The first season of “The Handmaid’s Tale” closely followed Margaret Atwood’s novel of the same name. From season two, the story continued from the end of that book. Now season three is on the way and Hulu dropped a trailer for it as a Super Bowl ad.
The story is becoming scarily relevant to current politics in the world as in the video we see a large group of handmaids protesting in Washington about their forced pregnancies and so much more experienced in the fascist, fictional country of Gilead.
Cliffhanger at the end of season 2 of ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’
So far, we have seen June, one of many women used by an oppressive version of the USA, where she is known as Offred, as she was used (make that raped) by Commander Fred Waterford to make a baby for his barren wife.
We were asleep before. Now we're awake. pic.twitter.com/NEjI5lD6BR
— The Handmaid's Tale (@HandmaidsOnHulu) February 4, 2019
While most of the women comply with the dystopian and terrible rules, June and other handmaids are now standing up for themselves and fighting the oppression. At the end of season two, we saw Serena Joy, Waterford’s wife, using a group of Marthas (those who are in charge of the handmaids) to manage June’s escape to Canada, taking her baby with her.
However, at the last moment, Offred decided to stay behind in order to rescue her elder daughter, Hannah, letting others take and care for the baby.
Season 3 confirmed and on its way sometime soon
Hulu did confirm there would be a third season some time ago, as did Elisabeth Moss in an Instagram post last May. However, only now has a trailer appeared for the new season.
There is no news of exactly when the third season of “The Handmaid’s Tale” will be picked up by UK’s Channel 4.Both season one and two started on Hulu at the end of April, so it is likely to be April, at least in the US. Channel 4 will probably air the season in May this year.
Hulu cleverly released the first trailer for season 3 during the Super Bowl ad break.
The trailer cleverly uses the “Morning in America” Ronald Reagan campaign from 1984, with the words that it was morning again in America, and that day more women than ever before were on their way to work. The trailer then shows a series of women with newborn babies and a group of workers heading into the nuclear fields of Gilead yet again.
Soon, though, The Handmaid’s Tale trailer gives way to fiery chaos and Offred’s voice takes over, telling America to wake up and that the morning was over. Hoards of handmaids are then depicted, standing together in Washington to protest their fate.
Bruce Miller, the series showrunner, told The Hollywood Reporter that protagonist Offred is now ready to fight the system, rise up and take chances, using the survival skills she has learned, to hurt Gilead and help her daughter Hannah, who was taken from her and given to a family in Gilead.
Hulu described the new season by saying it is driven by Offred’s resistance to the Gilead regime and that there will be betrayals, reunions, and a journey into the dystopian and terrifying heart of the regime to make all characters bravely take a stand, led by the defiant prayer, “Blessed be the fight.”
New characters in season 3 of ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’
As reported by NME, it was confirmed in January that Christopher Meloni (known for his role in “Oz” and “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit”) and Elizabeth Reaser (who starred in “Twilight” and Netflix’s “The Haunting of Hill House” will be joining the cast as Commander Winslow and his wife. Hulu reported that Meloni will play a magnetic and powerful commander, hosting the Waterfords during an import trip, while Reaser’s character will be an inspiration and friend to Serena Joy.
Sounds like it will be another great season! We just have to wait and find out exactly when season 3 will be released on Channel 4 in the UK.