The Testaments Review: Your Bloody Brilliant Guide To The Handmaid's Tale Sequel
Let’s be real, London. If you’ve been glued to the screen since June 2026 dropped that first trailer, you already know the hype is real. The Testaments finally landed on Disney+ last week, and I’ve already binged the first three episodes twice. Forget everything you think you know about Gilead — this bloody sequel to The Handmaid's Tale is a whole new beast. And yeah, it's absolutely worth the wait.
So here's your spoiler-light the testaments guide to navigating this six-part gut punch. Whether you're a die-hard fan of Margaret Atwood's novel or just stumbled in from the original series, I've got you covered.
What’s The Damage? (And Why Ann Dowd Owns My Soul)
First things first: this isn't a cash-grab spin-off. Set roughly 15 years after June's escape, The Testaments follows three young women whose lives collide in a Gilead that's somehow even more twisted. But the real MVP? Ann Dowd. Her Aunt Lydia gets a backstory so dark and so painfully human that you'll catch yourself sympathising with a monster. I know, I didn't see it coming either. The the testaments review scores are already sitting at 94% — and that's not just hype, it's earned.
Elisabeth Moss also returns as June (now hiding out in Canada), but don't expect her to steal the show. This time, the spotlight belongs to a new generation: a girl raised inside Gilead's elite, another smuggled out as a baby, and a third from Toronto who gets dragged right into the belly of the beast. Their stories weave together like a noose, and by episode four, I was literally yelling at my telly.
How To Use The Testaments: A Brit’s Cheat Sheet
Look, I know some of you are thinking: "Do I need to rewatch all five seasons of The Handmaid's Tale first?" Nah. But here's a quick how to use the testaments to get the most out of your couch time:
- Refresh your memory on Aunt Lydia. Her arc in seasons 3–4 is essential. Trust me.
- Don't skip the cold opens. Every episode has a flashback that'll rewire your brain.
- Have tissues handy. And maybe a stiff drink. This is not light viewing.
- Watch with subtitles. The dialogue is dense, and you'll miss half the wicked one-liners without them.
The showrunners have done something clever here: The Testaments works as both a sequel and a standalone thriller. You could go in blind and still get hooked. But if you've been following Gilead since 2017, oh boy — the callbacks and character returns will hit like a freight train.
The Verdict: Bloody, Brutal, Brilliant
So what's the final the testaments review from someone who's watched the whole thing? It's tighter than the original. Meaner. And weirdly funnier in a dark, desperate way. The production design is next-level (those new Aunt costumes are pure nightmare fuel), and the script doesn't hold your hand. You're dropped into conspiracies, underground railroads, and a Gilead that's weaponising its own children.
If you're in the UK, you can stream all six episodes now on Disney+. My advice? Clear your Saturday, mute your group chat, and prepare to feel things. The Testaments isn't just a good sequel — it's the kind of storytelling that reminds you why TV can hurt so good.