9 February 2018
QUIZ: Who are you in The Handmaid’s Tale?
The Handmaid’s Tale is not the kind of show you forget when you go to bed. You think about it just before falling asleep. You think about the Ceremony and about Aunt Lydia’s indoctrination (read: torture) sessions. And it terrifies you. Make no mistake, this is the most shocking show on TV, and it’s not even in the horror genre. But that should not stop you from watching. In fact, it’s the eeriness and the ease with which it embraces its darkest moments that makes The Handmaid’s Tale one of the best shows in modern-day television.
The Handmaid’s Tale, Season 1, is now streaming on Showmax, and Season 2 is slated to air in April in the States.
The show is set in a futuristic version of the US, after a far-right group of Christian fundamentalists violently overthrew the government and renamed the country as Gilead. They stripped women of all their rights and reorganised society completely so that only the rich and powerful, those high up in the new regime, could have children – because the biggest problem facing the country is the steep decline in birth rates. If the thought of this as a possible future doesn’t send you into panic mode, then we need to talk. Imagine us just walking around and exchanging odd phrases to one another like “Blessed be the fruit”, “Praise be” and “Under his eye”!
It’s hard enough to imagine yourself as a Handmaid. But what about the other characters? Which one would you be if you – heaven forbid – had to live in Gilead? Let’s find out.
Original African stories by local talent
Original Sin: My Son The Killer
Original Sin: My Son The Killer follows the murder of Andrea Venter by Gerhard Jansen van Vuuren, who then went on the run from South Africa to Brazil.
Tracking Thabo Bester
From the makers of Devilsdorp and the director of Convict Conman comes the true-crime documentary South Africa has been waiting for. Two episodes now streaming, and the remaining two episodes land on 22 March 2024 on Showmax.
The Illuminated
The Showmax Original docuseries The Illuminated explores different religious movements in South Africa. Stream now, with new episodes every Wednesday.
Koek S1
The crime comedy Koek, starring Cindy Swanepoel, now streaming on Showmax, with new episodes every Thursday.
Ekhaya Backpackers S1
Stream the Showmax Original comedy series Ekhaya Backpackers, with new episodes every Thursday.
Cheta M
Cheta M explores the love story between Adanna and Nnanna, young lovers who battle the spiritual and political forces in their way. Stream now, with new episodes Wednesday to Friday.
Youngins S1
Stream Tshedza Pictures’s first teen drama, Showmax Original Youngins, with three new episodes every week.
Sadau Sisters S1
Rahma, Zainab, Aisha, and Fatima Sadau pull back the curtain on their family, fame, and lifestyle. Stream now on Showmax.
All episodes of Second family are now streaming
Single Kiasi S3: The girls are back
The best movies to stream
10 movies everyone’s watching on Showmax now
Stream these 10 fun, eye-popping movies that your fellow Showmax fans are loving, including Queen & Slim, Babylon, Equalizer 3 and more.
Transformers movies on Showmax: ranked
All seven Transformers movies are ready to stream on Showmax, including the 2007 original and the latest, Rise of the Beasts.
DC superhero movies on Showmax: ranked
See the ranked list of DC superhero movies now streaming on Showmax, including the feel-good Shazam! Fury of the Gods.
The best British movies to stream
From gangsters in bowler hats to wedding guests in feathered hats, comedy to drama, here are some of the best British movies streaming on Showmax now.