Critics praise ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ with universal acclaim

The reviews for Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale have been trickling in and, remarkably, they are just about unanimously laudatory. Critics are heaping praise upon the show, saying that it’s not only powerful and emotionally affecting but chillingly timely and relevant. Here’s a short round-up of some of these reviews with links to the full articles and short quotes excerpted from them:

• “It is unflinching, vital and scary as hell.” —James Poniewozik, The New York Times
• “Never mind ‘Netflix and chill.’ All hail the era of ‘Hulu and panic.’ —Leah Greenblatt, Entertainment Weekly 
• “[M]ortally terrifying. It’s also somehow a pleasure to watch.” —Willa Paskin, Slate
• “The Handmaid’s Tale isn’t just the best original show Hulu has ever done. It’s one of the most impressive series of the year.” —Kristi Turnquist, Oregonian
• “[O]ne of the spring’s best new shows and makes Elisabeth Moss an immediate Emmy contender.” —Dan Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter
• “Yes, you need to get Hulu and watch The Handmaids Tale because it is so, so good.” —Hank Stuever, The Washington Post
• “[O]ne of the best shows of the year so far, at times hard to watch but impossible to ignore. —Liz Shannon Miller, Indiewire
• “Haunting, extraordinary storytelling. […] spellbinding and gutting.” —Allison Keene, Collider
• “[A] worthy, heartbreaking adaptation of the text, anchored by strong performances and profound visual grammar.” —Sonia Saraiya, Variety
• “This is a show that could work anytime and one that will likely be watched and discussed for years to come.” —Daniel D’Addario, TIME Magazine
• “Watch The Handmaid’s Tale generate tomorrow’s nightmares from today’s anxieties, smuggling in a little bit of beauty and resiliency under all that ugliness.” —Erik Adams, AV Club