The Handmaid’s Tale
For the next episode in our TGE Watches series, Isabela and I discuss the Hulu Original series: The Handmaid’s Tale. We discussed the series several times as it was airing, and had differing thoughts and opinions about it. These differences make for a pretty lively and engaging discussion.
Series Description
Adapted from the classic novel by Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid’s Tale is the story of life in the dystopia of Gilead, a totalitarian society in what was formerly the United States. Facing environmental disasters and a plunging birth rate, Gilead is ruled by a twisted fundamentalism in its militarized ‘return to traditional values’. As one of the few remaining fertile women, Offred (Elisabeth Moss) is a Handmaid in the Commander’s household, one of the castes of women forced into sexual servitude as a last desperate attempt to repopulate the world. In this terrifying society, Offred must navigate between Commanders, their cruel Wives, domestic Marthas, and her fellow Handmaids – where anyone could be a spy for Gilead – all with one goal: to survive and find the daughter that was taken from her.
Our Discussion
We touch on three major topics during this discussion which all focus on our differing perspectives as viewers. First, we discuss how the show stays true to the source material and how it differs. The impact this has on the story told is pretty profound. We touch on the different emotional responses we had to the themes of motherhood. I found some of the scenes that involved June’s daughter to be particularly difficult, not because of the content but because I can so imagine my own emotional response as a mother. Lastly, we analyze how race is represented in Gilead in this modern, visual medium and how that is also a significant departure from the book.
To Discuss
Did you watch The Handmaid’s Tale? What drew you to the story and kept you watching? If not, have you avoided it for a specific reason? We love hearing your comments! Let us know your thoughts below.
Until next time, get your geek on!
Regina & Isabela
