Move Over The Handmaid’s Tale: Netflix’s Unchosen Is the Dystopian Hit Everyone’s Bingeing

Netflix has a new obsession, and if you were left with an existential void after the end of The Handmaid's Tale, this one might just fill it—at least, according to a very enthusiastic corner of the internet. Unchosen dropped in April and instantly started dominating the streaming charts, serving up its own version of cultish control and creepy social commentary. Except this time, we’re not in a Gilead-style nightmare; this story lands a lot closer to the real world—and yeah, maybe that makes it even more unsettling.

What Unchosen Is Actually About

So, what’s the deal? Unchosen is the brainchild of Julie Gearey, a Netflix original that’s getting compared to The Handmaid's Tale left and right. No, there’s no Margaret Atwood involved (let’s not get carried away), but this show really leans into those cult vibes. The plot centers on Rosie—played brilliantly by Molly Windsor—who’s been brought up in a controlling Christian cult. She pretty much buys into all the rules, until a run-in with escaped convict Sam (Fre Fee) throws a hefty wrench into everything she thinks she knows. Their unlikely alliance sets Rosie on a collision course with some hard truths about the only community she’s ever known.

The supporting cast is stacked, by the way. You’ve got Asa Butterfield (from Sex Education) as Adam, another cult member, and Doctor Who alum Christopher Eccleston as Mr. Phillips, the not-at-all-suspicious cult leader. The show’s already climbing all over Netflix’s top ten charts worldwide—fourth, last I checked—proving it’s not just another throwaway thriller. (Although, in the US, it’s dipped down to tenth place, thanks to a bunch of true crime docs, the new Man on Fire remake, and, oddly, yet another Lord of the Flies adaptation.)

Cult Content vs. Dystopia: A Familiar Blueprint

If you’re getting a sense of déjà vu, you’re not alone—there are a lot of shows out there right now taking the “authoritarian misery” model for a spin. In late 2025, there was Anniversary, another series touting oppressive regimes and starring The Handmaid’s Tale veteran Madeline Brewer. Even she pointed out the obvious connection, telling press:

"There is, like a dark cloud of oppression that’s coming down upon them. And they resist. Their resistance and their bravery, this courage looks very different. We’re in two very different spaces with two very different characters, but that undercurrent, that fire, that will not be extinguished."

So, yeah, this is a trend now. Everyone’s using these stories to talk about inequality, control, and what it means to push back—whether that’s in a bleak fantasy world or a suburban development with way too many rules.

Critics vs. Audiences: The Usual Divide

Here’s where things get messy. Unchosen has set off the latest round of sword-waving between critics and regular viewers. On Rotten Tomatoes, critics are giving it a respectable 67%—solid, but not mind-blowing. Audiences, however, have tanked the user score all the way down to 39%. Once again, the folks writing the reviews are having a much better time than the people actually watching at home. Is it too slow? Too bleak? Or did people just want something a little less “cult survivor drama” for their Wednesday night? Your guess is as good as mine.

The Cast (And Why It Matters)

• Molly Windsor as Rosie: She carries the whole series as the cult member questioning everything.
• Fre Fee as Sam: He’s the escaped convict with a conscience, forcing Rosie to see things differently.
• Asa Butterfield as Adam: Another cult member, bringing some familiar “awkward but intense” energy.
• Christopher Eccleston as Mr. Phillips: The higher-up cult leader—threatening, charismatic, and just as unsettling as you’d hope.

Bottom line? If you’ve had your fill of bleak dystopias but still like your thrillers with a side of cult politics and psychological drama, Unchosen is absolutely the next show in your queue. Just know going in: you might love it, you might hate it, but you definitely won’t be able to scroll past it without wondering what all the fuss is about.