The Dystopian ‘Handmaid’s Tale’ Returns, ‘Kung Fu’ Follows a Lead, ‘Stephen Colbert’ Goes Live, ‘A Million Little Things’ Gets Timely

Season Premiere

The dystopian drama, an adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s brilliant novel (though we’re far past the book material by now), is back and as brutal as ever. The first three episodes of season 4 drop on Hulu today, and after the success of delivering a plane full of Gilead’s children to Canada, June (Emmy winner Elisabeth Moss) and her fellow renegade handmaids are on the move, trying to make their own way to freedom. June is pretty busted up by a bullet wound, but even more damaged is her emotional state, as she makes increasingly rash and dangerous decisions. A 14-year-old wife (Young Sheldon’s McKenna Grace) nurses June back to health on her farm and shares in June’s anger and desire for violence. Meanwhile in Canada, the Waterfords (Yvonne Strahovski and Joseph Fiennes) await trial, Moira (Samira Wiley) and Emily (Alexis Bledel) struggle to find homes for the children, and Rita (Amanda Brugel) tries to adjust to her new life. Of course the big question is: Will June finally escape Gilead? After many failed escape attempts over the seasons, we’re a little tired of asking that question, but you’ll just have to watch to find out.

9/8c

In this episode of the reboot, Nicky (Olivia Liang), who has spent the past three years training in kung fu in China before returning home to San Francisco, continues her search for the person who may have killed her mentor. She and new cute tai chi practitioner Henry (Eddie Liu) follow a new lead, which brings them to a private collector in Napa. Nicky’s ex, Evan (Gavin Stenhouse), however, remains suspicious of Henry. Nicky’s sister Althea (Shannon Dang) questions her worth after a tense dinner with her fiance’s family.

11:35/10:35c

Following President Joe Biden’s first primetime address to a joint session of Congress, Colbert will air a special live show. This isn’t the first time the talk show has aired live, it’s actually the 43rd. Adept at planning live broadcasts to coincide with major events, the last time the show aired live was on Inauguration Day on January 20.

10/9c

In a very timely and topical episode, Rome (Romany Malco) and Regina (Christina Moses) host a dinner, but in the middle of it, the video of George Floyd’s murder is released and they watch in shock. Meanwhile, Gary’s (James Roday) dad (Paul Rodriguez) visits and connects with Gary’s veteran girlfriend Darcy (Floriana Lima), who we haven’t seen in a few episodes, about his time in the Vietnam War. Gary himself is not doing so great after Sophie’s (Lizzy Greene) trauma, and punching that car door window feeling like he failed John (Ron Livingston).

Inside Wednesday TV:

• The Goldbergs (8/7c, ABC): To try to cheer Erica (Hayley Orrantia) up after her breakup with Geoff (Sam Lerner), Murray (Jeff Garlin) decides to bring back daddy-daughter day (from season 1). Meanwhile Adam (Sean Giambrone) is thrilled to be part of that right of passage: senior prank, but when he has a moral crisis, he enlists Beverly (Wendi McLendon Covey) to get him out of it.
• Nancy Drew (9/8c, CW): Gil (Praneet Akila) and Nancy (Kennedy McMann) travel to Moonstone Island on a hunch, but when Gil is unable to be there for her, Ace (Alex Saxon) and Amanda (Aadila Dosani) are forced to step in.
• Seal Team (9/8c, CBS): Sonny (AJ Buckley) screws up, and the whole team feels the heat, especially when someone targets the defecting Boko Haram lieutenant they’re supposed to take into U.S. custody.
• Call Your Mother (9:30/8:30c, ABC): Game night! In an effort to make sure the family doesn’t drift apart, Jean (Kyra Sedgwick) proposes a game night, but her plans go awry.