document_title: The Handmaid's Tale (TV series)

question_text: when does new episode of the handmaid's tale come out

question_tokens: when does new episode of the handmaid 's tale come out

text: The Handmaid's Tale (TV series)

text: Plot[edit]

text: In the near future, fertility rates collapse as a result of sexually transmitted diseases and environmental pollution.[2] With this chaos in place, the totalitarian, Christian theonomic government of "Gilead" establishes rule in the former United States in the aftermath of a civil war.[3][4][5] Society is organized by power-hungry leaders along a new, militarized, hierarchical regime of fanaticism and newly created social classes, in which women are brutally subjugated, and by law are not allowed to work, own property, handle money, or read.[5] Worldwide infertility has resulted in the conscription of the few remaining fertile women in Gilead, called handmaids, according to an "extremist interpretation" of a Biblical account.[5] They are assigned to the homes of the ruling elite, where they must submit to ritualized rape with their male masters in order to become pregnant and bear children for those men and their wives.

text: June Osborne, renamed Offred (Elisabeth Moss), is the Handmaid assigned to the home of Gileadan Commander Fred Waterford (Joseph Fiennes) and his wife Serena Joy (Yvonne Strahovski). She is subject to the strictest rules and constant scrutiny; an improper word or deed on her part can lead to her execution. Offred, who is named after her male master like all Handmaids, can remember the "time before", when she was married with a daughter and had her own name and identity, but all she can safely do now is follow the rules of Gilead in the hope that she can someday live free and be reunited with her daughter. The Waterfords, key players in the rise of Gilead, have their own conflicts with the realities of the society they have helped create.

text: Cast[edit]

text: Main[edit]

text:
Elisabeth Moss as June Osborne/Offred, a Handmaid to Commander Fred Waterford and his wife, Serena Joy, mother of Hannah and wife of Luke.
Joseph Fiennes as Commander Fred Waterford, a high-ranking government official and Offred's master, who secretly meets with her to form a connection in the hopes she doesn't kill herself like her predecessor. Both he and his wife played an instrumental role in Gilead's founding.
Yvonne Strahovski as Serena Joy Waterford, Fred's wife and a former conservative cultural activist who appears to have accepted her new limited role in a society she helped create. Capable of great cruelty, she desperately wants to become a mother.
Alexis Bledel as Emily/Ofglen (later Ofsteven), Offred's Handmaid shopping partner. She is considered a "gender traitor" (a term used in Gilead in reference to homosexuality) and knows of a resistance movement called Mayday.
Madeline Brewer as Janine/Ofwarren (later Ofdaniel), a Handmaid with a fragile psyche who has had her right eye removed as punishment for misbehavior. She is convinced her Commander truly loves her and that he wants to run away with her and start a family.
Ann Dowd as Aunt Lydia, a brutal instructor and guardian of the Handmaids. However, she seems to develop a fondness for Janine/Ofwarren.
O. T. Fagbenle as Luke Bankole, June's husband from before Gilead and father to their daughter Hannah. As June is his second wife, their union is considered invalid in the new society and Hannah to be illegitimate.
Max Minghella as Nick Blaine, Commander Waterford's driver and a former drifter from Michigan who develops feelings for Offred.
Samira Wiley as Moira, June's best friend since college. With June's help, she is able to escape her life as a handmaid but ultimately goes to work at one of Gilead's many unofficial brothels/sex clubs as a "Jezebel" named Ruby. She appears to have given up the will to escape Gilead altogether until June gives her the strength to escape again.
Amanda Brugel as Rita, a Martha, or housekeeper. Her son was killed in the Gilead takeover. (recurring season 1, starring season 2)[6]

tag: ul

text: Recurring[edit]

text:
Ever Carradine as Naomi Putnam, Commander Warren Putnam's wife. She views her baby merely as a status symbol and has no sympathy for the handmaids.
Kristen Gutoskie as Beth, a Martha at Jezebel's. She does business with Nick and appears to have quite an interest in him.
Tattiawna Jones as Ofglen #2, who replaces Emily in the position after she's captured by The Eyes. Her new life in Gilead is much better than her old one and she does not want to jeopardize it. However, she is the very first handmaid to refuse to punish Janine/Ofdaniel in the season finale.
Nina Kiri as Alma, a handmaid already "in service" upon Offred's arrival. She later becomes a contact to a possible resistance group.
Jordana Blake as Hannah Osborne, Offred's daughter.

text: Episodes[edit]

text:
No.
Title
Directed by
Teleplay by
Original release date

1
"Offred"
Reed Morano
Bruce Miller
April 26, 2017 (2017-04-26)

A woman flees from a group of men with guns, but she is captured and separated from her young daughter; her husband has vanished. She is known as Offred, a handmaid to Commander Fred Waterford. Offred goes grocery shopping with her companion, Ofglen. On the way home, they pass by a wall of men who have been hanged for crimes such as being gay, working in an abortion clinic, and being Catholic.[7] In a flashback, various women are indoctrinated into the handmaid roles by Aunt Lydia, who tells them about declining birth rates and that they are "special", serving a Biblical purpose. Offred enters the room and notices Moira, a woman she knew at college. One woman in the class, Janine, answers Lydia back and is shocked with a cattle prod before having her right eye removed as punishment. In the present, Commander Waterford tries to impregnate Offred as she lies in the lap of his wife, Serena Joy. The next day, the handmaids gather in an open field where Lydia announces a man has raped a pregnant handmaid. As punishment, the handmaids are allowed to beat him to death. Janine tells Offred that Moira is dead. On the way home, Ofglen tells Offred that she had a wife and son and warns her there is an Eye (a secret spy) in her house. Through voiceover, Offred reveals her true name, June, and that she intends to survive to find her daughter.

2
"Birth Day"
Reed Morano
Bruce Miller
April 26, 2017 (2017-04-26)

Offred and Ofglen go shopping and they reveal more personal information about themselves to each other. While they are walking, Offred and Ofglen see St. Paul Catholic Church, the local church they belonged to, being destroyed by the new régime.[8][7] Ofglen tells Offred that the régime also bulldozed St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan to try to "erase" the fact that it ever existed; Offred asks how Ofglen knows this information and she reveals that she is part of a resistance against the government.[9] Ofglen asks her to join, but Offred declines. Nick, Commander Waterford's driver, tells Offred that the Commander wants to see her alone later that night, which is forbidden. Nick also warns her “Don't get too close to [Ofglen]. It's dangerous.” Offred and other handmaids go to a home to witness the birth of Ofwarren's (formerly Janine's) child, named "Angela" by the Puttnams, but "Charlotte" by Ofwarren. In flashbacks, June remembers the birth of her own daughter, Hannah. At that time healthy births were already rare, and a woman tried to kidnap Hannah but was arrested. Offred goes to the Commander's office, unsure of what will happen, but he just wants to play Scrabble. She laughs with relief when she returns to her room. The next day, Offred prepares to tell Ofglen what happened that night, but when she goes outside, it's a different woman who introduces herself as Ofglen.

3
"Late"
Reed Morano
Bruce Miller
April 26, 2017 (2017-04-26)

In flashbacks, the rise of Gilead is detailed. June and all the other women at her office are fired because "it's the law now". June and Moira also learn that the government has frozen all women's bank accounts and that they can no longer own property. In the present, Serena takes Offred to see Ofwarren and the baby. Offred fears Ofwarren is delusional and comments on her behaviour to Serena. Nick drives Offred home and there is a black van waiting. Offred is interrogated by an Eye and Aunt Lydia about her knowledge of Ofglen. Offred eventually reveals she knew Ofglen was gay and quotes one of the Beatitudes from the Bible; for this, Lydia shocks Offred with a cattle prod. Before she can leave the room, Offred responds by quoting the Bible back: “Blessed are those who suffer for the cause of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.” That would have earned her a much more serious beating but Serena intervenes, yelling at them to stop as she believes that Offred is pregnant. Nick visits Offred in her room to check on her and they share an intimate moment. Offred later tells Serena that she's not pregnant so Serena angrily drags her to her room and loudly orders her not to come out. In a flashback, June and Moira attend a protest against the new laws that is suppressed by automatic gunfire and explosives. In the present, Ofglen and the Martha she's in a relationship with are charged with "gender treachery", with Ofglen receiving a lesser sentence because she can still bear children. The Martha is executed by hanging as Ofglen watches, sobbing and horrified. Later, Ofglen (now referred to by her "old" name, Emily) wakes up in a clinic, having undergone female genital mutilation surgery as explained by Aunt Lydia.

