Right before The Handmaid’s Tale's season 5 premiered on September 14, Hulu announced that the series would conclude with season 6. As the penultimate season sets the stage for June standing up against the oppressive regime, there will be quite a wait for fans for the following season to see how it all ends, and it’s best to line up alternatives that offer similar entertainment.
These shows range from dystopian thrillers such as Snowpiercer to shows that tackle heavy-handed themes like Black Mirror. The Handmaid’s Tale viewers will find many elements to be appealing in these materials, which have their own style and identity that makes them worth a watch.
The Leftovers (2014-17)
Stream On HBO Max
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The Leftovers follows people in a town who are adjusting to the world after an event that caused 2% of the population to simply vanish. The rise of cults from the fallout leads to a chaotic landscape where everyone tries to survive. The Handmaid’s Tale’s tragic and psychological thriller elements are reminiscent of The Leftovers.
There are several great characters to follow in The Leftovers, as the protagonists have to grapple with a world where anything can happen due to rising fanaticism. It’s a bold, sad, and poignant story set in a possible future that deals with how people are likely to react.
Westworld (2016-)
Stream On HBO Max
Westworld is set at a theme park based on the wild west where androids cater to customers’ every need. The androids ultimately rise against the ill-treatment they receive, taking their reach to the outside world. Much like The Handmaid’s Tale, Westworld is a dystopian drama centering around the lack of choice for the protagonists.
Westworld made an impact immediately upon release, going on to become one of the most-viewed HBO series premieres ever. The series has been lauded by critics for its hard-hitting themes that The Handmaid’s Tale fans will find right up their alley.
Brave New World (2020)
Stream On Peacock
Brave New World depicts a supposed utopia where people live idyllic lifestyles until the arrival of a few outsiders who upset the system. With free thinking added into the mix, this society goes into a collision course. The Handmaid’s Tale fans will be appealed by the idea of the environment that Brave New World features.
The series is a highly provocative look into rebellion set during a period where the smallest of sparks can create a societal collapse. The Handmaid’s Tale has a similar premise of people thinking for themselves when they’re not supposed to, which makes Brave New World a worthy series to watch.
The Americans (2013-18)
Stream On Hulu
Set during the Cold War, The Americans follows a Soviet spy couple posing as American citizens along with their two children. Their attempts to infiltrate the government through discreet tactics and the impact it has on them make up The Americans’ primary outline.
The Handmaid’s Tale viewers will connect with The Americans’ tense tone, with the series staying quick on its feet as the main characters frequently cover up their tracks. The bleak outlook and gray characters are reminiscent of The Handmaid’s Tale general setting.
Snowpiercer (2020-)
Stream On Direct TV
Snowpiercer is largely known as Chris Evans’ best non-MCU movie for most fans, but it has spawned a TV series of its own. The story is about the surviving humans on a perpetually moving train that has developed a class system, with the low-level citizens looking to stage an uprising.
Snowpiercer’s dystopian atmosphere is along the lines of The Handmaid’s Tale, as well as the theme of characters being controlled by authoritative figures. Snowpiercer also tackles the theme of survival to go with social injustice, class warfare, and action-oriented material.
The Man In the High Castle (2015-19)
Stream On Amazon Prime Video
The Man in the High Castle is set in an alternate history where the outcome of WWII happened in favor of the Axis Powers. As a result, the main story’s premise in 1962 America follows the struggles of the characters who have to survive under intense scrutiny.
Much as in The Handmaid’s Tale, The Man in the High Castle’s bleak outlook sets up the protagonists to upset the system and make a difference. The ensemble cast provides a platform for different personalities to shine, all of whom have their own backstories and tragic histories.
Black Mirror (2011-)
Stream On Netflix
Black Mirror focuses on the dangers of technology and depicts possible futures that have come about due to the excessive influence technology has. The Handmaid’s Tale fans will like Black Mirror’s totalitarian world since it closely resembles that of the former series.
Black Mirror is an anthology drama, meaning every episode has a different story and setting. The grim outlook of most of the best Black Mirror episodes is along the lines of The Handmaid’s Tale, with both shows detailing the sadness and loneliness that many live with.
3% (2016-20)
Stream On Netflix
3% is a dystopian thriller set in the future, centering around 20-year-old individuals who have to undergo fierce trials to escape the impoverished land they inhabit. Playing true to its title, only 3% of the candidates are successful, which makes the process nearly impossible to complete.
The Handmaid’s Tale circles around the topic of people being deprived of their right to choose, with 3% also playing around with this idea. The series shows the survival instinct in young people and the conditions that can drive them to make difficult choices they will have to live with.
Colony (2016-18)
Buy On Google Play
Colony is a science fiction drama that showcases the efforts of humanity to rise up against their alien captors. With the aliens setting a military occupation of Earth, the protagonists have to both exist with their rules and look for a way to drive the antagonists out.
While The Handmaid’s Tale isn’t entrenched in sci-fi as Colony is, the two shows share the dystopian style that makes up the backbone of their stories. Moreover, Colony’s set-up of characters looking to stand up their oppressors will be intriguing to fans of The Handmaid’s Tale.
Alias Grace (2017)
Stream On Netflix
Alias Grace is another series based on a novel by Margaret Atwood, just like The Handmaid’s Tale. The story is about a psychiatrist who has to determine if the handmaid convicted of killing her owners is truly guilty or if she has been unjustly framed for the incident.
Apart from having a handmaid as the main character, Alias Grace’s similarity to The Handmaid’s Tale comes from a similar episode structure and various twists that change the context of the story. The overall presentation of the backdrop of Alias Grace should also feel familiar to The Handmaid’s Tale fans.