The Testaments, the gripping sequel to The Handmaid's Tale, has been officially renewed for a second season. The announcement came on Wednesday, 20th May, following the release of episode nine, titled Marat Sade. US streaming service Hulu confirmed the renewal after the first season amassed an impressive 45 million hours viewed.
A Critical and Popular Success
The series has averaged an 88 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes and received a strong 20 percent viewership bump for episode four after its three-part premiere on Wednesday, 8th April. Based on Margaret Atwood's novels, The Testaments premiered on Disney+ in the UK this past April and has already attracted a considerable fanbase, including devoted viewers who tuned into the final season of the flagship series last year.
Plot and Characters
Set in the bleak dystopian world of Gilead, the series follows a group of young women attending a preparatory school that grooms them into perfect wives for high-ranking men. While most students accept their role as second-class citizens, the arrival of rebellious Daisy, played by Lucy Halliday, upends the world of Agnes MacKenzie, portrayed by Chase Infiniti, who is the daughter of resistance leader June Osbourne, played by Elisabeth Moss.
Actress Ann Dowd has been praised for her stunning reprisal as the complex antagonist Aunt Lydia. The series also stars Mabel Li, Amy Seimetz, Brad Alexander, Rowan Blanchard, Mattea Conforti, Zarrin Darnell-Martin, Eva Foote, Isolde Ardies, Shechinah Mpumlwana, Birva Pandya, and Kira Guloien. Former Handmaid's Tale lead Moss also returned as June for guest appearances in episodes one and three.
Fan Reactions
Viewers were ecstatic after receiving the news that the series will continue ahead of the highly anticipated season finale next week. One fan exclaimed on X: "BLESSED BE THE FRUIT. THANK YOU! We got another season with our favourite plums!! Everyone cheered." Another said: "It has definitely exceeded my expectations for a spin off." A final fan wrote: "Blessed be the fruit. Thank you for this announcement, we've been waiting so long. Our girls' journey continues, excited for what's to come in season 2. Please don't delay the release."
What's Next
With just one episode of the first season left to air on Wednesday, 27th May, season two is expected to head into production later this year. Fans are encouraged to catch up on this gripping continuation before the new season begins. The Testaments is available to stream on Disney+.
