Bye-Bye, Bingeing! How 'The Handmaid's Tale's Final Season Brought Back The Joy Of Weekly TV
The Handmaid's Tale is finally drawing to a close. The hit Hulu adaptation, which is now in its sixth and final series, of Margaret Atwood's 1985 novel foreshadowed much of the tumult that has unfolded in the world today. The series, which premiered in 2017, drew inspiration from Atwood's story but creators of the show extended the novel past its intended lifecycle to create the premise for the series. The result is a show that has stunned, shocked and seriously earned its stripes among its now-adoring legion of fans.
While the subjects of The Handmaid's Tale are far from the sort of frivolous fluff you might associate with joy, the ritual of sitting to watch the series' episodes as they have aired in the UK every week — and sharing in the collective joy of that experience with other fans of the show — has revitalised the modern-day TV viewing experience. In fact, it's precisely that joy of viewing anticipation that the show has so effortlessly imparted.
Of course, for regular TV watchers, this won't come as a great surprise. When Netflix launched its streaming service in 2007, it planted the seeds of a new way of watching television. While once upon a time, we'd abided by 'event-watching' or 'appointment viewing', suddenly a new, more expedient and immediate way of consuming television was introduced to the masses. The arrival of streaming accelerated the idea that on-demand viewing was the rule, rather than the exception. Upon its release onto Netflix in 2020, Bridgerton ascended the ranks to become the platform's most-watched series of all time, with a 82 million households streaming the show's eight episodes in its first month on Netflix. In the years since, Adolescence, Wednesday, Squid Game and Stranger Things have all muscled in on Bridgerton's success.
Yet the plates are once again shifting in the world of television. While the revelation of being able to binge entire TV series in a matter of hours redefined the consumption of content, there were virtues to the process of weekly releases and weekly time slots. They established a collective habit; across the nation, we'd sit down and watch television episodes live, as they aired for the first time. It created a communal television experience, which shifted when it became possible to binge-watch an entire TV series within a matter of hours.
It's precisely that feeling of collective watching — the sense that you're really part of something, of a very real and tangible viewing experience — that the weekly episodes of The Handmaid's Tale's sixth season have revived. It's clearly engaging devoted fans of the series, too. When it aired earlier this year in America, the series finale gathered 4.4 million views — marking a 22% increase in viewership compared to the season six premiere, according to Hulu's internal data.
It's not only The Handmaid's Tale that's redefining the viewing experience. Since launching in 2019, Apple TV+ has widely defied expectations and kept to weekly episode releases for its coterie of hit series, including the Emmy Award-winning series Severance and The Morning Show. The return to traditional TV watching is also being heralded by HBO, whose jewel in its crown, The White Lotus is also released weekly, while still creating monoculture-like moments.
In defiance of the binge-drop era, there is nothing — nothing! — like spending an entire seven-day stretch of your life percolating on what may become of your stable of beloved fictional characters. If there's anything worthy of bingeing, in fact, it's the joy of anticipation and the delay of instant gratification that comes with weekly episode releases. Praise be (and so long), The Handmaid's Tale.
ELLE Collective is a new community of fashion, beauty and culture lovers. For access to exclusive content, events, inspiring advice from our Editors and industry experts, as well the opportunity to meet designers, thought-leaders and stylists, become a member today HERE.
