In 2025, the initial season of The Handmaid's Tale remains disturbingly relevant, echoing contemporary unease.
The sixth season of Hulu's critically acclaimed series, The Handmaid's Tale, is set to arrive in April 2023. This dystopian drama, set in a future United States rebranded as "Gilead" and ruled by far-right Christian conservatives, has captivated audiences since its premiere in April 2017.
The series, based on Margaret Atwood's novel of the same name, follows the story of June Osborne, a handmaid forced to bear children for the elite in a world where fertility rates have plummeted. The first season introduced viewers to a chilling opening scene, where June, her husband, and their young daughter are hunted by gun-toting men, as children are seen as rare prizes, and women who've given birth to healthy kids are imprisoned as handmaidens, raped over and over until they conceive again.
Yvonne Strahovski played the role of Serena Joy Waterford in the first season, who is the wife of Commander Fred Waterford and manages the household. She delegates tasks to her staff and is an influential public figure who fought for traditional values and the establishment of Gilead. Serena Joy is both poignant and repulsive, making her consistently fascinating.
The government was dismantled through an attack blamed on terrorists, leading to the suspension of the constitution and the enactment of martial law. An organized resistance starts off slowly, with characters like Moira, played by Samira Wiley, losing her partner in the "dyke purges" and ending up in handmaid training camp alongside June.
Some people manage to escape to Canada when things start getting bad in Gilead. The show's themes of feminist rage in the face of extreme oppression resonated with many politically progressive people in 2017. The distinctive red dresses and white caps worn by the handmaids have become iconic in pop culture.
The Handmaid's Tale won several awards at the 2017 Emmys, including Outstanding Drama Series. The final season of The Handmaid's Tale is expected to set up a sequel series called The Testaments, also on Hulu.
As we eagerly await the return of The Handmaid's Tale, let's remember the paranoia and suspicion that guide conversations in Gilead, and the common reaction to infractions - violence. Let's also reflect on the important lessons about women's rights and the dangers of unchecked power. The Handmaid's Tale is more than just a series; it's a reminder of the importance of standing up for what's right.
