Season One
A woman's desperate fight for freedom in a theocracy that owns her body.
Season One of The Handmaid's Tale introduces viewers to the dystopian future established after a Second American Civil War. In this setting, a theonomic, totalitarian society subjects fertile women, called "Handmaids," to child-bearing slavery. The season premiered on April 26, 2017, on Hulu, marking the beginning of a six-season run that would conclude with the sixth season in 2025.
- Protagonist
- June Osborne (Offred)
- Setting
- The Republic of Gilead
- Primary Conflict
- State-enforced reproductive slavery vs. individual survival
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
The Republic of Gilead is described as a theonomic, totalitarian society where fertile women are stripped of their rights and forced into child-bearing slavery. This system relies on a strict hierarchy that subjects these women, known as Handmaids, to a life of servitude. While specific character arcs like June's capture or the Mayday resistance are not detailed in the provided source text, the foundational lore is clear: a collapse of society has led to a regime where reproduction is state-enforced slavery. The narrative focuses on the existence of this regime and the role of Handmaids within it.
In Their Own Story
It establishes that the series features a dystopian future where fertile women are subjected to child-bearing slavery following a Second American Civil War. The text confirms the premiere date of April 26, 2017, and notes the presence of an ensemble cast led by Elisabeth Moss. Without further details in the source regarding specific scenes, turning points, or the resolution of the first season's narrative arc, no additional story elements can be included.
Reader's Guide
It establishes the core premise: a dystopian future after a Second American Civil War where a totalitarian society enforces child-bearing slavery upon fertile women called Handmaids. Viewers are introduced to an ensemble cast led by Elisabeth Moss, alongside Joseph Fiennes, Yvonne Strahovski, Alexis Bledel, Madeline Brewer, Ann Dowd, O-T Fagbenle, Max Minghella, Samira Wiley, Amanda Brugel, and Bradley Whitford. The series was created by Bruce Miller based on Margaret Atwood's 1985 novel. This season is the starting point of a total run of six seasons comprising 66 episodes.
Did You Know?
- Season One premiered on April 26, 2017, on Hulu.
- The series is based on the 1985 novel by Margaret Atwood and created by Bruce Miller.
- Elisabeth Moss leads an ensemble cast that includes Joseph Fiennes and Yvonne Strahovski.
- The show's plot is set in a dystopian future following a Second American Civil War.
More in Story & Timeline
Elsewhere in the The Handmaid universe
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