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Original poster

AIBU to not want to watch The Handmaid’s Tale?

45 replies

Brittany2019 · 17/10/2019 12:27

I live abroad and only realised yesterday that Amazon is now showing the first season. Hurrah, I thought. I’ve been wanting to watch this for ages.

Except I’ve just watched the first twenty minutes and turned it off. I read the book years and years ago, so I more or less remember the story. It’s just going to be relentlessly depressing, isn’t it?
Do I really want to spend my precious free time watching something relentlessly depressing?

I don’t suppose they’ve changed it from the book so every episode features a little light humour and a happy ending? Wink

OP posts:
ItchySeveredFoot · 17/10/2019 12:29

It's a dark and disturbing story as you know from reading the book. I did find it hard going sometimes but there are also moments of strength and even triumph on the handmaids part. The little acts of rebellion and what have you are great to watch.

MrsPellegrinoPetrichor · 17/10/2019 12:30

I was going to suggest reading the book,but you already have so turn on some Love Island and enjoyWink

Tableclothing · 17/10/2019 12:30

Yes, they rounded off each episode with 5 minutes of Aunt Lydia doing slapstick comedy Grin

YANBU to not want to watch a misery fest. We watched the first 1.5 series but stopped because I wanted to watch something cheerful/funny (to be fair, a Handmaid's Tale/Chernobyl double bill might have been a bit much). I thought it was absolutely brilliant, but yeah, I know where you're coming from.

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frugalkitty · 17/10/2019 12:31

I gave up after a few episodes. Tried the book recently (DD has borrowed it from school) and gave up on that too, it's not like me to not finish a book, as I found it hard to read and didn't think it was very well written.

Murinae · 17/10/2019 12:31

I just listened to the testaments podcast on a four hour flight. It was really good and not depressing at all.

Tableclothing · 17/10/2019 12:32

You might enjoy The Testaments though. It's a decent story and has more uplifting elements.

Original poster
Brittany2019 · 17/10/2019 12:37

Is The Testaments very follower-onery? Because if it is, I’ll probably have to either watch the damn thing or read the book again before tackling it.

OP posts:
Murinae · 17/10/2019 12:39

No not really. As long as you remember the handmaid was pregnant at the end and the vague set up of how the hierarchy all worked then you should be fine.

Murinae · 17/10/2019 12:40

And it’s only 15 episodes of 15 mins

Original poster
Brittany2019 · 17/10/2019 12:42

@Tableclothing I also really want to watch Chernobyl. Although living through the 80s has spoilered that for me (psst! They all die in the end.) so I’d probably find it equally depressing.

I need to find some cheery dystopian nightmare/world crisis-based series to watch.

OP posts:
Murinae · 17/10/2019 12:44

It might of helped that I was stuck on a plane and couldn’t do anything else apart from listen so actually concentrated on what I was listening to rather than listening at home where I tend to wander off and do stuff or start surfing the net Smile

Lllot5 · 17/10/2019 12:46

No don’t bother. Tried reading the book years ago, it’s one of the very few books I’ve started and couldn’t finish. Not my cup of tea.

ExpletiveDelighted · 17/10/2019 12:46

I managed Chernobyl (I remember it happening and was gripped by it, best TV I have seen in years) but have so far avoided The Handmaid's Tale because the current state of women's rights is depressing enough in real life. Maybe I should try it though.

AnneLovesGilbert · 17/10/2019 12:55

I mostly enjoyed the first season. It’s utterly harrowing and traumatic but so very good. Then I was pregnant as season 2 started and it was way too close to home and I nearly puked through the stress of watching the last one I saw.

As that was your reaction to the bit you saw then I’d give it a swerve and don’t blame you at all.

How can I get hold of The Testaments people who are listening to it? Do I need bbc Sounds? Well up for that. I hate hardbacks and the paperback isn’t out till next year.

MrsCasares · 17/10/2019 12:58

The testaments is on kindle.

Twirlypoos · 17/10/2019 12:59

@Brittany2019 spoiler alert, I was surprised by how many didn’t plus the follow up documentary is worth a watch too

Murinae · 17/10/2019 13:00

I listened to the testaments on the bbc sounds app

LifeInAHamsterWheel · 17/10/2019 13:01

I'm a big reader and usually prefer the book over a screenplay but in this case I feel the screen adaptation was 100 times better than the book. I first read the book more than 20 years ago and didn't think much of it. I went back and read it again after watching the first season and still felt it wasn't nearly as emotive as the screenplay. Yes it's a bit depressing in parts, but it's also full of suspense, shocks and hope. I thought it was absolutely brilliant and worth watching!

managedmis · 17/10/2019 13:03

I didn't like it because the characters weren't at all as I'd imagined in the book. They were all wrong.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 17/10/2019 13:03

I need to find some cheery dystopian nightmare/world crisis-based series to watch

Then you need to watch The Good Place.

hoorayforharoldlloyd · 17/10/2019 13:04

Testaments is trash though.

Sadly

EmilyStar · 17/10/2019 13:06

I couldn’t keep watching it either.

Too relentlessly depressing and grim.

ActualHornist · 17/10/2019 13:11

Watch if you want.

I watched the first season but every episode made me cry so I didn’t watch any more.

WhatWouldTheNeighboursSay · 17/10/2019 13:38

Brittany2019
I need to find some cheery dystopian nightmare/world crisis-based series to watch.

Z Nation
or
The Good Place

Crinkle77 · 17/10/2019 13:42

Series 1 was amazing but 2 & 3 not so. Still enjoyed it but it was a bit slow and drawn out and quite frustrating at times.