10 Best TV Shows Of 2018 (So Far)

10. The Handmaid's Tale

The first season of Hulu's dystopian drama was a massive success, gaining critical acclaim, awards buzz, and a lot of cultural relevance. However, with Season 2 taking the show beyond Margaret Atwood's novel, could it sustain another run (with an extra three episodes, no less)?

The answer is a mix of yes and no. The Handmaid's Tale's second season isn't as strong as its Emmy-winning debut, with some frustrating storytelling and a relentless bleakness that made it hard, at times, to even want to keep watching, while the finale leaves some big question marks over its future.

On so many other levels, though, the series is incredible. You won't find too many better performances on TV than Elisabeth Moss' turn as June, who is capable of saying so much without ever opening her mouth, and yet she's matched step-for-step, scream-for-scream here by Yvonne Strahovski, who makes you empathise with Serena Joy even as she'd doing despicable things.

It's beautifully shot with an oft-mesmerising colour palette, and this season widens its lens to look more at the effects of living in a totalitarian society and how it changes a person. Awfully relevant, often horrific, and unflinching in its story, the show ultimately grips you even if you would prefer to look the other way.