Season 1 is - the other seasons have their moments but risk circling the drain of their own premises. I think it would probably have been better to move Moss behind the camera, producing and directing, and focus on a new handmaid each season. I can see why they got addicted to close-ups of her looking miserable though - she is very good at that.

The first season aligns with the book.

Watch that, and then read the book and the sequel, The Testaments.

And ignore the rest

The first season definitely. The source material is a masterpiece. The rest of the seasons I would not bother with.

In short, yes, it is a show worth watching. Take it season by season, stop when it's not worth it anymore.

As a show you can binge I expect it will be better than the ratings reflect. The weaker episodes will just be forgotten.

Luckily that's a problem for later on as the show starts strong. Maybe by season 4/5 are where things start to fall off, but you'll have plenty within the first three seasons that are great. Even 4/5 have their moments, it's just that the show has shifted dramatically by then.

Yes.

Please be ready for them though.

I thought they were all generally good seasons but……

They’re very intense, so yeah

Gets kinda soapy, but I also think a lot of television is passing unless it's a limited series.

I remember enjoying the first three, I don't think I've seen past that