Hulu’s 10-Part Dystopian Thriller Is One Of 2026’s Best Surprises

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When The Handmaid’s Tale first arrived on Hulu in 2017, it quickly became one of the platform’s most popular original series. While interest dipped as the show went on, its continuation, The Testaments, has stepped up to become another must-watch program. Based on Margaret Atwood’s acclaimed novel, The Handmaid’s Tale initially felt like a far-fetched story, but as the seasons unfolded, it began to feel increasingly possible. Although a continuation wasn’t necessarily needed, The Testaments has proven to be a fantastic addition.

When the sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale, titled The Testaments, was announced, many viewers weren’t thrilled. The Handmaid’s Tale had felt like a complete story, and it wasn’t clear that more content in that world was needed. However, the creators of The Testaments likely understood they needed to deliver a compelling story to justify the continuation and earn viewers’ attention. Fortunately, the series has become a standout success in 2026, exceeding expectations as episodes were released.

Following the success of The Handmaid’s Tale, The Testaments quickly established itself as a compelling series with a faster pace, a focused point of view, and a distinct style, making it highly engaging. Now, Hulu has confirmed a second season, promising even more of this popular story.

The Testaments Is Better Than It Has Any Right To Be

Much of the excitement around The Testaments stems from its connection to The Handmaid’s Tale, but it’s not because The Handmaid’s Tale set up a strong foundation for a follow-up. Instead, The Testaments has surprised many with its quality, especially considering the final seasons of The Handmaid’s Tale struggled to maintain momentum. By the end of its run, The Handmaid’s Tale had lost some audience interest and didn’t seem like a promising springboard for a continuation.

Okay, so I was a bit worried about The Testaments after the later seasons of The Handmaid’s Tale felt a little shaky. But honestly, the new series came out swinging! It immediately felt different in tone, which was a great surprise. Yes, you see familiar faces like Aunt Lydia (Ann Dowd is fantastic, as always), but The Testaments really establishes itself as its own thing right from the start. It actually fixes a lot of what didn’t quite work in the original show. What I really appreciate is that it’s all about moving the story forward, building a believable world, and getting the pacing right from the very beginning.

The Testaments Has Room To Improve In Season 2

The first season of The Testaments successfully introduced its story and set it apart from The Handmaid’s Tale, but it wasn’t flawless. While perfection isn’t always the goal, there’s definitely potential for growth in future seasons. A common challenge for shows like The Testaments, dealing with such grim subject matter, is becoming overwhelmingly depressing. Dystopian series can easily fall into a pattern of oppression, rebellion, and brief recovery, and The Testaments needs to avoid getting trapped in that cycle.

Viewers are hoping The Testaments avoids the pacing issues that plagued The Handmaid’s Tale. So far, the show has maintained a good rhythm, but it could benefit from even more momentum. Beyond pacing, season two needs to continue its careful approach to darkness. The Testaments has successfully created a distinct tone from the original series, and it’s important that it continues to reinforce that difference going forward.

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2026-05-24 23:48