4
"Nolite Te Bastardes Carborundorum"
Mike Barker
Leila Gerstein
May 3, 2017 (2017-05-03)

Offred, who is banished to her room, goes into the closet where she finds the Latin phrase Nolite Te Bastardes Carborundorum scratched into the wall. Rita, the Commander's housekeeper, finds Offred lying in the closet but Offred tells her that she fainted. Believing she is ill, Serena has Offred sent to the hospital for a check-up. While examining Offred, the physician remarks that the Commander is sterile, because "most of those guys are". He offers to impregnate her but she declines. In flashbacks, Aunt Lydia teaches the handmaids (including June and Moira) about the "Ceremony": when the Commander rapes a handmaid. Later, June lures Aunt Elizabeth into the bathroom saying a toilet has overflowed, and Moira threatens the Aunt with a shiv. June and Moira take her to the basement where Moira takes the Aunt's outfit and they tie her up. June and Moira begin their escape, hoping to leave via train to Boston, which has safehouses. When Moira is asking one of the guards for directions, June is approached by another guard who is suspicious of her being alone. Moira gets on the train, leaving June behind, but June smiles at her to let her know it's okay. June is later punished by having her feet whipped. In the present, Commander Waterford has an unsuccessful Ceremony night with Offred. Later that night, the Commander and Offred have another game of Scrabble where she asks him about the Latin phrase; he tells her it means "Don't let the bastards grind you down". She also inquires about the previous Offred, in which he tells her that she committed suicide because life was unbearable. He makes it known that he doesn't want that to happen again and releases Offred from her solitary confinement.

5
"Faithful"
Mike Barker
Dorothy Fortenberry
May 10, 2017 (2017-05-10)

Serena suggests to Offred that she have sex with Nick in case Commander Waterford is sterile. At the grocery store, Offred talks to the original Ofglen, now called Ofsteven, but she is not as responsive as she used to be. During a Ceremony night, The Commander touches Offred's thigh, which she later tells him never to do again. Nick reveals to Offred that he is indeed an Eye. At an open-air market, Offred questions Ofsteven about "Mayday", the resistance group. Ofsteven steals one of the guards' cars and proceeds to drive away; in the process, she kills a guard by running him over but she is caught and put into a van. Later that day, Serena leads Offred up to Nick's room where she waits by the door while they have Ceremony-like sex. Flashbacks detail Luke and June's first meeting and courtship. Offred returns to Nick's place alone later that night and they share an intimate night.

6
"A Woman's Place"
Floria Sigismondi
Wendy Straker Hauser
May 17, 2017 (2017-05-17)

Mexican delegates visit the Commander's home in an effort to create partnerships in trade and see the effects of the Gilead cultural movement. The head of the Mexican delegation is a woman who questions Offred about her experience in Gilead. With great self-control, Offred tells them, "I have found happiness". After the meeting, Offred visits the Commander's office for their usual discussions where some tensions flare up between them. He asks her to kiss him "like you mean it". She kisses the Commander and leaves, ferociously brushing her teeth afterwards. The handmaids are then taken to a party to honour Gilead and show the foreign delegates their success, including presenting the children of Gilead. Offred's friend remarks that the delegates are interested in fertile women as a commodity to be traded between the two nations. The next day, as the delegates are leaving, Offred tells them the brutal truth about Gilead. She pleads for their help, but the Mexican ambassador claims that she cannot help Offred and explains her own country's dire situation. When Offred is left alone with the ambassador's assistant, he claims her husband is alive and that he can send a message to him. Flashbacks detail Serena and Fred's life before and during the beginnings of the Gilead movement. Serena is revealed to have been a conservative cultural activist during the "life before", with a passion and intelligence equal to that of her husband's (as well as a special fondness for movie popcorn). She even wrote a book about her beliefs, titled A Woman's Place, which contained the famous line "do not mistake a woman's meekness for weakness". However, after the takeover, she is shown to be completely shut out of the new government planning (to Fred's dismay). Rather symbolically, as she prepares to accept her new limited role in the society she helped create, a copy of her book is seen being thrown out in the trash.

7
"The Other Side"
Floria Sigismondi
Lynn Renee Maxcy
May 24, 2017 (2017-05-24)

The episode chronicles the story of Luke after he is separated from his wife and daughter. Luke is shot by Gileadan guards and taken in an ambulance to be interrogated. He escapes when the ambulance gets into an accident and he takes some supplies with him. Evidence of the country's violent takeover is everywhere. After passing out from his wounds, he is awoken by a resistance group (viewed as "undesirables" by Gilead) who are traveling to Canada; these survivors included a Roman Catholic nun, an escaped handmaid, a homosexual man and a daughter of a US army soldier.[10] Initially reluctant, Luke joins them after one of the survivors, Zoe, shows him that Gileadan authorities hanged local townspeople from the rafters of their church for resisting.[11][12] As they are boarding a boat, they are shot at by Gileadan guards, who kill several members of the group. Luke and one of the members, a mute blonde woman who was being trained as a handmaid, survive and flee. Flashbacks prior to Luke, June and their daughter Hannah being separated are detailed. June and Luke get help from Mr. Whitford, a man who knew June's mother. He drives them safely out of town and drops them off at a secluded cabin in the woods. Luke and June wait as Mr. Whitford gets documentation for them to escape to Canada. They are confronted by a hunter, who tells them Whitford has been caught and hanged. But the man says he can help them get over the border. Three years later, Luke and the mute blonde woman are living safely in "Little America", based in Toronto, Ontario. Missing person flyers are posted everywhere in the main administrative office. Luke receives the letter from June, which reads "I love you so much. Save Hannah."

8
"Jezebels"
Kate Dennis
Kira Snyder
May 31, 2017 (2017-05-31)

Commander Waterford gifts Offred with makeup and a dress as he is taking her out for the night. Nick drives them to Boston to an underground brothel where prostitutes known as "Jezebels" work. Offred spots Moira working in the club and they briefly reunite. Nick trades drugs and pregnancy tests for alcohol with one of the brothel's Marthas. Offred goes to see Moira again, where she explains to Offred about how Quakers tried to help her escape, but were caught.[13][14] Moira had the choice of either being sent to the colonies or one of the brothels.[14] Moira tells Offred, "Forget about escaping. This is Gilead. No one gets out." Offred reveals to Moira that she knows Luke is alive. Flashbacks detail how Nick got involved with the Gilead movement and how he became an Eye after reporting a Commander for breaking protocol with his handmaids. There are other flashbacks to the suicide of the previous Offred, with Serena pointedly saying to her husband, "What did you think was going to happen?" In the present, after Nick drives Waterford and Offred home, he ends his relationship with Offred, which upsets and angers her. Offred receives a gift from Serena, a music box. The episode closes with Offred etching "You are not alone" into the closet wall.

