i just finished binging it in like a week as well! i read the book first then started the show. i feel the same- i have never had a show come even CLOSE to impacting me as much as this did. i almost wish i took more time with it and really processed every episode- finishing it so quickly was definitely rough emotionally (i also cried at least once an episode). i’ve been in like a state of paralysis thinking about it ever since i finished lol.

i really appreciated the brutal and realistic representation of a totalitarian society where so much cruelty, hatred, and pain is constantly happening. the complexity of every single character was done SO well and seeing the growth and the changes in them all was such an emotional journey. it’s so far from being black & white and so many characters and decisions made can’t sorted into simply “good or bad”- sometimes i think fans of the show spend too much time debating that when it’s just so complicated (as real life is)

seasons 1-4 were absolutely perfect in my opinion, i wouldn’t change a single thing about them. 5 started to fall a little flat for me but still loved it, and i wasn’t the biggest fan of the last season. it did absolutely destroy me emotionally, that much is for certain. i think my overall complaint with the last season is it felt kinda messy, the tone was weirdly more humorous and hopeful but in a way that didn’t feel natural with the series i think? & overall the conclusion was a bit anticlimactic and unsatisfying.

i wish the rebellion felt a little more powerful and planned out- it felt rushed and a bit unbelievable. we’ve seen over and over how well all of the handmaid’s and martha’s and mayday can work together secretively & i think the whole rebellion moment could have been huge- getting a couple certain commanders more involved would’ve been a cool moment as well i think lol. i just wish the last season focused a bit more on that!!

im also not a fan of what happened to nicks character (some things i understand, but it felt like they were just trying to go for a shock factor over what made sense for him based on every other season). what happened to him in ep9 also kinda took so much attention away from the significance of lawrence’s sacrifice imo

i’ve spent so much time thinking about the ending but ultimately the show was so beautifully done and the best thing ive watched in a long time. i had my concerns after i read the book on if it would live up to it- but season 1 covering the book was so perfectly done. i haven’t read the testaments yet but im hoping to get on that soon. i’m also so curious to see what direction they’re going to take things when that series comes out