Although it was conceived during the Obama era, “The Handmade Tale” arrived at hul in the early months of the first Trump presidency. Eight years later, if it is an accidental symbol of feminist resistance, it will close at the second dawn as permanent.
Like Margaret Atwood's 1985 novel, “The Handmade Tales” focuses on the violence inflicted on Gilead's women. This is a place where women are plagued by low birth rates and environmental disasters, dividing women into wives, handmade, Martha, aunts, econowines and unnomens based on age and fertility.
From the beginning, the show invited interpretations as an ongoing commentary on real-world gender politics. Women activists across the country wore handmade uniforms with red cloaks and Stark white bonnets in protest. More US state legislatures passed abortion restrictions, Roev in 2022. Ominous as he reached its peak in the Supreme Court overturning Wade.
“The Handmaid's Tale” ends on May 27th (a spinoff series called “The Estements” is currently in production.) The sixth and final seasons attempt to destroy Gilead and Restore American Demaucalacy, with an unexpected collaboration between former enemies June Osborne (Elisabeth Moss) and Serena Joy (Yvonne Strahovski). (As a former handmade man, she was routinely sexually assaulted by a senior official, Serena's husband, in June.)
Several members of the creative team talked about “The Handmaid's Tale” in a recent video interview, including series producers and directors Strahovski and Moss. Creator Bruce Miller. Producer Warren Littlefield. and season six showrunners Yahlin Chang and Eric Tuchman (both were writers of previous seasons).
They discussed the enduring legacy of Atwood's novels, the show with current political events and the deep love that June and Serena share with each other. These are excerpts from the conversation.
When you were originally thinking about this show, did you feel like you had to be there, how faithful you were to Margaret Atwood's novel?
Bruce Miller I first read “The Handmaid's Tale” in college. I'm dyslexic and I tend to read the same book over and over again. I didn't want to ruin it with an adaptation as it became one of my favorites. For me, the key was not faithful to my book as an artist or to Margaret. It came from the storytelling of novels that had already stood up to a lot of reading. There's something I've never understood.
Elizabeth Moss Margaret's tone is so specific to her voice and writing that it was really important that it was part of the show. If I'm a producer and I'm sending something and someone says, “I don't know how I'm making this into a movie or a show.” Have you read “The Handmaid's Tale”? “It is a first-person story that follows the perspective of a single person, with plenty of loose ends overall and ends abruptly without explanation.
Like the book, the show often feels politically prophetic, but it is much more racially and culturally diverse. What were your priorities when you decided to adapt your novel?
Miller: At first, I decided that fertility would win everything. When fertility drops by 95%, people's racism, sexism, and whatever it is. Based on what happened over the past decade, I was totally wrong. Something like that is more uncontrollable than I thought. But on a much more practical level, by following the book, keeping actors of color working, it didn't make any sense to me.
Warren Littlefield We wanted it to be relevant. But if we resonate, why not reflect the world we live in?
The show was developed during the Obama era, but still we could see radical rights rising around the world and in the US. Did you think that would settle in the White House? We didn't. However, when I was about to film Episode 4, I realized that I was doing this show at that point because I realized I was in the 45th place, which is why I was in the process of the show. A few months later, Full purchased an ad spot for the show during the Super Bowl, played twice, and was suddenly argued as part of resistance.
Were there any particular political goals?
Yahlin Chang If this show can continue to fight even one person and inspire them not to give up, we will be truly happy. In season 2, I wrote this episode. There, June and Hannah (daughter in June, taken by her parents when the Gilead government took over) are reunited for 10 minutes, then torn apart again. And that episode aired the week when Trump was separating parents and children at the border. We also did an episode where a woman was caged, which was happening at our border.
Our show is prophetic. Because when we imagine characters who have power in Gilead, they are extremely flawed people who are driven by anxiety, res, dissatisfaction, maliciousness, selfishness. Considering the reins of power, imagine what those people do, you get closer to what such people do in the real world. It's very unfortunate, but it makes us understand them.
Speaking of power dynamics, the show begins with Serena as his wife, and June begins as her former handmade. How did their relationship evolve over the six seasons?
Moss to me, they're a great love story on the show. Serena represents June's biggest and worst quality. This is this belief that people do the right thing. June is a lot of time. But when she's wrong, it's causing damage. Because there are people who are just evil and don't do the right thing. In Serena's case, June won't allow her, but she knows Serena better than anyone else and accepts her flaws and dark side. We all hope that is what a relationship is like: fully embrace who you are. That's why they represent the show's love story. June will never give up on making the right choice. It's not yet known if she is.
The more the seasons progressed, the more it became clear how complicated they were, the more they got into our relationship. Specifically, on my side is the lonely island that Serena has been going on for so long, and she is desperate for life connections. She is attracted to June. Because it is the deepest history and deepest intimacy she has. June places a dent in Serena's armor, making her see that her choices will be hurt and have terrible consequences. It's still not seen whether she changes her entire belief system, but the dents are really important.
It is a testament to Eric Touchman Yvonne's performance, with audiences caring about Serena and often caring about her roots for her. She starts season 1 as a brutal monster and sees how far she has evolved. Yvonne played her with such nuances and complexity and so many layers. She's by no means a pure villain.
Did you want the audience to experience this final season?
Chang was a showrunner this year and we were able to run Amok. There was no need to approve anything. We did what we wanted. We were freed, so we released the Gilead woman, right? We released the handmade and Serena. We have freed all the women of Gilead. In real life the opposite is happening, so at least you can do it on TV.
Tuchman is surely the show is sometimes dark and dark from season to point. But the heart of the show is where you find hope, courage and resilience. People come back to the show as they see ordinary people and women doing extraordinary things. It is a place where you feel inspired, empowered, depressed and not disturbed. I think people will feel hope by the end, especially this season.
