If you haven’t heard of Gloriavale yet, strap in because Paramount+’s new documentary, Devotion: Obedience or Betrayal, aims to take audiences deep into the New Zealand commune that partly inspired The Handmaid’s Tale.

The three-part series, which arrives next month, offers unprecedented access to the controversial religious sect that has been the subject of criminal convictions and governmental actions.

The trailer for the series, exclusive to TV Insider, shows that the series will not only outline the history of this organization, including its legal and societal conflicts, but also speak with those who are still proudly part of it.

Here’s what else there is to know about Devotion: Obedience or Betrayal.

When does Devotion: Obedience or Betrayal premiere?

The three-part docuseries arrives on Paramount+ on Tuesday, June 2.

What is Devotion: Obedience or Betrayal about?

The docuseries centers on the Gloriavale commune, located in Haupiri in New Zealand’s South Island, which has a population of several hundred people living in the strictures of an isolated religious society.

NHNZ Worldwide / Paramount+

 
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The official description for the series tells us, “Devotion: Obedience or Betrayal explores one of the world’s most controversial religious communities. For 50 years, Gloriavale has lived in isolation, bound by strict rules, until allegations of abuse and cover-ups shattered its secrecy. Now, with rare access, exclusive interviews, and decades of unseen archival footage, the docuseries reveals the secret life inside the community. Members vehemently deny they’re in a cult and defend their way of life, while former residents recount mistreatment, control, and deep personal cost.  As legal battles loom for this community, Devotion exposes a hidden world under intense scrutiny.”

What else is there to know about Devotion: Obedience or Betrayal?

As the trailer notes, the Gloriavale commune is credited with inspiring parts of The Handmaid’s Tale, particularly the wardrobing, with its female members wearing bonnets and robes as a sign of submission. In the trailer, a member of the community reacts with glee over that fact. The series is directed by Nicole Rittenmeyer.