ESSENTIAL VIEWING | 'The Handmaid's Tale' TV
'The Handmaid's Tale' is a 10-episode American television series based on the 1985 novel by the same name, written by revered Canadian writer Margaret Atwood. The series is set in a dystopian future, where a woman is forced to live as a concubine under a fundamentalist theocratic dictatorship of Gilead that rules America amidst an ongoing Civil War.
The society in this fictional universe (reminiscent of current events) is organised by power-hungry leaders with a militarised, hierarchical regime of fanaticism, and newly-created social classes were women are second class citizens, used as breeding machines. The women are not allowed to work, own property, control money, or even read; this societal structure stems from the result of worldwide infertility that has resulted in the few remaining fertile women - 'handmaids', to be assigned to the homes of the elite rulers of Gilead. Here, the handmaids must submit to a ritualised rape with their male masters in order to become pregnant and bear children for those men and their wives.
Brutal, huh?
'The Handmaid's Tale' remains relatively close to the source material, with author Atwood serving as a consulting producer while the novel is modernised.
The devoted cast brings the story to life in a ultra realistic sense, leaving audiences with a haunting memory of the plot. The series follows Offred (played by Elizabeth Moss ('Girl, Interrupted', 'The West Wing', 'Mad Men', 'Top of the Lake') - handmaid to Commander Fred Waterford, (Joseph Fiennes, 'Elizabeth' ,'Shakespeare In Love', 'American Horror Story') and his infertile wife Serena Joy (Australian Yvonne Strahvoski, 'Chuck', 'Dexter').
The film also stars Alexis Bledel of 'Gilmore Girls' fame as Emily/Ofglen, and later Ofsteven - Offred's handmaid shopping partner, who is considered a 'gender traitor' due to her homosexual preference. Max Minghella ('The Social Network', 'The Internship') as Nick Blaine - the commander's driver who develops feelings for Offred.
In her situation, Offred is bound by strict rules and constant scrutiny, as anything out of place could lead to her death. Like the other handmaids, Offred is named after her master, and can remember her life before the dystopian world of this series. She was married and had a daughter with her own identity and name however, this is something that she has to keep to herself with the hope that one day she might reunite with her husband and daughter.
With the conclusion of the first series, with a second season commissioned for a 2018 release, 'The Handmaid's Tale' has received well deserved universal acclaim. It is hauntingly vivid in it's depiction of the events of the story. Some of its the greatest features are the strong female characters, and the fact that the brutality of the story is not watered down whatsoever. The rape isn't sexualised, and is shown for what it is.
This is one of the best shows to air this year, and one of the most important, as it exposes issues in our world that many refuse to acknowledge.
The story of 'The Handmaid's Tale' is frighteningly real and draws inspiration from history, as well as modern events. There's no denying the fact that some of the events explored in the series have already happened to women worldwide. However, this doesn't mean this is a completely woman-centric show. In fact, it's a program for any gender to enjoy and learn from, though its severe subject matter can make it difficult to watch, nonetheless.
As media progresses, the science-fiction dystopia becomes more and more of a reality. 'The Handmaid's Tale' stirs something within its viewers, as the graphicness of female mutilation, rape, institutionalisation, slavery, torture, violence, and murder is as in your face as it needs to be to make you realise that every citizen of society has a responsibility to avoid sitting idly and letting bad things happen.
Every aspect of this show is carefully constructed to keep its audience in awe of the horrific similarities between what we see on screen and what exists in the real world - especially with the show having real life consequences in 'The Handmaid's Tale' protests against the Ohio abortion bill.
If you haven't seen this show, watch it. It's better than anything else on television at the moment and blasts its competition right out of the water. In a highly sexualised society and fantastical environment, let's finally get down to business with this important television drama.
'The Handmaid's Tale' is available to stream on Hulu.
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