Praises be. The Testaments is a welcome return to Gilead.

An evolution of The Handmaid’s Tale, The Testaments returns the viewer to Margaret Atwood’s repressive land of Gilead. Focusing on life within Aunt Lydia’s elite preparatory school for future wives, the series follows Agnes (Chase Infiniti), a dutiful young woman who is determined to rise through the ranks and showcase her skills. Things change quickly though when Agnes is paired with Daisy (Lucy Halliday), a new convert who comes from outside the borders of their society. Agnes is asked to help Daisy acclimatize to their world. However, Daisy has her own secrets, leading to tension within the school and, potentially, their entire corner of Gilead.

THE TESTAMENTS – “Precious Flowers” – In the halls of Aunt Lydia’s premarital preparatory academy, the finest in Gilead, Agnes is assigned to mentor a new Pearl Girl, and a fragile alliance begins. (Disney/Russ Martin)
ROWAN BLANCHARD, MATTEA CONFORTI, CHASE INFINITI, LUCY HALLIDAY, ISOLDE ARDIES

With the revival of the world of A Handmaid’s Tale, Testaments thankfully manages to chart its own course, even though it continues the story. Set in another corner of Gilead, the series immerses you in a place that we know but with an entirely new spirit and sensibilities. Once again brought to life by showrunner Bruce Miller, the series manages to convey Margaret Atwood’s brave new world with the same intensity as its predecessor yet finds new life within the eyes of its youth. This is still a space where the ‘good story’ of oppression is being actively passed to the next generation. However, as we know, young people have their own way of interpreting the world, embedding the series with the disquiet that can only come from youthfulness.

What’s more, The Testaments feels differently visually from its predecessor as well. Compared to one another, both Handmaid’s and Testaments carry similar sensibilities with cinematography. Both have cinematic appeal, with an emphasis on symmetry and order as an echo of the power structures of Gilead. However, while Handmaid’s Tale felt steeped in shadows and grime, Testaments feels… clean.

THE TESTAMENTS – “Precious Flowers” – In the halls of Aunt Lydia’s premarital preparatory academy, the finest in Gilead, Agnes is assigned to mentor a new Pearl Girl, and a fragile alliance begins. (Disney/Steve Wilkie)
CHASE INFINITI

Here, every colour and line within Gilead feels crisp and vibrant. Despite the corruption that lies underneath, the bright colours of this world fully embrace the sanitary nature of these young women. This is the world that Agnes knows. That she’s been raised in. So, to her, everything seems in order.

Of course, we know otherwise. After all, that sterility is offset with a world where the colours feel muted and grey. Through Daisy’s eyes, each flashback to the ‘world outside’ showcases more balanced sensibilities. In the ‘real world’, Daisy is allowed to express herself freely. Without giving any spoilers, every interaction that she has is tempered with a blend of joy and struggle.

In short, it’s… normal.

THE TESTAMENTS – “Daisy” – An incident on a school trip spurs Daisy’s memories of Toronto, revealing her past and a world shattered by violence. (Disney/Russ Martin)
LUCY HALLIDAY

Credit must also be given to some wonderful work from its lead performers. As Agnes, Infiniti carries herself with poise and grace. She fights back her inhibitions, realizing that to succumb to her passions would lead to suffering. For Agnes, this is the only world that she’s ever known and she believes that its normal. Even so, she knows that something isn’t right. And Infiniti breathes that tension between worlds into every line of dialogue.

At the same time, Halliday has all the fury of an empowered youth. Daisy believes in her sexual freedom and as such, attempting to place herself under the leadership of Gilead feels like a betrayal unto herself. And Halliday keeps that restlessness hidden behind her eyes as she attempts to maneuver her way through the preparatory school’s toxic political spectrum.

THE TESTAMENTS – “Perfect Teeth” – As Agnes begins the rituals that mark her coming of age, she struggles with the confusing stirrings of adolescence. Meanwhile, Daisy is subjected to Gilead’s system of discipline. (Disney/Russ Martin)
CHASE INFINITI

That juxtaposition undergirds the rebellious spirit embedded within The Testaments. Men are firmly placed in power but the adult women have become entirely complicit. They train the next generation to take up the mantle (or rather, burden) that has been placed upon their elders in order to convince them that this is the way that God intended the world to operate. Like its predecessor, Testaments is a showcase for the ways that religion can be used to validate practices of masculine dominance, oppression and, of course, abuse.

However, this depiction of Gilead also feels like the walls are closing in, even if those in power choose to deny it publicly. While these young women exist in the only world they’ve ever known, there’s a growing spirit of discontent that’s beginning to take hold. The desire for control is beginning to collide with the need for freedom, creating a powder keg of chaos that’s just waiting to have its fuse lit.

And it’s that burgeoning fire that makes Testaments a compelling reason to return to Gilead.

The first three episodes of The Testaments begin streaming on Disney+ on Wednesday, April 8th, 2026 with new episodes following weekly afterwards.