9
"The Bridge"
Kate Dennis
Eric Tuchman
June 7, 2017 (2017-06-07)

Ofwarren's daughter is presented to Commander Putnam and his wife. Offred is worried about Ofwarren's mental state but Aunt Lydia informs her that "she's tougher than you think". Ofwarren, now known as Ofdaniel, is taken to her new home. During her first Ceremony night with her new Commander, Ofdaniel forcefully stops it and sobs. At the market, Alma pulls Offred aside and lets her know that she knows about the resistance group "Mayday". Alma tells her to retrieve a package from Jezebel's. Offred convinces Waterford to take her to Jezebel's again that very night. After Offred and Waterford have sex in their room, he presents Moira as he believes a sexual attraction between the two was the reason Offred wanted to come back. Offred talks to Moira about having her retrieve the package from the bar, but she refuses, which angers Offred. Moira seems to have completely given up. Back at the house, Offred is awoken by Serena, who takes her to a bridge where Ofdaniel is standing on the edge with Charlotte. Various Gileadan guards, the Putnams, Waterfords, and Aunt Lydia are also present. Ofdaniel loudly accuses Commander Putnam of lying to her and accuses him of having promised to leave his wife for her. Offred is able to convince Ofdaniel to give her the child but Ofdaniel jumps, attempting suicide. She is pulled out by the guards and lies comatose in hospital with Aunt Lydia by her side, who calls her "stupid". Commander Putnam is later seen being led into a black van by guards due to the accusations made by Ofdaniel. Serena Joy tries to offer comfort to Mrs. Putnam and offers help with the baby, which she curtly refuses. Mrs. Putnam then reminds Serena of the first Offred, saying that "men don't change". Serena is seen going into Fred's office. At the market, Offred is given a package by the butcher, sent by Moira from Jezebels. At the brothel, Moira kills a client and takes his clothes, jubilantly driving off in his car.

10
"Night"
Kari Skogland
Bruce Miller
June 14, 2017 (2017-06-14)

This episode begins with a flashback to when June was first captured and sent to the red center, receiving her first indoctrination lesson from Aunt Lydia. Serena discovers the trips to Jezebel's and strikes Offred in anger before forcing her to take a pregnancy test, which is positive. Serena then directs her anger at her husband, telling him about the pregnancy and that the child is not his. She also says he is weak and that God would never allow him to pass on that weakness. On learning the news, Nick shares a brief, tender moment with Offred. Serena and Offred visit the house that Offred's daughter, Hannah, now lives; Offred can see her daughter through a gate. While Serena does not allow Offred to reveal herself to Hannah, she assures her that she is doing fine. Serena also warns Offred that as long as nothing bad happens to her child, nothing bad will happen to Hannah. Offred furiously curses Serena in a breathless rant, only to be told to be quiet; yelling is not good for the baby. Fred participates in Commander Putnam’s trial: he himself is all for leniency but is told there have been too many occurrences of this kind of sin recently and an example has to be made. Mrs. Putnam herself has asked that her husband receive the harshest punishment possible, as she fears for his immortal soul. Ultimately, Putnam's left hand is amputated. In the evening, Offred pleads with Fred to protect her daughter. He asks if he is the father of her child and she says "of course", to which he replies "you do that so well." Later, Fred is seen being quite gentle and conciliatory towards Serena. The package from Jezebel's is revealed to contain letters from women who have lost family members and been enslaved in the Gilead takeover. Later, a somewhat emotional Aunt Lydia gathers the handmaids for an execution: they are to stone someone who has endangered a child. The convict turns out to be Janine/Ofdaniel. The handmaids hesitate and Ofglen #2 is brutally beaten when she breaks rank and voices her angry refusal. The other women, beginning with Offred, drop their stones, each saying "I'm sorry, Aunt Lydia" (a phrase they were taught early in their indoctrination). The guards are ready to kill them all, but Aunt Lydia frantically tells them that the handmaids are her responsibility. She tells the women to go home, assuring them that there will be consequences. Not long after, a black van comes for Offred, much to Fred and Serena's surprise and indignation. Nick quietly urges her to trust him and go with them. As she is being led out, Offred whispers to Rita where to find the hidden letters. In a side story, Moira makes it to Canada and is reunited with Luke.

text: Production[edit]

text: A straight-to-series order by Hulu of The Handmaid's Tale was announced in April 2016, with Elisabeth Moss set to star.[15] Based on the 1985 novel of the same name by Margaret Atwood, the series was created by Bruce Miller, who is also an executive producer with Daniel Wilson, Fran Sears, and Warren Littlefield.[15] Atwood serves as consulting producer, giving feedback on some of the areas where the series expands or modernizes the book.[15][16] She also co-wrote every episode[17] and also had a small cameo role in the first episode.[18] Moss is also a producer.[19] In June 2016, Reed Morano was announced as director of the series.[20] Samira Wiley, Max Minghella, and Ann Dowd joined the cast in July 2016.[21][22][23] Joseph Fiennes, Madeline Brewer and Yvonne Strahovski were cast in August 2016,[24][25][26] followed by O.T. Fagbenle and Amanda Brugel in September 2016.[27][28] In October 2016, Ever Carradine joined the cast,[29] and Alexis Bledel was added in January 2017.[30]

text: Filming on the series took place in Toronto, Mississauga, Hamilton, and Cambridge, Ontario from September 2016 to February 2017.[31][32] The first full trailer of the TV series was released by Hulu on YouTube on March 23, 2017.[33] The series premiered on April 26, 2017.[34]

text: On May 3, 2017, The Handmaid's Tale was renewed for a second season to premiere in 2018.[35] Moss told the news media that the subsequent episodes will cover further developments in the story, filling in some of the unanswered questions and continuing the narrative already "finished" in the book.[36] The second season will consist of 13 episodes and will begin filming in fall 2017.[37] Alexis Bledel will return as a series regular. Showrunner Bruce Miller stated that he envisioned ten seasons of the show, stating "Well, you know, honestly, when I started, I tried to game out in my head what would ten seasons be like? If you hit a home run, you want energy to go around the bases, you want enough story to keep going, if you can hook the audience to care about these people enough that they’re actually crying at the finale."[38]

text: Broadcast[edit]

text: The first three episodes of the series premiered on April 26, 2017, with the subsequent seven episodes added on a weekly basis.[34][39] In Canada, the series is broadcast by Bravo, beginning with the first two episodes premiering on April 30.[40] In Scandinavia, the series is available on HBO Nordic.[41] In the UK and Ireland, the series premiered on May 28, 2017 and airs every Sunday on Channel 4.[42]

text: In New Zealand, the series was released on the subscription video on demand service Lightbox on June 8, 2017.[43] In Australia, the series premiered on the TV channel SBS's video streaming service SBS on Demand on July 6, 2017.[44]

text: Reception[edit]

text: The Handmaid's Tale has received high acclaim from television critics. On Metacritic, it has a score of 92 out of 100 based on 40 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".[45] The season has a 99% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes with an average score of 8.94 out of 10 based on 88 reviews. The site's critical consensus is, "Haunting and vivid, The Handmaid's Tale is an endlessly engrossing adaptation of Margaret Atwood's dystopian novel that's anchored by a terrific central performance from Elisabeth Moss."[46] Daniel Fienberg of The Hollywood Reporter called it "probably the spring's best new show and certainly its most important".[47] Jen Chaney of Vulture gave it a highly positive review, and wrote that it is "A faithful adaptation of the book that also brings new layers to Atwood's totalitarian, sexist world of forced surrogate motherhood" and that "this series is meticulously paced, brutal, visually stunning, and so suspenseful from moment to moment that only at the end of each hour will you feel fully at liberty to exhale".[48]

text: There was much debate on whether parallels could be drawn between the series (and by extension, the book it is based on) and American society following Donald Trump's and Mike Pence's election as President of the United States and Vice President of the United States, respectively.[49][50]

text: Accolades[edit]

text:
Year
Award
Category
Recipients
Result

2017

Primetime Emmy Awards[51]
Outstanding Drama Series
The Handmaid's Tale
Won

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Elisabeth Moss
Won

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Ann Dowd
Won

Samira Wiley
Nominated

Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series
Reed Morano for "Offred"
Won

