Handmaid's Tale is this Sunday on C4!

I confess I have seen beyond the C4 episodes and made the mistake of watching 3 at once. It was a mistake I was in tears so @LastGirlOnTheLeft if you are feeling like it would affect you avoid it for now or take it slowly.

I don't mind the narration, it's a feature of the book. The acting is extremely good and the overall look and costuming is very effective. 'The Handmaid's Tale' is one of my favourite books. I was going to say I'm enjoying this adaptation but then it's a bit unsettling for that. I really appreciate the adaptation and I'm now watching on C4 too.

I'm loving it so far.
I think they have made a good job of.
I'm feeling just as unsettled and freaked out watching it as I was reading the book .
The cast so far have been excellent.

Been away for work and just caught all three of the episodes shown so far in one lump.

It's good isn't it?

It does, and I don't mind a little bit of narrative, but I just think they over do it - I think that the actions and the facial expressions do enough - I can tell she's disgusted by something, or thinking 'screw that' by her expression, or by how I would feel in that situation. The only benefit of the doubt I'd give is that they're trying to explain it to men, who perhaps wouldn't think the same thoughts.

I think it's different in books where you're imagining everything - their faces, their actions, how they pick up an orange, or when a glance lingers - the internal dialogue is needed then

I confess o downloading as I thought we weren't going to get it for yonks. I haven't watched all but what I have seen is, I think, a really good adaption

I'm So. Fucking. Excited.

This is one of my favourite books, and I was really cross when it looked like we weren't going to see it for ages!

Choc, I see what you mean about the narrative but the whole book takes place inside her head - so there's a LOT which goes on that you'd miss if it didn't have it, I would suspect.

In my defence, I'm not normally so affected by TV, but since having kids, anything around mothers/kids in danger makes me emotional - I just can't watch dystopian future stuff in the same detached way I used to.

Last, I had to stop about 5 minutes into the first episode because I was in tears. I calmed down and went back to it, and it was fine.

My criticism is that the narration is unnecessary and detracts from it. I think we can all tell what she's thinking without her thoughts having to be spoken out loud.

It's had great reviews. Really looking forward to it.

Insanely excited about this. Read it in the 80s and re-read when DD studied it at school. We had some good talks about it.

Looking forward to it. Finished reading the book only today.

Whooppee

Thanks for flagging this up. I am looking forward to watching it and discussing it here after.

LastGirlOnTheLeft Don't watch it if you do not feel up to it. There is no weakness in protecting yourself from suffering further. One thing you could do is let us watch it and see our discussion and then make a call for yourself. Have you read the book already?

You can watch it online if you have a C4 account.

LastGirlOnTheLeft The book is a tough read and you do get a bit immersed in it, even though its set in the future. It actually feels a bit closer today than when it was written, what with the right taking power in the USA.

I'm not sure I can watch it. I FEEL too much, all the time, for women who are constantly oppressed by disgusting men. I pretty much detest men as it is!! I am scared that if I watch this, my hatred of men will grow beyond my means to contain it and I will be the one to suffer!!

Thanks for the heads up!

I've just downloaded the first six bleedin' episodes because I thought we weren't getting it for ages!

Once of my favourite books. Studied it at college just before Christmas and had a revisit last week. As relevant today - more so? - than when it was first published.

MA said there is nothing that happens in it that hasn't already happened somewhere in the world - she just amalgamated it all into one story.

Horrifying.

I loved the book and the film with Natasha Richardson and Faye Dunaway. Really looking forward to this!

great, thanks for letting us know

Brilliant. I only read the book a couple of years ago and loved it. I didn't think I would get to see this.

Brilliant. Will tape this. Thanks!

Oohh, definitely going to record it. Thanks for the heads up!

Thanks for this, I'm so glad I'm going to be able to see it. The book was outstanding.

Thanks for the heads up! I am useless and would have missed it otherwise! Got it on series link, can't wait