Naomi May is a freelance writer and editor with an emphasis on popular culture, lifestyle and politics. After graduating with a First Class Honours from City University's prestigious Journalism course, Naomi joined the Evening Standard as its Fashion and Beauty Writer, working across both the newspaper and website. She is now the Acting News Editor at ELLE UK and has written features for the likes of The Guardian, Vogue, Vice and Refinery29, among many others.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
an hour ago
- Newsweek
Exclusive: Joe Exotic Shares Updates on Prison Life and Deported Husband
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Joe Exotic, star of the Netflix documentary Tiger King that garnered him global attention during the COVID pandemic, told Newsweek in an exclusive new interview that he has "lost everything." Exotic, whose real name is Joseph Allen Maldonado, became a household name five years ago when Netflix aired a documentary centered on him, his affection for tigers, and a zany cast of characters working at his tiger sanctuary in Wynnewood, Oklahoma, from 1999 to 2018. Prior to the documentary's release, he was convicted of two counts of murder-for-hire against Carole Baskin—an adversary in Tiger King—and eventually sentenced to 21 years in prison. This November marks eight years that he's behind bars. Exotic claims to have never reaped any rewards for being the centerpiece. In fact, he said he hadn't even seen Tiger King until about five months ago because he's currently weighing his legal options in a battle with the streaming giant. The 62-year-old spoke at length with Newsweek via phone from inside the Federal Medical Center in Fort Worth, Texas, about his health issues, how he reacted and is dealing with his husband's deportation to Mexico, and how he has sought pardons or a commuted sentence from numerous politicians and celebrities, including President Donald Trump. Health Issues Exotic has prostate cancer and cancer in his left lung. The day prior to the interview, he went to the doctor and was directed to take another PET scan because it's believed the cancer from his prostate has spread to his ribs. Even while held inside a medical facility to do his time, he called the medical care within "pathetic." "My earliest out date right now is October 1, 2030," he said. "With the medical care I get in here, I probably won't even make it five more years." "Tiger King" star Joe Exotic spoke with Newsweek about his prison experience, health issues, fighting back against Netflix, and how he's dealt with the deportation of his husband. "Tiger King" star Joe Exotic spoke with Newsweek about his prison experience, health issues, fighting back against Netflix, and how he's dealt with the deportation of his husband. Newsweek Illustration/Canva/Getty/AP Newsroom Deported Husband In May, his 33-year-old husband Jorge Marquez Flores was deported to Mexico for illegal entry to the United States, after completing a federal prison sentence. Exotic has attempted different forms of pleas and outreach to reunite and live with Flores someday in the U.S., including offering to give the government half his earnings in exchange for a post-prison—in addition to saying he would purchase one of Trump's "gold cards" floated as a broader method to grant U.S. residency to those who invest $5 million in the country. Exotic speaks with Flores, who he last saw in person on May 16, two to three times a day. "He is in Mexico at his aunt's house, praying to God and making videos, asking President Trump for forgiveness and to let [him] come home," Exotic said. "Our plan is, I'm gonna go to Mexico. I really want to go live in Cozumel." He added: "I will work to do whatever I got to do, to either buy a Trump gold card for him, or to go through the asylum process to get him back into America the right way because he shouldn't have come in the wrong way. He knows that; I know that. We don't hold him being deported against anybody because that's the law." Pleas for Pardons In April 2019, a federal jury found him guilty on two counts of hiring someone to murder Baskin, founder of Big Cat Rescue in Florida, eight counts of violating the Lacey Act by falsifying wildlife records, and nine counts of violating the Endangered Species Act by killing five tigers and selling tigers across state lines. Regarding Baskin, he said the documentary portrayed her as close to who she actually is. "To this day you'll never convince me she didn't kill her husband because I investigated it for almost 10 years, and I have her original diary," Exotic said. "I interviewed all of her staff and all of her past staff. She killed him." Baskin has denied that she had any involvement in her husband's disappearance or death. Exotic also takes umbrage with the Endangered Species Act charges. "That's my ultimate goal, to prove that generic tigers that are branded in captivity in the United States do not belong on the United States endangered species list because the endangered species list of 1973 was written to protect the native species and the habitats of our lands," he said. "Tigers, elephants, chimpanzees, orangutans, none of that belongs on our endangered species [list]. We are spending billions of dollars regulating something in America that is protected." Exotic continues to try to talk to anybody who will listen in hope he can get a pardon, or at least an early release. Representative Lauren Boebert, a Colorado Republican, said last week that her office received