Kate Dennis for "The Bridge"
Nominated

Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series
Bruce Miller for "Offred"
Won

Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series
Alexis Bledel
Won

Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series
Russell Scott, Sharon Bialy, Sherry Thomas
Nominated

Outstanding Cinematography for a Single-Camera Series (One Hour)
Colin Watkinson for "Offred"
Won

Outstanding Period/Fantasy Costumes for a Series, Limited Series, or Movie
Ane Crabtree, Sheena Wichary for "Offred"
Nominated

Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Contemporary or Fantasy Program (One Hour or More)
Julie Berghoff, Evan Webber, Sophie Neudorfer for "Offred"
Won

Outstanding Special Visual Effects in a Supporting Role
Brendan Taylor, Stephen Lebed, Leo Bovell, Martin O'Brien, Winston Lee, Kelly Knauff, Zach Dembinski, Mike Suta, Cameron Kerr for "Birth Day"
Nominated

TCA Awards[52]
Program of the Year
The Handmaid's Tale
Won

Outstanding Achievement in Drama
Won

Outstanding New Program
Nominated

Individual Achievement in Drama
Elisabeth Moss
Nominated

Gold Derby TV Awards[53]
Drama Series
The Handmaid's Tale
Nominated

Drama Actress
Elisabeth Moss
Won

Drama Guest Actress
Alexis Bledel
Won


document_title: List of U.S. states by date of admission to the Union

question_text: when did new york became one of the 50 states

root

text: List of U.S. states[edit]

text:
State
Date
(admitted or ratified)
Formed from

1
 Delaware
000000001787-12-07-0000December 7, 1787[8]
(ratified)
Colony of Delaware[b]

2
 Pennsylvania
000000001787-12-12-0000December 12, 1787[10]
(ratified)
Proprietary Province of Pennsylvania

3
 New Jersey
000000001787-12-18-0000December 18, 1787[11]
(ratified)
Crown Colony of New Jersey

4
 Georgia
000000001788-01-02-0000January 2, 1788[8]
(ratified)
Crown Colony of Georgia

5
 Connecticut
000000001788-01-09-0000January 9, 1788[12]
(ratified)
Crown Colony of Connecticut

6
 Massachusetts
000000001788-02-06-0000February 6, 1788[8]
(ratified)
Crown Colony of Massachusetts Bay

7
 Maryland
000000001788-04-28-0000April 28, 1788[8]
(ratified)
Proprietary Province of Maryland

8
 South Carolina
000000001788-05-23-0000May 23, 1788[8]
(ratified)
Crown Colony of South Carolina

9
 New Hampshire
000000001788-06-21-0000June 21, 1788[8]
(ratified)
Crown Colony of New Hampshire

10
 Virginia
000000001788-06-25-0000June 25, 1788[8]
(ratified)
Crown Colony and Dominion of Virginia

11
 New York
000000001788-07-26-0000July 26, 1788[13]
(ratified)
Crown Colony of New York

12
 North Carolina
000000001789-11-21-0000November 21, 1789[14]
(ratified)
Crown Colony of North Carolina

13
 Rhode Island
000000001790-05-29-0000May 29, 1790[8]
(ratified)
Crown Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

14
 Vermont
000000001791-03-04-0000March 4, 1791[15]
(admitted)
Vermont !Vermont Republic[c]

15
 Kentucky
000000001792-06-01-0000June 1, 1792[16]
(admitted)
Virginia (nine counties in its District of Kentucky[d])

16
 Tennessee
000000001796-06-01-0000June 1, 1796[18]
(admitted)
Southwest Territory

17
 Ohio
000000001803-03-01-0000March 1, 1803[19][e]
(admitted)
Northwest Territory (part)

18
 Louisiana
000000001812-04-30-0000April 30, 1812[21]
(admitted)
Orleans !Territory of Orleans

19
 Indiana
000000001816-12-11-0000December 11, 1816
(admitted)
Indiana Territory

20
 Mississippi
000000001817-12-10-0000December 10, 1817[22]
(admitted)
Mississippi Territory

21
 Illinois
000000001818-12-03-0000December 3, 1818[23]
(admitted)
Illinois Territory (part)

22
 Alabama
000000001819-12-14-0000December 14, 1819[24]
(admitted)
Alabama Territory

23
 Maine
000000001820-03-15-0000March 15, 1820[25]
(admitted)
Massachusetts (District of Maine[f])

24
 Missouri
000000001821-08-10-0000August 10, 1821[26]
(admitted)
Missouri Territory (part)

25
 Arkansas
000000001836-06-15-0000June 15, 1836[27]
(admitted)
Arkansas Territory

26
 Michigan
000000001837-01-26-0000January 26, 1837[28]
(admitted)
Michigan Territory

27
 Florida
000000001845-03-03-0000March 3, 1845
(admitted)
Florida Territory

28
 Texas
000000001845-12-29-0000December 29, 1845
(admitted)
Texas !Republic of Texas

29
 Iowa
000000001846-12-28-0000December 28, 1846
(admitted)
Iowa Territory (part)

30
 Wisconsin
000000001848-05-29-0000May 29, 1848[29]
(admitted)
Wisconsin Territory (part)

31
 California
000000001850-09-09-0000September 9, 1850[30]
(admitted)
Unorganized !unorganized territory (part)

32
 Minnesota
000000001858-05-11-0000May 11, 1858[31]
(admitted)
Minnesota Territory (part)

33
 Oregon
000000001859-02-14-0000February 14, 1859
(admitted)
Oregon Territory (part)

34
 Kansas
000000001861-01-29-0000January 29, 1861[32]
(admitted)
Kansas Territory (part)

35
 West Virginia
000000001863-06-20-0000June 20, 1863[33]
(admitted)
Virginia (50 Trans-Allegheny region counties[g])

36
 Nevada
000000001864-10-31-0000October 31, 1864
(admitted)
Nevada Territory

37
 Nebraska
000000001867-03-01-0000March 1, 1867
(admitted)
Nebraska Territory

38
 Colorado
000000001876-08-01-0000August 1, 1876[36]
(admitted)
Colorado Territory

39[h]
  North Dakota
000000001889-11-02-0000November 2, 1889[38][i]
(admitted)
Dakota Territory (part)

40
 South Dakota
000000001889-11-02-0000November 2, 1889[38][i]
(admitted)
Dakota Territory (part)

41
 Montana
000000001889-11-08-0000November 8, 1889[39]
(admitted)
Montana Territory

42
 Washington
000000001889-11-11-0000November 11, 1889[40]
(admitted)
Washington Territory

43
 Idaho
000000001890-07-03-0000July 3, 1890
(admitted)
Idaho Territory

44
 Wyoming
000000001890-07-10-0000July 10, 1890
(admitted)
Wyoming Territory

45
 Utah
000000001896-01-04-0000January 4, 1896[41]
(admitted)
Utah Territory

46
 Oklahoma
000000001907-11-16-0000November 16, 1907[42]
(admitted)
Oklahoma Territory and Indian Territory

47
 New Mexico
000000001912-01-06-0000January 6, 1912
(admitted)
New Mexico Territory

48
 Arizona
000000001912-02-14-0000February 14, 1912
(admitted)
Arizona Territory

49
 Alaska
000000001959-01-03-0000January 3, 1959
(admitted)
Alaska !Territory of Alaska

50
 Hawaii
000000001959-08-21-0000August 21, 1959
(admitted)
Hawaii !Territory of Hawaii

tag: table

text: Articles of Confederation ratification dates[edit]

text: The Second Continental Congress approved the Articles of Confederation for ratification by the individual states on November 15, 1777. The Articles of Confederation came into force on March 1, 1781, after being ratified by all 13 states. On March 4, 1789, the general government under the Articles was replaced with the federal government under the present Constitution.[43]

