While my admiration and respect for this show didn't fade away in season 2 like it did for many others, I did start to realize the never-ending cloud of gloom and doom looming over the show's characters. This is by no means bad storytelling - we're talking about Gilead after all - but the pay-off of all this torture was never quite there. But the third season premiere, taking on the same title as season 1's finale, has brought about the dawn of change: there's actually hope! "Night" is an incredibly beautiful, heart-warming, and yes, uplifting episode. The pay-off that people have been waiting for since this show's inception has finally arrived, and in such beautiful fashion. The cast is once again (to no one's surprise) utterly fantastic; Elisabeth Moss and Yvonne Strahovski continue to soar, and Alexis Bledel just makes you want to weep. Bruce Miller's script is focused and poignant, Mike Barker's direction is enchanting, Colin Watkinson's cinematography has never been more stunning, and Adam Taylor's score feels heightened but better than ever.
This show got its fair share of criticism last year, but this season has started off on the right foot! It deserves to sweep next year's Emmys, already. This is an important show that I feel needs to be seen by everyone.