The red dress hangs in the closet, a silent accusation. Every day, it serves as a reminder of the world outside, a world that seems to inch closer to the grim realities depicted in Margaret Atwood’s novels. And soon, we’re going back: Hulu is set to release The Testaments on April 8, a sequel series to The Handmaid’s Tale based on Atwood’s chilling continuation.
Ann Dowd, who won an Emmy for her portrayal of Aunt Lydia, returns to the role. However, all eyes are also on Chase Infiniti, fresh off her success in One Battle After Another, who steps into the lead as Agnes.
The Next Chapter of Gilead
Think back to the unease you felt when first watching The Handmaid’s Tale. The story was a slow burn of dread, but it sounds a warning. This next chapter promises to be just as unsettling, so here’s the official synopsis:
“An evolution of The Handmaid’s Tale, The Testaments is based on Margaret Atwood’s novel of the same name and is a dramatic coming-of-age story set in Gilead. The series follows young teens Agnes, dutiful and pious, and Daisy, a new arrival and convert from beyond Gilead’s borders. As they navigate the gilded halls of Aunt Lydia’s elite preparatory school for future wives, a place where obedience is instilled brutally and always with divine justification, their bond becomes the catalyst that will upend their past, their present, and their future.”
The cast expands to include Lucy Halliday as Daisy, along with Mabel Li, Amy Seimetz, Brad Alexander, Rowan Blanchard, Mattea Conforti, Zarrin Darnell-Martin, Eva Foote, Isolde Ardies, Shechinah Mpumlwana, Birva Pandya, and Kira Guloien. Bruce Miller, showrunner for The Handmaid’s Tale, continues in the same capacity here, with Elisabeth Moss joining as an executive producer.
Could Moss’ character, June Osborne, appear? Those familiar with the book have reason to hope, although Hulu remains tight-lipped.
What is The Testaments about in relation to The Handmaid’s Tale?
Consider The Handmaid’s Tale the agonizing setup, the establishment of a nightmare. The Testaments, on the other hand, acts like the spark of revolution. Where the original series burrowed deep into Offred’s (June’s) personal hell, the sequel widens its scope to examine the cracks forming within Gilead’s theocratic structure.
Glimpses of Gilead’s Future
First-look images offer hints of what awaits us with Dowd, Infinity, Halliday, and the rest of the ensemble. Even after the revolution in season six of Handmaid’s, Gilead’s oppressive atmosphere lingers.
How does Aunt Lydia factor into The Testaments?
Lydia is the linchpin, the bridge between two worlds. In The Handmaid’s Tale, she appeared as an enforcer of Gilead’s twisted laws, but in The Testaments, she’s far more nuanced. She becomes a reluctant informant, a key player working to dismantle the system she once upheld. Think of her as a double agent in plain sight.
Release Details
The Testaments begins with its first three episodes on April 8, followed by a weekly release schedule, exclusively on Hulu.
In a world that often feels like it’s mirroring fiction, will The Testaments offer a warning or, against all odds, a glimmer of hope?