Amongst the masses of post-apocalyptic and disease-ridden films and TV shows, it is interesting to watch a futuristic thriller where the dystopian setting is caused primarily by the actions of people. Based on the 1985 novel by Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid’s Tale tells the story of June (Elisabeth Moss), a fertile woman who is held captive by a totalitarian regime.
Set in the not so distant future, Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale, explores the decisions made by a group of biblical extremists as they attempt to find a solution to humanity’s issue of reproductive sterilisation. The series itself is jarring as all too familiar moments of present day life, such as sitting in a cafe, or walking city streets, are shown as a nostalgic longing for the past. The present day, in The Handmaid’s Tale, however, is a weird mix of present day technology being used in a cult like setting, reminiscent of a society run by religion, my generation thankfully missed.
Season Two opens up with the handmaidens’ mouths covered by something that resembles a dog muzzle, as they’re pushed towards an unknown future. The guards are rough, and the way these women are treated is not unlike herding cattle. All the while, the handmaidens make an effort to find familiar eyes and cling to one another despite being immediately ripped apart again by the guards. In this cruel world, their only solace is the other women who are going through the same terrifying experiences as them.
This unknown world, it seems, was once a football stadium. No sooner had June realised this when she turns around to see a death contraption. The use of killing in Gilead, tends to be with bullets, stonings, or, as it seems to be now, hangings. It’s not difficult to make historical connections to these methods of murder. Whilst (sorry, spoilers ahead), the handmaidens are spared, it’s a strong opening for the season, as we are forced back into the harsh reality of these women’s lives. Disobedience will not be tolerated. These women are no longer treated as human. And, there is no escape.
The contrast between the language of the characters, especially those who believe in the new society of Gilead, and June’s internal dialogue stating: “What the actual fuck?” puts the series into perspective. This isn’t a historical drama, and this isn’t set in some unrelatable far away place (okay, maybe for New Zealand, it’s a bit far, but shh), instead it’s set in a few years time in the United States, based in populated cities such as Boston.
The moments of lightness are shown through flashbacks, which allows us to understand how the protagonist June, or as Gilead calls her, Offred, ended up in this nightmare. It’s not hard to see the connections in these flashbacks with the political unrest currently taking place the the United States. Perhaps what makes this show so terrifying is that it visualises the fear of what’s happening in a society that’s supposed to be one of the most advanced, yet is so corrupt and reliant on religion.
And more importantly, controlled by fear.
The Handmaid’s Tale is interesting, as although it is primarily from June’s perspective, we capture glimpses of the complicated emotions of characters who are both the enemy, and also another victim of the totalitarian regime. Every single character in this show, whether for, or against Gilead, is controlled by fear.
This episode, “June,” allows us to see a vulnerable moment of one of the harsher characters of the series, as Aunt Lydia (Ann Dowd) pauses at a door, gulps back a tear, then continues to shakily open the door to continue her work. This moment only lasts a few seconds, but is vital in showing that she isn’t the uncaring, hostile Aunt, she makes herself out to be. She cares about her handmaidens, but she also cares about humanity’s survival; despite her deep faith, she’s conflicted. As a woman, she too is a victim of the regime.
In fact, The Handmaid’s Tale takes time and effort to explore how each character is impacted by the totalitarian society, sometimes even exploring who they were ‘before’. This allows us to connect with unlikeable characters, and to some extend understand their perspective, even if we don’t agree with it. Whilst the series has a clear political agenda, this ability to try and understand where the enemy is coming from is one rarely explored properly. The Handmaid’s Tale is dark. But it’s an exceptional series. I can’t wait to see how they continue to explore June’s story.
