TV Review: The Handmaid’s Tale Get Scarier And Realer In Season 2
Watching the first few episodes of the The Handmaid’s Tale made me sigh with relief. With a first season that was so acclaimed, you would think the series had been on for 7 seasons. Hence, I was kind of scared for season 2. What new plot-lines would they invent or change from the Margaret Atwood classic to satisfy their now massive following. Well, it turns out the #MeToo movement and Trump Presidency continues to inspire its route into the fascist theocracy of Gilead.
Things get rougher and uglier this season, which is both unexpected but unsurprising. With all the ladies of The Handmaid’s Tale have faced, you cannot expect life to give them “a break” now. If season 1 showed us that a world without women’s rights is morally wrong, this season shows us it is absolutely heinous. Season 2 opens with Offred/June being tossed into what feels like a terrifying concentration camp for women. From the beginning, Elisabeth Moss’ grand, blue eyes seem to be an emotional conveyor for every silent fear running through all the abused women of this series. All she has to do is glare, and you feel ripped apart. Yet, the darkness, in cinematography alone, sends chills down spines as things seem to go from bad to worse.
In introducing new colonies, The Handmaid’s tale expands in wealthy storylines and the witnessing of the varying tortures. A piercing cameo by Marisa Tomei and Alexis Bledel’s continuously riveting role as Emily assures that The Handmaid’s Tale may have used all the “book material”, but has a set of writers with an all too real look at the world’s cruelty. Radiative toxins, chasing dogs, starvation, beatings is a grim, television experience, but this show reveals violence for its putridness, which is why it is so important. For all The Handmaid’s Tale bloodshed, unlike other shows, we cannot rely on a cool assassin or edgy vampire to come in and make death appear cool and excusable. In this series, there is no glory to violent atrocity, but there is a repetitive history; which is why you can see all of this happen because it has throughout history and is happening now.
Humanity has always divided itself only to cry for unity, but The Handmaid’s Tale already set up this truth in season 1. While I cringe as I see the ruling class like, Yvonne Strahovski’s passive aggressive Serena Joy and Ralph Fiennes snidely dangerous Commander, say “Blessed Be!”as they righteously order the hangings, stonings, and whatever law they deem fit to punish those beneath them, I cannot help but think The Handmaid’s Tale is scarily relevant to modern times. Prayers and charity are often offered by the ruling for those persecuted, but throughout the season such veils grow thin as you witness how much injustice has filed under “reformation”. This season’s flashbacks especially work to show the slow, eery demise of a nation watching on the news the loss of its rights and dignity. (Feels like something we know!) Hence, you cannot help but say, “WHY IS NO ONE STOPPING THIS TRAINWRECK!” The tragedy of The Handmaid’s Tale Season 2 is that it highlights how loss of all that you love moves you to fight to love better.
In many ways, Season 2 focuses on the delusion of evil to believe its wickedness should not be called out, and the responding punishment its gives to persons/women like, June/Offred, who never lose their compassion and voice in confronting evil. While midway she begins to crack at her resolve, the idea of being a mother again fills her up to know that succumbing to the suffering imposed by others is not worth losing the love that can arise from a few like, her relationship with Max Minghella’s Nick. Throughout the season you begin to see more that Nick truly cares for June/Offred. Their bond potentially furthers a romantic anchor lightens and increase hope that the harrowing handmaid’s tale could end happily. The Handmaid’s Tale Plays Wednesdays On HULU.
