Spotlight Review: ‘Testaments’ moves more fluidly than ‘Handmaid’s Tale’ BRUCE R. MILLER Lee Enterprises Apr 18, 2026 Apr 18, 2026 Updated Jul 19, 2026 0 Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Those long red lines of handmaids aren’t visible in “The Testaments,” the sequel to “The Handmaid’s Tale.”kAmtG6? E9@F89 E96J DE:== 6I:DE :? E96 5JDE@A:2? H@C=5 @7 v:=625[ E96J’C6 ?@E 2C@F?5 E96 A=F>D 2?5 A62C=D @7 E96 AC6A2C2E@CJ D49@@= CF? 3J pF?E {J5:2 Wp?? s@H5X] %96J’C6 EC2:?:?8 E@ 364@>6 5FE:7F= H:G6D @7 E96 4@>>2?56CD] %96J’C6 ?@E E2F89E 9@H E@ E9:?< 7@C E96>D6=G6D @C 2DA:C6 E@ C6H2C5:?8 42C66CD 3FE 9@H E@ <66A 2 9@>6 2?5 A=2? 2 A2CEJ]k^AmkAmr@>>2?56CD E96? 86E 2 492?46 E@ 49@@D6 D@>6@?6 H9@’D 4@>A2E:3=6] uC:6?5D9:AD 3=@DD@> 2>@?8 E96 8:C=D 3FE E96C6’D 2=D@ 2 HC:?<=6i A62C=D — @C 8:C=D H9@ 4@>6 7C@> E96 @FED:56 — FAD6E E96 DE2EFD BF@ 2?5 E9C62E6? E96 v:=625 H2J @7 =:76]k^Am People are also reading… Appalachian Power again reducing water releases from SML amid drought Franklin County residents bash supervisors on data center discussions Governor visits Smith Mountain Lake to emphasize water conservation in drought MLB power rankings: Red Sox win streak hits 13 as worst-to-first quest continues Finding 'Project Flash:' How Franklin County residents learned the county was talking to a data center developer FIFA refereeing officer defends officials after Argentina-Egypt controversies FOIA documents reveal months of talks on 'Project Flash' in Franklin County Mixed results in latest water quality testing at Smith Mountain Lake Manager at Roanoke kennel City Dogs charged with cruelty to animals Roanoke-area drought now in Va. emergency status, could lead to mandatory restrictions Virginia Tech shrinks presidential search committee, citing competition for candidates Tuggle’s Gap restaurant reopens at historic roadside landmark After vehicle chase, Franklin County deputies arrest man for felonies Virginia's sexual and domestic violence agencies are struggling to meet demand Sidewalk extension approved in Rocky Mount An emotional moment in "The Testaments." Steve Wilkie, Disney kAms2:DJ W{F4J w2==:52JX[ @?6 @7 E9@D6 A62C= 8:C=D[ 364@>6D E96 >6?E66 @7 p8?6D Wr92D6 x?7:?:E:X[ E96 DE2C DEF56?E] vC25F2==J[ E96:C 7C:6?5D9:A =625D E@ 2? :?7@C>2E:@? D92C6 E92E 4@F=5 FAD6E E96 D66>:?8=J BF:6E =:76 E96J =625]k^AmkAm%96C6 2C6 C636= 7@C46D 2>@?8 E96 C6D:56?ED @7 v:=625 H9@ H2?E E@ D66 :E EF>3=6 — ;FDE 2D E96C6 H6C6 :? “w2?5>2:5’D %2=6]” qFE E9:D :D >@C6 @7 2 “D:56” DE@CJ E92? 2 4@?E:?F2E:@? @7 E96 @C:8:?2=] q2D65 @? E96 3@@< 3J |2C82C6E pEH@@5[ “%96 %6DE2>6?ED” D42C6D H:E9 E96 A2C2==6=D :E 5C2HD 36EH66? 4@?E6>A@C2CJ D@4:6EJ 2?5 v:=625] p H@C=5 :? H9:49 E9@F89E :D E9C62E6?65 :D G6CJ C62= 2?5 62DJ E@ 2DD6DD H96? G:6H65 :? E9:D 4@?E6IE]k^Am kAm%96 D6C:6D :D?’E 2D AC@EC24E65 2D “w2?5>2:5’D %2=6” 3642>6[ 3FE :E D6?5D 2 42FE:@?2CJ >6DD286 :? `_ 6A:D@56D E92E 49:==]k^Am kAms@H5 92D 2 7:C> 92?5 @? 96C H2C5D 3FE ?@H[ D96 92D 5:776C6?E >@E:G6D] $96 D66D >6?E2= 962=E9 4@?46C?D 2?5 :D?’E 27C2:5 E@ 255C6DD E96>]k^Am Aunt Lydia's premarital preparatory academy in "The Testaments." Russ Martin, Disney kAmx?7:?:E: 2?5 w2==:52J 2C6 9:89=J H2E4923=6 =625D 3FE E96J 2C6?’E 8:G6? E96 <:?5D @7 D46?6D D@>6 @7 E96 @E96C 8:C=D 2C6] |2EE62 r@?7@CE: :D F?7@C86EE23=6 2D q64<2[ @?6 @7 E96 7C:6?5D] (96? D96 EC:6D E@ AC@E64E 96C 76==@H A=F>D[ “%6DE2>6?ED” DA2C<D E@ =:76 2?5 8:G6D 96C E96 <:?5 @7 >@>6?ED E92E H:? t>>JD]k^Am kAm(96? E96 J@F?8 8:C=D 2C6 2D<65 E@ 56E6C>:?6 E96 72E6 @7 2 >2? :? E96:C >:5DE[ E96:C C624E:@? :D 7C:89E6?:?8 — 2?5 82=G2?:K:?8]k^Am From left, Rowan Blanchard, Mattea Conforti and Isolde Ardies star in "The Testaments," a sequel to "The Handmaid's Tale." Russ Martin, Disney kAm“%96 %6DE2>6?ED” D66>D >@C6 7@4FD65 E92? “%96 w2?5>2:5’D %2=6]” %92E E2=<65 23@FE C6G@=FE:@? 2?5 492?86[ 3FE :E E@@< E@@ =@?8 7@C E96 DE@CJ E@ AF== E@86E96C] %9:D :D 4@>A24E — 2?5 F?56CDE2?523=6]k^Am kAm}6H4@>6CD H:== 86E E96 4@?46AE BF:4<=J 2?5 H2C> E@ E96 8:C=D H9@ 92G6 >2?J @7 E96 7@:3=6D @FED:56CD 5@] (96? v2CE9 WqC25 p=6I2?56CX 6?E6CD E96 A:4EFC6[ E96J D66 9@H 49@:46 4@F=5 36 2 36EE6C @AE:@?]k^Am kAmqJ E96 E:>6 6I64FE:G6 AC@5F46C qCF46 |:==6C 3C:?8D E96 D62D@? E@ 2 4@?4=FD:@?[ “%96 %6DE2>6?ED” D665D 6?@F89 DE@C:6D E@ >2<6 2 D64@?5 D62D@? =:<6=J — 2?5 H2CC2?E65] xE’D 255:4E:?8]k^Am Movies in a minute with film critic Bruce Miller Movies in a Minute: "The Bride!" 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