people infertile. The fertile women in Gilead (formerly the United States) are treated like human incubators, their sole purpose being to have children. On the surface, this may seem like a story about the oppression and exploitation of women, and it is that. But ultimately, what the series explores is the hypocrisy of intolerance. Anyone—not just women—who doesn't fit into the strict religious guidelines faces a harsh fate. Meanwhile, those in control are essentially free to make up their own rules as they go. Even people who seem to follow the established societal norms often do so for reasons that contradict what they claim to believe in. I think everything about this series is excellent. Elizabeth Moss is an unusual but wonderful choice to play Offred, a handmaid assigned to a powerful commander who’s responsible for her suffering and the suffering of others. Joseph Fiennes does well as the superficially charming but emotionally detached commander. Update: It's certainly a good series, but in my view, it has gone on too long now and feels like it’s just repeating the original storyline with minor changes. At times, I think it comes dangerously close to seeming anti-male. Overall, this is an engrossing, thought-provoking, and captivating series, though it really needs to end because it doesn't have much new to add.

Source on TMDB