tag: p

text:
State
Date

13 !1
 Virginia
000000001777-12-16-0000December 16, 1777

12 !2
 South Carolina
000000001778-02-05-0000February 5, 1778

08 !3
 New York
000000001778-02-06-0000February 6, 1778

11 !4
 Rhode Island
000000001778-02-09-0000February 9, 1778

01 !5
 Connecticut
000000001778-02-12-0000February 12, 1778

03 !6
 Georgia
000000001778-02-26-0000February 26, 1778

06 !7
 New Hampshire
000000001778-03-04-0000March 4, 1778

10 !8
 Pennsylvania
000000001778-03-05-0000March 5, 1778

05 !9
 Massachusetts
000000001778-03-10-0000March 10, 1778

09 !10
 North Carolina
000000001778-04-05-0000April 5, 1778

07 !11
 New Jersey
000000001778-11-19-0000November 19, 1778

02 !12
 Delaware
000000001779-02-01-0000February 1, 1779

04 !13
 Maryland
000000001781-02-02-0000February 2, 1781


document_title: Emma Willis

question_text: who is emma from big brother married to

question_tokens: who is emma from big brother married to

text: Emma Willis

text: Early life[edit]

text: Willis was born in Birmingham, West Midlands[5] and attended John Willmott School in Sutton Coldfield after attending Wylde Green Primary school before that[6]. She began modelling at the age of 17[7] and during her career worked for a range of magazines, retailers and companies including Marie Claire, Elle, Vogue, GAP and Chanel.[8]

text: Career[edit]

text: Willis got her first big break presenting on MTV in 2002 before presenting various other shows, including guest-hosting shows such as CD:UK, This Morning and Loose Women.

text: ITV[edit]

text: In 2007, Willis presented ITV2 spin-off series I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! NOW! with her husband Matt before departing in 2008. She presented numerous episodes of The Hot Desk on ITV2 between 2008 and 2014.

text: In September 2012, Willis became a permanent presenter on This Morning, presenting segments in The Hub, taking over from Coleen Nolan. The feature was axed in 2014. She was also a stand-in presenter on the main show when Holly Willoughby or Ruth Langsford were absent.[9]

text: Willis hosted two series of the ITV2 reality show Girlfriends in 2012 and 2013.[10]

text: On 16 November 2012, Willis was drafted in to guest anchor Loose Women and has since presented on several occasions as a stand-in presenter. She covered for Carol Vorderman after she broke her nose in April 2013.[11] In 2013, Willis guest-presented an episode of The Paul O'Grady Show, while O'Grady was away.[12]

text: In 2013, Willis co-presented the ITV game show Prize Island with Alexander Armstrong.[13]

text: In 2015, Willis was a team captain on the six-part ITV2 comedy panel show Reality Bites, hosted by Stephen Mulhern.[14]

text: On 2 July 2015, it was announced that Willis would present a new three-part series for ITV called What Would Be Your Miracle, about modern miracles. The series began on 28 April 2016.[15][16][17]

text: In January 2017, The Voice UK moved from BBC One to ITV. It was confirmed on 9 June 2016 that Willis would present the series after co-hosting three previous series on the BBC.[18] She also presented a series of The Voice Kids on ITV.

text: In 2017, she presented The BRITs Are Coming live on ITV. She co-presented the 2017 BRIT Awards in February alongside Dermot O'Leary.[19]

text: Channel 4[edit]

text: In 2007, Willis guest hosted the tenth week of Big Brother's Big Mouth. In 2010, Willis began presenting a Celebrity Big Brother online spin-off show entitled Celebrity Big Brother's Big i. While presenting the online spin-off in the same series, Willis also presented another edition of Big Mouth when Davina McCall entered the Big Brother house as part of a task. She was then later announced as the new co-presenter on the final series of Big Brother's Little Brother, hosting opposite George Lamb.

text: Channel 5[edit]

text: In 2010, it was announced that Willis would replace Melinda Messenger on the Channel 5 series Live from Studio Five, but after only two months, Willis announced she would be departing in order to co-present Big Brother's Little Brother and was therefore replaced by Jayne Middlemiss.[20]

text: In 2011, it was confirmed that she would be returning to the revived series, presenting the spin-off show Big Brother's Bit on the Side.

text: On 13 March 2013, it was reported that Brian Dowling would be axed from Big Brother[21] and be replaced by Willis with a source saying, 'Brian has been a great host but Emma is seen by channel chiefs as a true successor to Davina. They're talking to her now about taking over the role from the summer.'[2] It was later confirmed, on 2 April 2013 by Channel 5 that Willis would be replacing Dowling as the new host of Big Brother.[4][22] On 13 June 2013, she began presenting the fourteenth series of Big Brother.

text: Even though Willis presents the main Big Brother and celebrity series, she still continued to host the spin-off show Bit on the Side, sharing the presenting duties with Rylan Clark. On 2 February 2015, it was announced that Willis was to present her final edition of Bit on the Side that night, and Clark would take over as the main presenter of the spin off show.[23]

text: On 30 March 2014, Willis presented the Mum of the Year Awards, with the highlights being shown on Channel 5 that same evening.[24]

text: BBC[edit]

text: In 2013, Willis was confirmed as the replacement for Holly Willoughby on the BBC One talent show The Voice UK. On 11 January 2014, she began co-presenting the third series with JLS singer Marvin Humes, who replaced Reggie Yates.[25]

text: In March 2014, it was announced that The Voice UK had been renewed for two future series.[26] Both Willis and Humes returned to the show for the fourth series in 2015 and fifth series in 2016. The show was axed by the BBC after series 5 and moved to ITV in 2017.

text: Willis, and Reggie Yates co-hosted the Saturday night game show Prized Apart on BBC One. The series began on 13 June 2015 and was axed after the first series, due to poor ratings.[27]

text: In the 14 series of the UK version of Who Do You Think You Are? Willis confirmed that she has a longstanding roots in Birmingham, West Midlands with her family tree being traced back to her 3 x great-grandfather who was named James Gretton and was a Horn and Hair Merchant as can be found in the census records.[28] She also found she had Irish ancestors, a fact that came as a surprise to her. The revelations about her ancestry left her extremely uncomfortable with the actions of one, while others she found happy to have found a connection to.[29]

text: Radio[edit]

text: On 5 August 2012, Willis began co-presenting Sunday Morning Breakfast with Stephen Mulhern across the Heart network.

text: Other work[edit]

text: In 2015, she became the celebrity ambassador for Gillette Venus and Oral-B.[30][31]

text: Awards[edit]

text: In September 2013, Willis received a longlist nomination for Most Popular Entertainment Presenter at the National Television Awards in 2014. It was her second successive longlist nomination for the award.[32]

text: Personal life[edit]

text: On 5 July 2008, Emma Griffiths married Busted member Matt Willis at Rushton Hall, Northamptonshire, after three years of dating. The wedding was featured in OK magazine.[33][34] She gave birth to their first child, a daughter called Isabelle, in June 2009.[35] In November 2011, the couple had a second child, a son called Ace, and in May 2016, Willis gave birth to her third child, a girl called Trixie.[36][37]

text: Filmography[edit]

text:
Year
Title
Channel
Role
Notes

2002–2003
MTV UK
MTV
Presenter

2003–2005
Total Request Live
Presenter

2005, 2007, 2010
Big Brother's Big Mouth
Channel 4
Guest presenter

2007–2008
I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! NOW!
ITV2
Co-presenter
2 series

2008–2014
The Hot Desk
Presenter
Various episodes

2008
Red Bull Flugtag

Co-presenter

27 Dresses: Movie Special

Presenter

2010
Live from Studio Five[38]
Channel 5
Co-presenter

The Real Hustle
BBC Three
Herself/guest role

Big Brother's Little Brother
Channel 4
Co-presenter
1 series

2011–2015
Celebrity Big Brother's Bit on the Side
Channel 5
Co-presenter
8 series

