The Handmaid's Tale exclusive photos give new look at season 2

As part of EW’s cover story on the new season of The Handmaid’s Tale (which begins April 25 on Hulu), here are some exclusive images of our favorite heroines in our most unfavorite place of Gilead.

Moss’s portrayal of the handmaid Offred/June on the series has won her accolades from critics and her costars. “She’s such a superb heroine for today,” says Cherry Jones, who plays June’s mother this season. “Her soul feels different in everything she does. Even with the same face and same body with these subtle changes she morphs her soul into whomever she’s playing. It’s thrilling.”

As we learned last season, Moira (Samira Wiley) has made it to Canada but she can’t truly escape Gilead. “The place changes you no matter what you try to do,” explains Moss. “In the case of Moira you have been changed forever.”

Alexis Bledel's handmaid Emily has been through just about every horror imaginable—and yet we still see there are fresh horrors awaiting her in the Colonies. "Poor Emily," says Bledel with a sigh. "Just when you think it can't get worse...."

“We are left in the first seasons with a lot of questiosn and mysteries, like, how the f--- did all this happen,” says executive producer Warren Littlefield. Look for the heartbreaking backstory of Emily’s attempt to leave before the rise of Gilead in episode two.

Emily is joined in the Colonies by her Red Center cohort Janine, played by Madeline Brewer. (Please note that the air is so poisonous in the Colonies that the horses get gas masks but the women do not.)

Don't worry: Aunt Lydia (Ann Dowd) is back and is her very, very effectively terrifying self this season.

For more on The Handmaid’s Tale's second season, pick up the new issue of Entertainment Weekly on stands Friday, or buy it here now.

You can also get this Elisabeth Moss cover online or at Barnes & Noble. Don’t forget to subscribe for more exclusive interviews and photos, only in EW.