The Testaments is a perfect retelling that more than lives up to The Handmaid’s Tale’s early seasons

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Following the conclusion of The Handmaid’s Tale on television, the world of Gilead continues in a new spin-off series. Based on Margaret Atwood’s sequel novel, The Testaments revisits this dystopian society four years later. This time, the story centers on a teenage girl who dreams of marrying a Commander, similar to Serena Joy (Yvonne Strahovski).

It was frightening for June Osborne to be enslaved and witness the horrors around her, but it’s arguably even more disturbing to see a child grow up in that bleak world, unaware that a better life might be possible.

Agnes MacKenzie (Chase Infiniti) hesitantly admits she used to believe in the ideals of Gilead when we first meet her. But she doesn’t actually say the words – speaking such a thought would mean certain death. Agnes warns us that even small acts of defiance, like possessing a calendar, could lead to severe punishment, like the loss of a finger.

Similar to June, Agnes shares her story through her thoughts, remembering her teenage years as she speaks to an unnamed listener.

Agnes explains that it’s often simpler to believe a story, even a simple one, than to think of the people around you as truly evil. However, despite dealing with difficult themes, The Testaments is far from childish or immature.

Honestly, the creepiest thing about this show is how it takes anything pure and just…corrupts it. You get that immediately in the first scene. Agnes is explaining the whole messed-up power structure of Gilead using her dolls and their clothes. It’s like, a kid’s toy, but it’s showing you how terrifying everything is, right from the start.

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Agnes is a Plum, distinguished by her purple clothing, and enjoys a comfortable, privileged life as she grows up, unlike the Marthas, who wear brown, or the Handmaidens, who wear red. She’s being prepared for the responsibilities of adulthood.

Agnes is a typical teenager: she goes to school, chats with her friends, and feels frustrated with her adoptive mother – a common experience for girls her age. Compared to the constant suffering June faced, Agnes’s life seems relatively ordinary.

That’s precisely what this show is about. Evil can appear in many ways, and it often hides behind a normal facade – something Gilead desperately tries to maintain through strict control.

Even from the beginning, the seemingly perfect society of Gilead shows cracks. Agnes’ mother, Paula, casually mentions that it was probably a good thing a new Martha had her tongue cut out, as the previous one was too talkative.

The first episode immediately shows the consequences of resisting Gilead’s rule, depicting a man being restrained as a saw is used on him. However, the show doesn’t explicitly show the violent act itself.

Compared to the original series, which sometimes focused too much on suffering, The Testaments isn’t nearly as graphic or disturbing. The writers, including the show’s lead, Bruce Miller, intentionally toned down the violence that viewers previously saw during June’s storyline.

This time around, it’s the girls starring in this show who take pleasure in the cruelty of Gilead.

The show starts by focusing on these likable young people, then quickly throws in a jarring scene of them yelling at a man who is about to die. It’s intense, and that’s clearly the intention.

So anyone who feared that The Testaments might tone things down need not worry.

Like June, Agnes also becomes toughened by unfairness, but her experience is quite different. This time, the loss of innocence and security isn’t sudden or shocking. Instead, it slowly dawns on her as she discovers a hidden darkness within something she once believed was good.

And crucially, it’s not only Agnes who walks this path with us.

In episode three, Lucy Halliday joins the cast as the narrator, voicing the character of Daisy, a young woman who deliberately moved to Gilead after feeling overwhelmed by life in Toronto.

Daisy offers a completely fresh viewpoint in this world, and even the other characters, like Agnes, are initially wary of her. Revealing too much would ruin the experience, especially for those familiar with the source material, but understand that Daisy is just as important to the story as Agnes and Aunt Lydia.

Ann Dowd, the Emmy-winning actress from The Handmaid’s Tale, is back as Lydia. While she initially appears as a quiet, background presence – subtly highlighted by a statue of her at the school – Lydia becomes increasingly central to the story. Flashbacks in the later episodes will offer a new perspective on her character and motivations.

Honestly, Dowd is amazing, just like always! And everyone else in the show is fantastic too – the whole cast really delivers.

I’m completely blown away by Chase Infiniti’s performance in One Battle After Another. She is Agnes. It’s incredible how she portrays this character who’s both fragile and unbelievably strong, especially dealing with all the normal teenage stuff while living under such a terrifying, controlling government. Seriously, those award nominations she got weren’t just luck – she absolutely deserves them. You really start to feel like she grew up in Gilead alongside all the other Plums, and that’s how good she is!

Rowan Blanchard shines as Shunammite, a slightly arrogant character who is fiercely competitive, and Mattea Conforti delivers a standout performance as Becka Grove, arguably the most challenging role in the series. Her success in portraying Becka is a true testament to her acting ability.

Honestly, what’s amazing about The Handmaid’s Tale is that every single actor, from Mabel Li as Aunt Vidala to Brad Alexander as Garth, is just fantastic. And that goes for the guest stars too! I think Ann Dowd’s performance as Daisy really captures that same rebellious spirit that Elisabeth Moss brought to June, and honestly, I think the whole story hinges on her performance. She’s incredible!

What about characters like June from The Handmaid’s Tale? Will any of them be back alongside Lydia? Revealing that information now would give away too much of the story. However, it’s good to know Elisabeth Moss is still involved as an executive producer, helping to guide the show’s direction.

This central theme resonates throughout the series in other ways as well. The show continues to feature beautiful cinematography, costumes, and music. Like The Handmaid’s Tale before it, The Testaments appears perfect on the outside but is deeply disturbing underneath.

Not only is The Testaments a successful continuation of the story, but it’s also a clever and bold reimagining of the original. The changes made for television keep things interesting and feel right for the new format, all while staying true to the spirit and meaning of the source material.

As a huge fan, I honestly think this first season is a near-perfect adaptation of The Testaments. It’s the best this whole world has been since the very beginning – back when The Handmaid’s Tale was at its peak with seasons one and two. I’m seriously blown away!

We’ve long hoped for the end of Gilead, much like the actual events that originally sparked its creation. Now, this story feels genuinely compelling and important, surpassing and resonating more strongly than The Handmaid’s Tale has in recent years.

This show is a gift, praise be.

The Testaments releases on Disney+ and Hulu on 8 April.

The latest issue of Living Legends, a vibrant 100-page tribute to Sir David Attenborough, is now available! You can find it at newsstands or purchase it online.

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2026-04-08 09:21