2011–2014
Big Brother's Bit on the Side
Co-presenter
4 series

2012–2014

This Morning
ITV
"Hub" presenter
Regular

Stand-in presenter
11 episodes

Loose Women
Guest anchor
7 episodes

2012–2013
Girlfriends[39]
ITV2
Presenter
2 series

2013
Speidi: Scandal, Secrets & Surgery!
Channel 5
Narrator
One-off episode

Prize Island
ITV
Co-presenter
1 series

The Paul O'Grady Show
Guest presenter
1 episode

2013—
Big Brother
Channel 5
Presenter
4 series

Celebrity Big Brother
Presenter
7 series

2014—
The Voice UK
BBC One/ITV
Presenter
4 series

2015
Reality Bites[40]
ITV2
Team captain
1 series

Prized Apart[41]
BBC One
Co-presenter
1 series

2016
What Would Be Your Miracle?[42]
ITV
Presenter
1 series

BRITs Icon: Robbie Williams
Narrator
One-off episode

2017
The BRITs Are Coming
Presenter
One-off episode

BRIT Awards
Co-presenter
37th event

2017—
The Voice Kids
Presenter
1 series

2017
Your Song[43][44]
Presenter
One-off episode

text:
Never Mind the Buzzcocks (2005, 2013)
All Star Family Fortunes (2008)
All Star Mr & Mrs (2009)
Lorraine (2011, 2014, 2017)
Loose Women (2012, 2013)
Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two (2012, 2013)
Let's Do Lunch with Gino & Mel (2013)
Celebrity Juice (2013, 2015)
Alan Carr's New Year Specstacular (2013)
Catchphrase: Mother's Day Special (2014)
Alan Carr: Chatty Man (2014, 2015)
The Paul O'Grady Show (2015)
Britain's Got More Talent (2017)
Who Do You Think You Are? (2017)

text:
Year
Station
Show
Role

2012—
Heart Network
Sunday Mornings
Co-presenter


document_title: Evermore (Beauty and the Beast song)

question_text: who is the singing voice of the beast

question_tokens: who is the singing voice of the beast

text: Evermore (Beauty and the Beast song)

text: Writing and recording[edit]

text: Director Bill Condon originally intended to include most songs from the Broadway musical adaptation of Beauty and the Beast in the remake. However, Disney ultimately decided to recruit composer Alan Menken and lyricist Tim Rice to write entirely new songs for the film instead.[1] Original Beauty and the Beast composer Menken reunited with Rice, with whom he had previously collaborated on Disney's animated film Aladdin (1992),[2] to write three new songs for the remake.[3] Rice once again replaced original Beauty and the Beast lyricist Howard Ashman, who had passed away shortly before the animated film's release in 1991,[4] similar to the way in which he replaced the lyricist to aid Menken in writing new material for the 1994 stage adaptation.[5] Menken believes that the songs he and Rice had written for the stage musical would not have translated well to the screen due to structural differences between the two formats.[6]

text: In the original animated film, the Beast does little singing apart from a brief solo during "Something There" because Menken and Ashman had not been able to agree upon a suitable moment within the film during which the Beast could have performed his own song.[7][1] However, Menken considered it imperative that the character sing a solo in both the stage and live-action adaptations because he believes the Beast is actually the story's protagonist "whose life has changed in the most dramatic way."[1] In the stage production, the Beast performs the ballad "If I Can't Love Her" after he frightens Belle away from the castle, wondering if he will ever be able to love anyone since he struggles to love her.[1] Menken and Condon had deliberated whether or not the song should be re-used in the remake;[8] despite Menken's strong attachment to "If I Can't Love Her",[5] the musical number was ultimately omitted because it had been written specifically to conclude the first act of a Broadway musical.[1] Screenwriter Stephen Chbosky had originally suggested that the character receive a new song to perform some time after he has saved Belle from the wolves.[9] Due to the remake's three-act structure, Menken and Condon concluded that it would be best to replace "If I Can't Love Her" with a song that better depicts the Beast's feelings for Belle after he has finally learned to love her and realizes she is no longer his prisoner, while accepting the grimm reality that releasing her would ultimately decrease his chances of becoming human again.[8] Rice, who co-wrote "If I Can't Love Her" with Menken, further convinced the composer to substitute "If I Can't Love Her" with a more appropriate song, joking, "it would be like writing 'Don't Cry for Me Brazil',"[10] referring to "Don't Cry for Me Argentina", a song he famously wrote for the stage musical Evita.[11]

text: Originally entitled "For Evermore",[12] "Evermore" was written by composer Menken and lyricist Rice.[13] The last of the three original songs written for the remake, "Evermore" was completed considerably late into production after the filmmakers finally agreed that the Beast should perform his own.[14] Written in Spring 2015 in London, England, Menken quickly composed its melody before Rice contributed lyrics revolving around the Beast releasing Belle.[14] Actor Dan Stevens, who portrays the Beast and performs "Evermore", had little singing experience prior to being cast in the film.[12] Before "Evermore" was written, Condon informed Stevens that he would be singing a new song in his role as Beast.[15] Having not sung professionally since childhood, Stevens was required to retrain his singing voice, the process of which he found challenging.[16] To prepare for the recording, Stevens received extensive vocal coaching from vocal coach Ann-Marie Speed in addition to working closely with Menken.[12][17] Stevens first recorded a "guide track" for "Evermore" before he and Menken revisited the track to modify specific lines and notes.[15] To make the actor sound more "beast-like", sound engineers digitally modified Stevens' voice,[18] which Menken produced himself.[14] Auto-Tune was used to make Stevens' voice sound lower and heavier.[19][20] Menken continued making minor changes to the song well into production.[15] On recording a new song, Stevens said, "the pressure's sort of off — but it's also on — because it doesn't have to sound like it did before, but it should sound good enough to sit alongside the music that's already pretty great."[15] Stevens agreed that the song is "a big, romantic, soaring number" about the Beast lamenting "I've fallen in love with her, and now she's buggered off, woe is me", while "If I Can't Love Her" is "How am I going to fall in love with her?"[12] Replacing "If I Can't Love Her" with "Evermore" helped make the songwriters eligible for an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song.[21][22]

text: Context and use in Beauty and the Beast[edit]

text: One of at least nine significant ways in which the remake deviates from its source material,[23] "Evermore" is among the film's songs that emphasize the sadness and loneliness of both the Beast and Belle's situations.[24] Occurring approximately two-thirds into the film,[25] the song assumes a role that was originally occupied by the song "If I Can't Love Her" in the Broadway musical,[26] identified by Fred Hawson of ABS-CBN News as "a grand moving solo" during which the Beast sincerely expresses his undying feelings for Belle.[27][28] In Beauty and the Beast, "Evermore" appears as a solo performed by the Beast shortly before "The Mob Song" as the film approaches its dramatic climax.[29][3] After the Beast and Belle (Emma Watson) share a dance in the castle's ballroom to Mrs. Potts (Emma Thompson) singing "Beauty and the Beast", the couple has a conversation during which the Beast learns how much Belle actually misses her father, Maurice (Kevin Kline).[30] Finally admitting that Belle is no longer his prisoner,[31] the character sings "Evermore" shortly after he releases the heroine from the castle,[32] insisting that she return to her village and protect Maurice from Gaston (Luke Evans).[33] Believing that Belle has been lost to him forever,[34] the Beast is heartbroken by the character's departure and laments his misfortune by performing "Evermore",[4] accepting that releasing his former prisoner makes breaking the enchantress' spell more difficult, even impossible.[23] Serving as a culmination of both the Beast's personal and emotional journeys,[35] Tracy Goldman of The Cornell Daily Sun observed that the song "adds more depth to the character" by "highlighting the changes he goes through throughout the movie."[36]

