The production The Handmaid’s Tale, starring Elisabeth Moss, has conquered a large audience since its debut in 2017. Throughout all seasons, the series received positive and negative reviews for the brutality and violence that the scenes carried. However, this did not stop the series from being renewed until its fifth and final season.
The new season arrives on Paramount+ on September 18 and brings the end of the struggle of the protagonist, June Osborne. To provide you with a unique farewell experience, Minha Série had access to the first two episodes in advance and we bring you a super special review (spoiler-free)!
At the end of the plot, inspired by the book of the same name by Margaret Atwood, June suffers the consequences of the assassination of Commander Waterford (Joseph Fiennes), while trying to redefine her identity and purpose. At the same time, widow Serena Joy tries to elevate her status in Toronto as Gilead’s forces increase in Canada.
From the first episode to the new season, you can see the quality of Colin Watkinson’s photography direction. In these two episodes, there is a great focus on the close-up framing of the characters’ faces. This effect, which has already become a hallmark of Elisabeth Moss as June, has become a little tiring due to overuse in previous years. But it’s still a beautiful frame that reinforces all the psychological chaos the characters are going through.
The traumas of the characters have a much greater focus in these new episodes, leaving aside the physical violence, which had a lot of screen time in the fourth season, especially in the torture scenes. This was one of the complaints of some critics and a portion of the public, including.
Meanwhile, the script presents an even stronger and more vengeful Serena, after seeing Gilead supporters in Canada, and who returns with more reasons to spread her ideals across the country. However, the script failed on one important point: the big reason Serena turned her and her husband’s freedom over to the Canadian government last season was to be close to Nicole, June’s daughter, and now, there are few moments she quotes the baby. Like she lost interest after getting pregnant.
The female characters in the plot are much more vengeful, each with their own motive or trauma. Starting with June, who relishes Fred Waterford’s murder for a long time, in addition to other secondary women who are transformed by trauma and the desire to avenge all the brutality received in Gilead.
These secondary stories permeate intense and troubled paths, especially the life course of the ex-wife, Esther (Mckenna Grace), and the handmaid, Janine (Madeline Brewer), who are completely changed as a result of the events of season 4. Another character who is even more attached to her beliefs and to the “care” of the handmaids is Tia Lídia.
The series has retained its dense narrative, incredible photography and excellent art direction. Managing to present the grotesque results created by the Republic of Gilead.
It is possible to marathon the first three seasons of The Handmaid’s Tale on Globoplay and the fourth on Paramount+.