an inquiry from Exotic for help. He's made additional reach outs to lawmakers and celebrities including Secretary of State Marco Rubio (when he was a senator), former GOP Florida Representative Matt Gaetz, Joe Rogan, Andrew Tate, Dana White, Hulk Hogan, and President Trump. "I've got a lot of big names out there asking President Trump to make this right," Exotic said. "Why he won't is beyond all of us. You know, he would be so popular and so praised if he would just let me go home." He added: "I don't even need a pardon because I would take just a commuted sentence to time served because I don't need to carry a gun and I don't do drugs. I just need to be able to travel to work because I can become a millionaire with this platform and do good with my charity work as a felon." He said he "looks up" to Trump, who he acknowledged to also be a felon "persecuted by the very same government that persecuted me." Prisoners 'Drooling' From Drug Use "I would never believe it if I didn't live it," Exotic says about his days in prison, which he says is akin more to a college dormitory than doors and bars you would see in TV or movies. He gets up around 7 or 8 a.m., takes a shower, and then watches his fellow inmates in the low-security facility. "Drugs in here is crazy," he said. "You would never believe how many drugs are inside a federal prison. And that's why when I was running for president, I was like, you are so wasting your time on drugs against the war on the border when you can't keep them out of a fenced-in federal is nothing but a college for wannabe drug addicts." He said he spends days watching half the prison population "act like 2-year-olds drooling because they're so high on synthetic marijuana." Fame But Being Alone "It is it overwhelming and gratifying that the entire world knows who I am," he admitted. "I absolutely am upset that they made me out to be a meth head and some crazy fool." Exotic said he gets along with everyone in prison because he honors his words and minds his own business. His life outside is emptier. Both his parents died, one in 2019 and the other in 2020. His husband is in a foreign country and may not be able to return. His three siblings have maintained no contact with him since 1997, which he says is because he's a homosexual. "There is light at the end of the tunnel," he said. "But what keeps me going—I've never even had a speeding ticket. I have no criminal history, period. I know who I am, and my parents raised me to do right." He continued: "And even though I've lost everything I've ever worked for, I am so looking forward to walking out these gates—whether it's with President Trump's blessing or not, and making my life or what I have left of it 10 times better than the life that I had. And I had a pretty good life."
Tom's Guide
an hour ago
- Tom's Guide
The most surreal noir thriller of the year just landed on Hulu — and it will stick with you for days
If you're a fan of Hollywood, you probably watched "The Studio," Apple's critically acclaimed comedy about the movie-making business. But if you're a fan of the noir genre, you were probably disappointed by the show's least successful episode. Smack dab in the middle of "The Studio," the series shifts gears and becomes a shadowy thriller in which Seth Rogen's bumbling studio head attempts to track down a stolen film reel. The episode was a tonal misfire, a rare blip in an otherwise near-perfect season of television and a bummer to anyone whose favorite movie is "Double Indemnity," "Chinatown" or any other noir classic. But to paraphrase a famous Bible verse, when Hollywood takes away, it also gives. And in this case, that gift comes in the form of "The Actor," an indie noir about the dark side of show business that just made its streaming debut on Hulu. "The Actor" is everything that "The Studio's" noir detour failed to be: a taut, trippy, and fiercely authentic thriller that blurs the lines of cinema and reality until they're completely unrecognizable. "The Actor" is the kind of movie that's best watched knowing as little as possible, but if you insist, I'll give you a brief overview. Paul Cole (André Holland) is an actor traveling with a theater troupe who decides to sleep with a married woman while on the road. After the husband gives him a brutal beating, Paul winds up with amnesia and gets stranded somewhere in the Midwest. Without enough money to get back home to New York , he takes a $5 bus to a mysterious town and finds a job at the local factory. He also meets a beguiling woman (Gemma Chan) and begins to fall in love. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. In the movie's meaty second act, an old playbill triggers Paul's memory just enough to dislodge his New York address. He heads home, but soon learns some disturbing truths about the man he once was. After struggling to revive his acting career — his utter failure to deliver a single line for a minor role on live television leads to the movie's most stressful moment — Paul attempts to make his way back to a town and a woman he can barely remember. "The Actor" isn't so much a movie about the business of acting as it is a warning about the perils of the profession. Even without the amnesia, Paul lives a sad and depressing life. When he arrives in New York, he learns he was juggling several girlfriends, all of whom seem to hate him. His old friends aren't much better, goading Paul into telling offensive jokes and snickering at him behind his back. It's only when Paul abandons that