text: Similar to "If I Can't Love Her", "Evermore" provides the Beast with "a stronger voice".[37] The song occurs at a pivotal moment in the film during which the Beast bemoans his decision to free Belle,[38] while uncovering both his inner pain and growth as a character as he voices "a sad sense of longing."[39] For the first time, audiences learn exactly how the Beast feels when he allows Belle to rescue Maurice,[40] summarizing his love for her.[41] In the musical sequence, the Beast continues to climb higher up the turret of his castle to watch Belle as she rides away on her horse and gradually disappears into the distance.[30] Staged in a way that resembles a live musical due to Stevens' performance and its cinematography,[40] the orchestra increases and swells as the anguished Beast continues to climb.[42] Menken explained that the character, singing "with a raw emotion",[43] watches Belle leave while thinking to himself "I know what love is now, and it's wonderful, even though I'll never see her again",[44] and "Evermore" captures the Beast's agony as he watches the woman he loves leave him.[45] Citing the song as an example of the film's characters resorting to singing whenever they find that they are not able to speak, Condon described "Evermore" as one of the film's "dramatic high points", proving that the Beast has finally become "worthy of love".[8] For the Beast, the song represents "an ode to his love for Belle and his unending, longing devotion as she rides away from him, possibly forever",[46] serving as "a profound meditation on his own isolation and heartache".[47] According to Menken, the character is "basically singing about how he now knows what love is".[30] The Beast is now shown to be capable of feeling and expressing human emotions,[19] namely heartbreak, loneliness and helplessness,[46] having learned about true love and sacrifice.[48] According to Zoe Nicholson of The Daily Gamecock, "Evermore" "adds humanity not yet seen in a character regarded as savage or spoiled rotten."[49] Walt Disney Studios president of music and soundtracks Mitchell Leib described the scene as the film's "Phantom of the Opera moment."[14] Traditionally in Disney films, heroines are typically assigned "rousing" musical numbers to perform.[50] Screen Rant contributor Kacey Spivey observed that Belle's departure and the scene represents a reversal of the traditional fairy tale trope in which a princess is trapped in a tower.[46] Instead the Beast is confined to his tower, longing for the heroine to return and free him from his enchantment.[46] Brett Nachman compared the scene to Quasimodo performing "Out There" in Disney's animated musical The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996).[26]

text: Composition and lyrics[edit]

text: Distinguished for being the remake's "most powerful" original song,[42] "Evermore" has been described as a "big" and "romantic" number by music critics.[17] A "soaring ballad" bolstered by "grand orchestration",[26][51] WTOP's Jason Fraley described "Evermore" as a "haunting song of longing";[3] a "mournful love song" that crescendos into a powerful lament about lost love.[18][52][53] An emotionally delivered power ballad,[54][55] the Belfast Telegraph agreed that the ballad is "a soaring lament of longing".[56] The accompaniment begins with the Beast's "eerie" theme before transitioning into a solo,[28] first emerging from the film's "Rose" theme before taking on its central melody and instrumental bridge.[57] Despite being a miserable "lovesick ballad",[58] the somber tone of which Chris Knight of the National Post likened to songs from the musical Les Misérables,[59] the ballad is a more upbeat offering than its Broadway counterpart, "If I Can't Love Her",[60] "captur[ing] the elaborate aesthetic of musical theatre".[61] However, the track remains one of the more melancholy inclusions on a soundtrack that consists of largely upbeat songs and musical numbers,[62] contributing a sense of emotional depth to the album.[63] Writing for Elle, Alyssa Bailey dubbed the song a "Broadway version of a breakup ballad",[64] which features the lyrics "I let her steal into my melancholy heart/It's more than I can bear,"[65] as "swoon[ed]" by Stevens.[66][67] Musically, the track bears similarities to songs from Disney's animated film The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996), which Menken himself also composed,[20] and it has been compared to the work of musical theatre composer Andrew Lloyd Webber.[39]

text: "Evermore"'s lamenting melody is paired with lyrics that express loneliness,[68] accompanied by heavy orchestration that swells and loudens as the ballad progresses.[42] Both "brooding" and hopeful at the same time,[57] Jay Jason of Comicbook.com believes that the song's lyrics are inspired by the popular saying "If you love someone, let them go."[69] Stevens' voice quavers with emotion when he sings the phrase "I never needed anybody in my life".[20] Amanda Greever of The Daily Times insists that the song's lyrics will move all listeners to tears.[70] Featuring lyrics that revolve around heartache and heartbreak,[71] "Evermore"'s chorus reads: "Now I know she'll never leave me/Even as she runs away/She will still torment me/Call me, hurt me/Move me, come what may/Wasting in my lonely tower/Waiting by an open door/I'll fool myself, she'll walk right in/And be with me for evermore",[64] which Stevens performs vulnerably.[4] The track also discusses themes such as true love, sacrifice and learning to understand love.[48][72]

text: Stevens sings within the vocal range of a "deep, resonating baritone" throughout the song,[73][74] which lasts a total duration of three minutes and fourteen seconds;[75] Channel NewsAsia contributor Genevieve Sarah Loh compared Stevens' voice, whose notes are suspended by the instrumentation,[76] to "melted-chocolate",[77] gradually becoming more human-sounding as the song progresses.[78] Belting comfortably,[79] Stevens' voice has been compared to that of Terrence Man, the actor who originated the role of the Beast in the Broadway adaptation and recorded "If I Can't Love Her".[26] Mumbling slightly, Stevens begin the song using a more "guttural" part of his voice in an effort to impersonate the sound of a beast before the song truly progresses into "a soaring love ballad".[80] Some traces of Auto-Tune can be heard in Stevens' performance.[60]

text: Release and reception[edit]

text: When Disney released the film's first official trailer in November 2016, Billboard's Taylor Weatherby ranked "Evermore" fifth on the magazine's ranking of "6 Songs We're Most Excited to Hear" from the remake.[71] Stevens' version of "Evermore" was released on March 10, 2017 as a track on the Beauty and the Beast soundtrack.[33] Menken's demo version of the song is included on deluxe editions of the album.[81]

text: "Evermore" has garnered positive reviews from both film and music critics, becoming "a fan favorite" among the film's new musical additions.[82] Vulture.com's Sarah Caldwell commended the studio's decision to have a new musical number immediately follow "Beauty and the Beast", the song for which the film remains most famous.[83] Writing for Stuff.co.nz, James Croot appreciated "Evermore" for both enhancing the film and finally allowing the Beast an opportunity to sing on-screen.[84] Katlin Risen of The State Journal-Register agreed that the song is "a lovely addition to the story".[85] Andrew Gaug of News-Press NOW called the musical number "a welcome addition" to the film.[86] Citing "Evermore" among the film's musical highlights, the Christian Broadcasting Network reviewed the track as "a wonderful, heartbreaking ballad".[87] Lindsay Bahr of the Associated Press reviewed "Evermore" as "a more fitting ballad" for the character than "If I Can't Love Her",[88] while Her Campus' Justine Steiner described the tune as "infectious".[89] Xposé's Marese O'Sullivan claims to have "adored" the song upon hearing it.[45] Cameron Meier of Orlando Weekly lauded "Evermore" as the film's dramatic highlight, which he nearly rewarded with a standing ovation,[37] while Metro's Sarah Deen dubbed it "an instant classic ".[90]Writing for the British Film Institute, Kate Stables opined that "Evermore" remains "the only standout among the film’s forgettable trio of new songs."[53]

