The Testaments

Why did it get this rating?

This series was self-rated by Disney+. You can find out more about self-rating by streaming providers here.

Violence

Similar to The Handmaid’s Tale the series includes cruel violence that might be uncomfortable for some viewers. The strongest scenes include:

• Bodies hang from ropes as a threatening symbol.
• A man has his hand sawn off after he was caught masturbating on school grounds. The students cheer as they watch.
• A character sits in the middle of a circle with a mask covering her mouth as punishment for using offensive language and blasphemy. She is shamed by the students surrounding her and is told she is a “dirty girl” and a “slut”. In the following scene her and another character are forced to brush their teeth with soap while being hit with a stick as punishment.
• A brief glimpse of a murder victim with a bullet wound through their cheek.
• We see dead bodies and bloody marks on the road after an attack.

Sexual violence

In the second episode, while having her teeth whitened, Agnes is sexually assaulted by a friend’s father, who is also the dentist. Without warning, he makes an inappropriate comment about her breasts being tender (referencing her recent period) and then touches her breast over her clothing under the guise of adjusting the weighted bib for an X-ray. Agnes is visibly uncomfortable throughout the interaction.

In the fourth episode it is strongly implied that Agnes is assaulted again by the same dentist when she noticed that her shirt had been unfastened after being sedated for a procedure.

Sex scenes

In episode three we see a couple kssing before the camera cuts away. We subsequently see the couple, her clothed and him topless, sitting on the bed implying they had sex.

Content that may disturb

Set in the dystopian society of Gilead, an oppressive regime where women and girls are strictly controlled, the series explores a world shaped by rigid rules, surveillance, and the normalisation of violence and coercion.

In episode three characters smoke and share a spliff. Later a character mentions that she’s ‘still pretty stoned’.

Offensive language

There’s strong language used very occasionally. Examples include 'f*ck', ‘f*ck off’, ‘pardon f*cking me’, and ‘hangs me by the balls’, ‘wanted to bone him’.

Helplines:

The sexual violence could be upsetting for some viewers, especially for those who have gone through similar experiences. If you are struggling with what you have seen on-screen please reach out for help. If you or someone you know needs to talk:

• 1737
• Safe to talk
• Lifeline
• Youthline

Further information

Why are ratings and content warnings important for me and my whānau?