The Testaments: Should you watch or skip the sequel to The Handmaid's Tale? A viewer's guide

The Testaments has dropped and is so much more than picking up the loose threads of a story; it has reopened the story and a whole world that, actually, to be honest, a lot of people thought had said its last bit!

A sequel to The Handmaid's Tale always ran the risk of being taken with a pinch of salt; The Testaments definitely has been, and in a totally different style of story. The question is not “Is it any good?” but is it worth watching?

The real brilliance of The Testaments is that it is not just a continuation or re-telling of the original story's emotional impact. Instead, it takes a whole new perspective on the future generation and how the system that is Gilead controls everyone after the original story ends. Is this a tale for your precious time, or should it remain unknown? Let's consider it below.

What is The Testaments about?

The Testaments takes pride in being based on the actual novel, which is naturally a follow-up story to the original The Handmaid's Tale. The story picks up sometime after the end of the first one and attempts to depict Gilead from a different viewpoint than that initially introduced to the viewer.

The story centers around two girls, Agnes and Daisy. The first, Agnes, has grown up in a new way of thinking, under the eyes of the regime, whilst Daisy has not even lived through the regime and unknowingly lives her life as part of the totalitarian state.

The final character is another significant role: Aunt Lydia. It is her character that we see to understand the political system behind Gilead, a concept mostly hidden from us within The Handmaid's Tale series.

How does The Testaments connect to The Handmaid's Tale?

Although The Testaments connects to The Handmaid's Tale on the basis that it is, of course, set in the same world and timeline, it does not carry on with the direct story of June. Instead, the tale is one about the next generation and the direct effects of Gilead.

The character of Agnes, in particular, is connected to June's story, having a direct link to the tale told in The Handmaid's Tale. Daisy is set in a completely different world, which we have only briefly touched upon until now. With that, the tale becomes one of power and the established systems that uphold it, as well as the continuation of suffering caused.

Tone and narrative style: A familiar yet distant feel

It is impossible to disregard the ways in which The Testaments differs from The Handmaid's Tale (or indeed the original book). One of the primary differences between the tale and its predecessor is that, instead of being from the viewpoint of just one girl, it is told from several viewpoints, just like the book on which it is based.

This does not mean that the intensity of the story is decreased; it is merely transformed. Gilead is as oppressive and desolate as ever, and the familiar tales of violation, trauma, and control are still present.

However, due to the element of a coming-of-age narrative and from the perspective of a new generation, The Testaments, although far from uplifting, presents a different tone; not one of immediate, stark trauma, but one that reflects the results of existing trauma and the system. As a result, the story rhythm is different, and so it feels like an alternative version of the world.

Characters and performances

Perhaps the greatest strength of The Testaments, however, is the character development. Agnes allows us an insider view on how people are governed and how thinking can become controlled under a system that controls.

Daisy is the opposite, offering an outsider's view of the regime and how people within it perceive and think of a society beyond their own borders. The third, Aunt Lydia, gives the audience the political insight we were largely missing.

These multiple viewpoints create a far more textured world than what was possible in The Handmaid's Tale.

Strengths of The Testaments

Structure-wise, The Testaments has several strengths.

It takes us beyond the life of one individual and provides an extended version of the story, exploring the way in which the Gilead system impacts far beyond one character. The multiple storylines intertwine well, leading to a richer plot.

It manages to remain faithful to the original book and, consequently, to the first The Handmaid's Tale series. It introduces an element of a coming-of-age narrative to the story.

It maintains the same quality of harrowing horror and intensity found in the original story.

These are the strongest points of The Testaments, and they definitely offer something new without diminishing the original series in any way.

How does The Testaments stand on its own?

This naturally raises the question as to whether or not The Testaments can stand on its own. Although the tale will be far richer for having been a fan of the original The Handmaid's Tale, The Testaments does offer its own story and is entirely accessible for viewers who have not seen the first story.

The Testaments is definitely a story about continuation and progression, and viewers will be immensely happy with its content.

Who should watch The Testaments?

The Testaments is suitable for anyone who:

Loves the story and world that The Handmaid's Tale portrays.
Prefers a narrative from multiple points of view and enjoys dissecting totalitarian regimes from this angle.
Wants a more detailed insight into the effects of totalitarianism on future generations, particularly young women growing up under oppression.
Appreciates stories where the arcs, though separate, can be unified for a grander narrative.

Watch or skip The Testaments?

To conclude with the ultimate question:

You should watch The Testaments if you are curious and eager to discover a far wider picture of Gilead and are happy to experience it through various perspectives.

You should skip The Testaments if you only wanted to know the story of June's life after the events of The Handmaid's Tale and would rather not return to the original world for now.

Critical reception at the time of review is generally very positive. The Testaments is considered to be a very well-executed spin-off story.

The Testaments is so much more than just an inferior replica of The Handmaid's Tale. It is an extension and an amplification of the story that has somehow managed to capture the exact same unsettling and deeply profound atmosphere whilst expanding upon the characters in a variety of different ways.

Control, identity, and defiance are just some of the issues that The Testaments looks into. All in all, The Testaments is a must-watch for all fans of The Handmaid's Tale.

Also read: The Testaments Episode 4: Release date news, time, streaming details, and more