The first season of The Handmaid's Tale contains 10 episodes.
Hulu ordered the series directly to a 10-episode first season, adapting Margaret Atwood's 1985 dystopian novel while expanding its world and character arcs for television. The season premiered on April 26, 2017.
The first three episodes were released together at launch, while the remaining seven episodes were released weekly. This release pattern helped establish the show's early momentum while preserving the suspense of its serialized story.
The season follows June Osborne, renamed Offred, as she navigates Gilead's reproductive system, the Waterford household, and the beginnings of resistance. The number is sometimes confused with later seasons, which have different episode counts; the 10-episode figure applies specifically to season one.