9.5/10. Excellent acting, a gripping storyline and emotional roller coasters

Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale has a difficult plot to explain. The series features a terrifying dystopian future following a second American Civil War and worldwide infertility. Gilead is a militarised society which captures and subjects fertile women, called “Handmaid’s,” into child-bearing slavery. They follow an extremist interpretation of select Christian biblical stories and all women in Gilead are forced into limited roles. Handmaids are given names by adding the prefix Of- to the first name of the man who owns them.

Gilead is a horrific place and the story is at times harrowing, but there is friendship, love and rebellion at the heart of the story. All the actors are brilliant, and Elisabeth Moss and Yvonne Strahovski are exceptional. Based on the best selling novel by Margaret Atwood, the writers, producers and actors have managed to take something awful and create a tragic, gripping story, delicately laced with hope and humour.

I’m rooting for June and the other handmaids, many of whom had their own focused scenes to showcase their character’s depths, hidden behind stifled facades unable to show their true feelings. June’s simmering rage is well played, her expressive face she shows a vast array of emotions without saying a word. Her often amusing voiceovers are also poignant.

Mrs Waterford is a complex character, moving seamlessly from what appears to be sympathy and kindness to venomous cruelty at the flip of a switch. In her softer moments, I can't help but like her, despite the things she’s done. Joseph Fiennes’ Commander Waterford is utterly slimy and creepy, a testament to the actor’s skills, and also the excellent Ann Dowd’s (The Leftovers, Good Behaviour) portrayal of Aunt Lydia is screen commanding.

I’m obsessed with this show, and invested in the fate of the handmaids. Season 2 goes beyond the novel and doesn’t disappoint, introducing new obstacles from June and continuing the story with equally gripping storylines as the first season. One of the best ever TV shows.

“My name is June.”