Have You Guys Heard Of This Great New Show Called “The Handmaid’s Tale?”
Hi, Internet. I just discovered this amazing new show that nobody is talking about and which we should all be discussing at length at all times. It’s called “The Handmaid’s Tale” and you can watch the whole first season on Hulu (I know, I didn’t know they did original content now either!! But apparently you can also watch NEW episodes of “The Mindy Project” on Fox, but not on Fox, on Hulu).
The Handmaid’s Tale takes place in a dystopian future America where fertile woman are forced to become handmaids to the “Commanders” and their wives and bear their children — I know, pretty dark stuff. But trust me, I promise this show is amazing. Our protagonist is Offred, played by new face Elisabeth Moss (I think she was in one other show with John Hamm but I never got into it, didn’t hear great things). Elisabeth Moss is a force to be reckoned with in this show, which is why I personally identify with her. Offred used to have a different name, and she was just a normal cool girl living in Boston, until everything went to shit with the government and now she is a handmaid.
I’ll start with aesthetics. I don’t know if you’ve heard, but this show is beautifully shot! A pro tip: turn up the brightness on your laptop, because otherwise it might just look like a dark screen, but trust me, it is NOT. Also, a completely original thought that I just had and nobody else has ever thought of is the use of extreme close ups really allows you to see what the characters are thinking at all times. Groundbreaking. Why aren’t you watching this hidden gem??
And here’s another thing. This show is a FEMINIST show. That’s right, I said it, and I won’t apologize for it! And, like me, the show is UNAPOLOGETICALLY feminist. Wow. Incredible. If you care at all about feminism you should probably watch it. There are many parts where all the women walk together and the camera pans out and it really makes you think about woman and empowerment.
Which leads me to my next reason you should watch “The Handmaid’s Tale.” Now this might be controversial, and it might make me some enemies, but somebody has to say it. The Handmaid’s Tale actually has some weird parallels to the current political climate. I know. MIND BLOWN. Why isn’t anyone talking about it???? I guess it’s because you all are afraid to speak truth to power, but guess what, I’m not, and I’ll say it.
I really think this show could be an important part of our current political conversation — if you all could just give it it’s goddamn due. But that’s where I come in. Ever the truth teller, I am here to shepherd this incredible piece of art into the zeitgeist of American culture.
“Nolite te Bastardes Carborundorum.” ;) (None of you get that right now, but you will after you watch the show.)
PS (“The Handmaid’s Tale” spoilys ahead): a little easter egg that you’ll only notice if you watch very carefully is that all of the handmaid’s names — Offred, Ofglen, Ofsamuel, Ofwarren, etc — are actually, “Of [insert Commander’s name]. That might not make sense to you at first, but really think about it. Of Fred. Of Glen. Of Samuel. Of Warren. Like I said, only a diehard Handmaid will notice this little trick — it took me until the fifth episode!!
