Hulu’s The Testaments is one of the biggest new streaming shows of 2026.
The dystopian coming-of-age drama — a sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale — has already been renewed for a second season following the success of the first.
But is the show a worthy follow-up to its acclaimed predecessor? Here’s what critics have said about The Testaments, plus key details on the plot, characters and cast.
What is ‘The Testaments’ about?
Based on Margaret Atwood’s bestselling 2019 novel, The Testaments is set around four years after the events of The Handmaid’s Tale.
Both shows are set in the near future in Gilead, a totalitarian, ultra-religious society that emerged from the collapse of the United States. Some women, known as handmaids, are enslaved and forced to bear children for the wealthy.
Unlike The Handmaid’s Tale, which was led by Elisabeth Moss, The Testaments follows a younger generation growing up under Gilead’s rule.
It tells the story of two teenage girls, Agnes (Chase Infiniti) and Daisy (Lucy Halliday), who meet at an elite preparatory school for future wives. Agnes is the daughter of Moss’s character June.
Lucy Halliday (right) stars alongside Infiniti.
(Steve Wilkie/Disney)
The Handmaid’s Tale star Ann Dowd reprises her role as Aunt Lydia, the formidable head of the school. Once one of Gilead’s most loyal enforcers, Lydia in The Handmaid’s Tale began questioning the regime she helped uphold, particularly after witnessing its cruelty toward a handmaid, Janine.
As the synopsis explains, Agnes and Daisy’s “bond becomes the catalyst that will upend their past, their present and their future.”
Do I need to watch ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ before ‘The Testaments’?
Bruce Miller, the creator and showrunner of both shows, assured viewers that they don’t need to have seen The Handmaid’s Tale to understand The Testaments.
“The Testaments is its own show,” he told People. “You don’t have to watch The Handmaid’s Tale, and even if you don’t know anything about a Handmaid, I wanted it to be very user-friendly.” But he added that knowledge of the original series will “add scale to” The Testaments.
There’s no need to do your homework by reading the book first, either. “You should be able to turn on the first episode and enjoy it like a drama,” Miller told The Hollywood Reporter.
Although most of the characters are new, the returning Aunt Lydia plays a key role in the sequel series. Understanding the character’s motivations and backstory from The Handmaid’s Tale would likely enhance your experience of watching The Testaments.
Mabel Li and Ann Dowd in The Testaments.
(Russ Martin/Disney)
What the critics liked
Early reviews of The Testaments were mostly favorable, with TIME’s Judy Berman framing it as a “surprisingly fresh YA spin” on The Handmaid’s Tale, while Variety’s Aramide Tinubu called the show “an exemplary follow-up” and a “magnificent coming-of-age story.”
The latter added that the show was a “stellar examination of the uniqueness of girlhood and how the patriarchy underestimates the power of female connection, often to its peril.”
Other positive reviews came from Mary McNamara of the Los Angeles Times, who emphasized the power of showing young women complying with their own enslavement as social commentary, and Lauren Thoman of TheWrap, who praised the intertwined subplots and the pacing.
What they didn’t like
USA Today’s Kelly Lawler gave a mixed review, citing sensationalism, plot holes and “guffaw-worthy ridiculousness.” But, she added that parts of the show were novel and refreshing.
IndieWire’s Ben Travers argued the spinoff didn’t bring enough new material and repeated familiar The Handmaid’s Tale patterns. Similarly, The Hollywood Reporter’s Daniel Fienberg said that, while the series felt watchable and well-acted (Inifiniti’s performance, in particular, was praised), it was too dependent on The Handmaid’s Tale to feel truly distinctive. Ultimately, Fienberg didn’t dismiss the series but framed it as engaging, rather than essential, viewing.
Will there be another season of ‘The Testaments’?
Yes, Hulu has already renewed The Testaments for a second season, although a release date has yet to be announced. All 10 episodes of the first season are now streaming, following the finale’s release on May 27.
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