career for a job in a factory that he seems to find some measure of happiness. But while "The Actor" is surprisingly short on scenes about acting, its promise of noir storytelling comes through in every frame. Filmed on a soundstage in Budapest, where director Duke Johnson could control each tiny variable, the movie is bathed in moody shadows and shades of grey. The music, dialogue, and direction come together to perfectly recreate the feeling of a femme fatale mystery. There's no hesitation or winking at the audience, just pure commitment to this high-concept cinematic vision. At the center of the film is André Holland, who appears in nearly every scene and beautifully conveys the experience of a man drifting through life with no memories of his past. Paul is somehow both perpetually lost and unnaturally confident, as if amnesia robbed him not just of his life story but of his anxiety, too. It's hard to imagine anyone else in the role (although, fun fact: Ryan Gosling was originally set to star before dropping out for scheduling reasons). Holland's performance alone is enough to anchor "The Actor," but the rest of the cast isn't slacking either. It's clear everyone involved is fully devoted to both the noir aesthetic that envelopes the film like cigarette smoke, and the Hollywood critique at its core. Each scene and each line feels pulled straight out of some lost 1940s thriller. It just goes to show what's possible when you decide on a bit and stick to it. Stream "The Actor" on Hulu
Tom's Guide
3 hours ago
- Tom's Guide
I would definitely cancel Peacock and Hulu this month — here's why
With summer in full swing, you're probably spending more time outdoors—and less time glued to your TV. So why keep paying for streaming subscriptions you barely touch? Summer is the perfect time to cut down on monthly costs. In 2025, streaming costs are higher than ever. Americans pay an average of $61 a month for streaming services, according to a Deloitte report — or a hefty $732 a year. But you can save a chunk of that by pausing a service or two. It's easy to hop back in when a must-watch show or movie finally drops. In July 2025, I recommend canceling Hulu and Peacock. Both services are rated highly on our list of best streaming services for their solid catalogs, but their upcoming lineups are pretty quiet, with no big premieres or buzzworthy originals dropping soon. Unless there's something specific you're catching up on, you can safely drop them for now and resubscribe when they have something you really want to watch. Here's why I think you should consider canceling Peacock and Hulu this month. Hulu boasts a fantastic library, particularly when it comes to TV shows. Not only does it have acclaimed originals like "The Handmaid's Tale," it houses FX series like "The Bear" and "Shogun" and airs new episodes of ABC shows the next day. "The Bear" season 4 recently dropped all episodes in late June, and if you haven't binged them, perhaps you may want to consider keeping Hulu. But likely, most fans have run through the entire season. July doesn't have much new to offer. The biggest original is "Washington Black," a limited series drama following a young boy fleeing a sugar plantation in the early 1800s. It's got a star-studded cast that includes Sterling K. Brown, Tom Ellis, Charles Dance and Billy Boyd. "Washington Black" looks fantastic and I'll certainly watch it ... after I resubscribe to Hulu down the road. The miniseries doesn't premiere until July 23 and I can wait a couple of weeks to binge it. Meanwhile, the only other noteworthy new titles on Hulu this month are "Bachelor in Paradise" season 10 (premiering July 7) and "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" season 17 (premiering July 9). The latter is a show that's much better binged, so waiting a month or two is more than doable. As for "Bachelor in Paradise," you can watch ABC for free the old-fashioned way — with a TV antenna. Mine is hooked up to a Sling AirTV Anywhere device so I can record shows to watch later. But if you don't have this setup, some smart TVs have a built-in antenna or you can get an antenna to hook up to your smart TV. As for Peacock its July schedule is a desert when it comes to originals. The only one is "Twisted Metal" season 2. Anthony Mackie and Stephanie Beatriz return in the post-apocalyptic action comedy, which sees their characters entering the deadly Twisted Metal tournament, a sinister demolition derby hosted by a mysterious man known as Calypso. Looks like a riot, but "Twisted Metal" season 2 doesn't even premiere until the very last day of the month, July 31. You're not missing out on much else ... unless you're a fan of "Love Island." Season 7 of the dating competition series will continue airing episodes throughout July. So if you can't get enough of the drama and romance in the villa (and Casa Amor), you should keep Peacock. How much you can save by canceling Peacock and Hulu depends on which tiers you currently have. The ad-supported Peacock Premium is $8 per month, while ad-free Premium Plus (with the live NBC feed) is $14. Ad-supported Hulu is $10, and ad-free Hulu is a whopping $19. So, if you have the basic standalone versions of both, you'll save $18. If you have the highest, ad-free tiers, you'll save $33. That may not sound like a lot, but churning various streaming services throughout the year can save you well over a few hundred dollars. Put that toward your summer vacation or stockpile it for holiday shopping at the end of the year.