text:
Critics agreed that Stevens performance of the song is a highlight of the film.[91] Praising Stevens for "blow[ing] viewers out of the water" with his voice, the Yakima Herald-Republic's Danielle Niemann hailed the piece as "a simply awe-inspiring piece of music" that "can send chills up viewers' spines, causing them to lose focus on everything but [Stevens]".[76]  Jason Fraley of WTOP agreed that Stevens' performance "will give you chills", crowning "Evermore" the "Best of" Beauty and the Beast's original songs.[3] The Salt Lake Tribune film critic Sean P. Means wrote that the track "gives Stevens a nice moment to pour out the tragic hero's broken heart."[4] According to The Toronto Star's Peter Howell, "Evermore" establishes Stevens among "the [cast's] best singers",[92] while La Presse's Sonia Sarfati was moved by the actor's interpretation.[93] Varsity contributor Robert Crawford appreciated Stevens for "add[ing] a welcome, spine-tingling melancholy moment to an otherwise joyous score."[62] CIHR-FM's Shelby Knox concluded that, despite the actor's limited singing experience, Stevens "shows a lot of promise", dubbing his song the film's "stand out".[78] Meanwhile, MTV included the song at number four on their ranking of "All 14 Songs from Disney's Live-action Beauty and the Beast"; author Crystal Bell claims that she would have ranked "Evermore" higher if Stevens' voice hadn't been manipulated to sound deeper than it is.[20] Bell went on to write that the song sounds like "a B side off The Hunchback of Notre Dame", which she insists is "the highest compliment I can give a song."[20]
Dismissing the song as inferior to "If I Can't Love Her", ReelViews film critic James Berardinelli described "Evermore" as a "solid" but ultimately unmemorable song.[73] However, Berardinelli agreed that Stevens possesses the "best voice" in the cast, wishing his character "had more opportunities to use it".[73] Angie Han of Mashable admitted that the song "fares a little better" than "How Does a Moment Last Forever" and "Days in the Sun", but ultimately accused it of slowing the film down unnecessarily.[52] Maria Sciullo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette felt that the ballad "lacks the sheer power of 'If I Can't Love Her'" in addition to finding Stevens' performance difficult to evaluate due to his use of Auto-Tune.[60] Zimbio contributor Lani Conway reviewed Stevens' "very deep voice" as "confusing as hell."[94] IGN's Eric Goldman was unimpressed with the track, reviewing "Evermore" as "uninspired and hard to recall" afterward.[95] Criticizing the ballad for being unnecessary and "excessively sentimental", Alexandra August of Comic Book Resources dismissed "Evermore" as a "meandering" and "mopey" tune.[96] The Rolla Daily News critic Dana Barbuto felt that the song is "less soaring than intended",[97] while Katie Walsh, writing for The Sun Chronicle, disparaged "Evermore" as "the perfect bathroom break"; a "snooze-worthy tune does nothing for the already dragging story", encouraging audience members to skip it.[25] In a mixed review, the Daily Bruin's Matthew Fernandez, despite describing "Evermore" as one of two songs "that matchesthe grandeur of the classic Disney works", criticized Steven's performance, which he called "less pleasing to the ear" due to Stevens' impersonation of a beast during early parts of the song, dismissing the attempt "cheesy" and harmful to the actor's performance..[80]

text: Fred Hawson of ABS-CBN News said "Evermore" was a strong contender for an Academy Award for Best Original Song nomination.[98] The Hollywood Reporter's Scott Feinberg said that "Evermore" is the "strongest" prospective Best Original Song nominee from the film,[99] while Paul Sheehan of Golderby said that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences would most likely favor "Evermore" over "How Does a Moment Last Forever" and "Days in the Sun".[38] In December 2017, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences revealed that "Evermore" was one among 70 songs that the organization shortlisted for Best Original Song consideration.[100][101] Ultimately, "Evermore" did not earn a nomination in the category (nor did any other original composition from the remake),[102] which some critics have viewed as a snub given the popularity of the song and the film.[22]

text: Chart performance[edit]

text: Although Stevens' version of the song was never released as a single, its popularity combined with that of the film and its related soundtrack resulted in the track charting on several charts due to digital download sales.[103] "Evermore" peaked at number 18 and 46 on the US Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles and US Digital Songs charts, respectively, on April 8, 2017, spending one week on both charts.[103]

text:
Chart (2017)

Peak position

US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[104]

18

US Digital Songs (Billboard)[105]

46

text: Josh Groban version[edit]

text:
"Evermore"
Single by Josh Grobanfrom the album Beauty and the Beast: Original Motion Picture SoundtrackReleased
March 3, 2017Format
Digital downloadRecorded
January 2017Genre
Operatic popLength
3:09Label
Walt DisneySongwriter(s)

Alan Menken
Tim Rice
Producer(s)
Martin Nessi

text: Following the release of Ariana Grande and John Legend's pop rendition of "Beauty and the Beast", Leib asked the studio for permission to release another one of Beauty and the Beast's original songs as a single ahead of the film's March 17, 2017 release date.[14] After eliminating "Days in the Sun" and confirming that Canadian singer Celine Dion would not be available to promote her cover of "How Does a Moment Last Forever", the studio ultimately decided to release "Evermore".[14] Menken and Condon had been discussing which contemporary recording artist would be capable of delivering a song as vocally "demanding" as "Evermore".[106] After briefly considering Italian opera singer Andrea Bocelli, Leib suggested American singer Josh Groban because, in his opinion, the singer's "voice is a natural fit for this showstopper of a composition."[107] Having already known Groban personally, Menken texted the singer who immediately confirmed his interest.[14] Groban recorded the song shortly after the studio made final arrangements with his manager.[14]

text: On January 26, 2017, Disney announced that Groban had recorded a cover of "Evermore" – still entitled "For Evermore", at the time – and revealed that his version would be included on the remake's soundtrack in addition to being played during the film's end credits.[108] Groban released a statement, saying: "I am honored to sing this beautiful new song by two of my absolute favorites, Alan Menken and Tim Rice. Beauty and the Beast has been with me since my childhood and to have a musical connection to this new film makes me so happy."[109] The announcement coincided with the studio's release of a new promotional poster for the film,[106] which Disney allowed the singer to premiere using his official Twitter account.[110] A 30-second sample of the track was uploaded to SoundCloud on February 14, 2017,[111] which Groban also shared on Twitter.[112] Groban's version was released as the second single from Beauty and the Beast's soundtrack on March 3, 2017,[64] several days before the album, on which Stevens' original rendition appears, was released.[113][114] Groban promoted the song with a performance on Good Morning America on March 14, 2017.[115][116] The occasion marked both the song's first televised performance,[13] as well as the first time an original song from the remake was performed live on television.[14]

text: Musically, Groban's single remains a "Broadway-like" operatic pop ballad that features the same lyrics, beginning "I was the one who had it all".[117][113] Written in the key of A major at moderately slow tempo of 96 beats per minute,[118] Groban's three-minutes-and-nine-seconds rendition[119] evokes a "sweeping, operatic quality",[112] featuring lyrics revolving about pining for true love.[120] At the same time, the single resembles contemporary Disney ballads such as Sarah McLachlan's "When She Loved Me" and Phil Collins' "You'll Be In My Heart" from the animated films Toy Story 2 and Tarzan, both of which were released in 1999, respectively.[121] According to Golderby's Paul Sheehan, the track is Groban's "heartbreaking rendition of" a "plaintive plea for love."[38] The song garnered positive reviews from critics that distinguished it from the mild controversies that had been surrounding the film at the time of its release.[120] Devan Coggan of Entertainment Weekly described the song as a "gorgeous ballad",[113] while Den of Geek praised Groban's interpretation as "immeasurable".[114] According to Elle writer Alyssa Bailey, Groban's emotional performance will cause listeners to "feel the Beast's feels".[64] Dubbing the track "one of the highlights of the album", the Daily Bruin's Matthew Fernandez reviewed the ballad as "a grand uplifting ballad centered on Groban's rich voice".[80] Vulture.com's Sarah Caldwell admitted to listening to both Groban and Stevens' versions of the song back-to-back with "zero ounces of shame."[83] 34th Street Magazine contributor Haley Weiss preferred Groban's version to Stevens' original, calling it "breathtaking and downright lovely to listen to" while dismissing the film version as "downright mediocre in comparison."[122] Weiss questioned why Disney hadn't cast Groban as the Beast instead of Stevens due to the former's acting and musical theatre background.[122]