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The Handmaid's Tale Watch Order in the correct order

How to watch The Handmaid's Tale and The Testaments in order

Last updated: July 20 2026

Written by: ChronoChris

The Handmaid's Tale is one of the most acclaimed dystopian dramas of its era, based on Margaret Atwood's seminal novel. With a companion series in development, now is the perfect time to experience the full story of Gilead.

Starring Elisabeth Moss in a career-defining performance, The Handmaid's Tale premiered on Hulu in 2017 and won a historic eight Emmy Awards in its first season. The show imagines a near-future theocratic America called Gilead where fertile women are enslaved as 'Handmaids.' Based on Margaret Atwood's 1985 novel and later expanded beyond the book, the series ran for six seasons. A sequel series, The Testaments, based on Atwood's 2019 sequel novel, is in development.

🕐 Release Order

Release order follows the show's production timeline, which is also the only meaningful watch order available right now.

  1. The Handmaid's Tale — Season 1 (2017)
  2. The Handmaid's Tale — Season 2 (2018)
  3. The Handmaid's Tale — Season 3 (2019)
  4. The Handmaid's Tale — Season 4 (2021)
  5. The Handmaid's Tale — Season 5 (2022)
  6. The Handmaid's Tale — Season 6 (2025)
  7. The Testaments (upcoming spinoff)

Season 1 closely adapts Atwood's novel, while Seasons 2 through 6 venture into original territory. The show maintains a consistent narrative thread across all seasons, so watching in order is essential.

📖 Story Chronology

Story chronology is identical to release order. The narrative is entirely linear, following Offred (June Osborne) and the world of Gilead from the early days of the regime through its consequences years later.

  1. The Handmaid's Tale — Season 1 (early Gilead, closely follows the novel)
  2. The Handmaid's Tale — Seasons 2–6 (expanding beyond the novel)
  3. The Testaments (set 15 years after the novel's events)

Which Order Should You Choose?

There is no debate here — start with Season 1 and watch straight through. The Handmaid's Tale is a sequential drama with deep character development that rewards patience. If you've read Atwood's original novel, the first season will feel familiar but the show quickly charts its own course. Reading The Testaments novel before or after watching the series is a great companion to the screen adaptation when it arrives.

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Did we miss anything? Let us know and we'll keep this guide up to date!