Hulu Renews ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ For Season 3 After Hitting 20 Million Subscribers
The Handmaid’s Taleseason 2 made a record-breaking premiere last week, drawing in double the audience numbers of the season 1 opener, according toDeadline. In lieu of the critical and commercial success of the Emmy and Golden Globe-winning show, it was no question that Hulu would renewThe Handmaid’s Talefor season 3.
This would take the series even further from theMargaret Atwoodnovel upon which it’s based. The first season ofThe Handmaid’s Taleended where the book ended, and season 2 has beenboldly striking outbeyond its former creative limitations. I wrote in my review of the sophomore season ofThe Handmaid’s Talethat the show was finally making strides to become its own show beyond Atwood’s book.
Buoyed by its razor-sharp focus on its female characters,The Handmaid’s Taleseason 2 surpasses its first season. Though it does sometimes give in to the show’s penchant for political awkwardness and has prolonged, miserable scenes that could rivalGame of Thrones' torture porn, it seems like the Hulu series is all the better for stepping out from the shadow of Atwood’s book.
But the series is so bleak that I wonder how far season 3 can go without losing its audience. Season 2 has already pushed the limit on emotional trials, and I imagine the third season would double down on the show’s distressing mood. Elisabeth Moss and the rest of the cast continue to give brilliant performances, but season 3 would have to drastically change things up to maintain the show’s critically acclaimed streak.
Hulu CEO Randy Freer said of the encouraging numbers:
“Hulu is the complete TV experience for consumers, offering both live and on-demand programming and more consumer choice than ever before.”
And Hulu will expand its slate of original content even more, picking up new series orders forFour Weddings and a FuneralandRamy.These new series orders will join the highly anticipated upcoming Hulu originalsCastle Rock, Catch-22,andLittle Fires Everywhere.
