The Handmaid's Tale: Season 2

The Harvard Crimson reviews the Hulu adaptation of Margaret Atwood's dystopian novel, "The Handmaid's Tale."

By Mila Gauvin II and Grace Z. Li

The Handmaid's Tale: "June"
‘The Handmaid’s Tale’: ‘June’ Follows the Red Tape, Then Lights a Fire
The melodramatic hook does not do “June” justice.
By Grace Z. Li
Handmaid's Tale: Unwomen
‘The Handmaid’s Tale’: Emily, from College Professor to One of the ‘Unwomen’
We finally get to see who Emily was before June met her, and trace the origins of her lingering rebelliousness back to her days as a college biology professor seeking tenure.
By Mila Gauvin II
Handmaid's Tale: Baggage
‘The Handmaid’s Tale’: ‘Baggage’ Spins with Dramatics but Lands on its Feet
“The Handmaid’s Tale” isn’t done with Gilead just yet, but the surprisingly artful dramatics and clever character exploration hint at equally interesting world expansions to come.
By Grace Z. Li
‘The Handmaid’s Tale’: 'Other Women'
‘The Handmaid’s Tale’: In 'Other Women,' June is Back To—No, Worse Than—Square One
“Other Women” might as well be a throwback episode, as the cyclical nature of life as a handmaid is brought back full circle in what is ultimately a study in brainwashing.
By Mila Gauvin II
‘The Handmaid’s Tale’: ‘Seeds’
‘The Handmaid’s Tale’: Silence Sows the ‘Seeds’ of Rebellion
In an episode where death looms over the characters’ heads, “Seeds” hints at a new life not just within June’s body, but for the characters themselves.
By Mila Gauvin II
“The Handmaid’s Tale”: “First Blood”
'The Handmaid’s Tale': Catalysts for Sisterhood in 'First Blood'
First Blood” is one of Season Two’s better episodes, even if it rushes the changing dynamics between June and Serena Joy ever-so-slightly.
By Grace Z. Li
‘The Handmaid’s Tale’: ‘After'
‘The Handmaid’s Tale’: ‘After’ is Surprisingly Superficial and Disappointing
A lot happens—too much, in fact, making the episode more chaotically disappointing than artful.
By Grace Z. Li
Handmaid's Tale S2 E8
‘The Handmaid’s Tale’: ‘Women’s Work’ Disrupts a Man’s World
Despite the character-related inconsistencies, the episode upholds its themes well.
By Mila Gauvin II
Handmaid's Tale S2 E9
‘The Handmaid’s Tale’: Worlds Collide and Letters Ignite in ‘Smart Power’
"The Handmaid's Tale" has finally given us a satisfying and refreshing episode that forces Gilead’s creators to step outside of their comfort zone and reckon with what they’ve done.
By Grace Z. Li
Handmaid's Tale S2 E10
‘The Handmaid’s Tale’: ‘The Last Ceremony’ More Heartbreaking and Horrific Than Any Other
To say that “The Last Ceremony” is an emotional rollercoaster would be an understatement.
By Mila Gauvin II
Handmaid's Tale S2 E11
‘The Handmaid’s Tale’: ‘Holly’ Brings Genre Twists but Little Change
This cycle of visiting the outside world only to return to Gilead’s borders is getting tiresome. At this point, June just needs to get the hell out already.
By Grace Z. Li
Handmaid's Tale S2 E12
‘The Handmaid’s Tale’: ‘Postpartum’ Not So Different from Prepartum
​All roads lead to the Waterford household. At least, they do for June, who unbelievably ends up back there for a third time.
By Mila Gauvin II
The Handmaid's Tale: "The Word"
‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ Ends a Frustrating Season 2 with a Disappointing Finale
The constant repetition is suffocating the story—and Gilead is already a suffocating place.
By Grace Z. Li