Showrunners of 'The Handmaid's Tale' Warn of Unheeded Lessons Amid Trump's Re-election

Showrunners of ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ Warn of Unheeded Lessons Amid Trump’s Re-election

The creators behind the acclaimed series “The Handmaid’s Tale” expressed their concern regarding the lack of awareness among viewers about the show’s dystopian warnings, especially in light of Donald Trump’s election victory. They highlighted the striking similarities between the regime depicted in the series and the political climate in contemporary America.

Interview Insights Reveal Troubling Parallels

In a recent discussion with ex-CNN journalist Oliver Darcy, showrunners Eric Tuchman and Yahlin Chang articulated their disappointment that many viewers have overlooked the cautionary themes presented in their series. Darcy connected with Tuchman and Chang through the Status newsletter to explore the unsettling resemblances between the fictional world of Gilead and the realities during Trump’s presidency.

Continuing Relevance of the Series

Since its debut in 2017, liberal critics have frequently made comparisons between the narrative of “The Handmaid’s Tale” and current political events in America. Tuchman mentioned his astonishment at the enduring relevance of the storyline, especially as women’s rights have seemingly diminished over time.

“No, I don’t think any of us could have predicted how closely the show would maintain its relevance and continue to reflect real events,” Tuchman explained. “The series has been characterized as a cautionary tale about the consequences of power abuse and the erosion of individual rights and freedoms.”

Warnings Overlooked and Rights Eroded

Tuchman lamented that many voters appear to have ignored the warnings embedded within the show. He specifically underscored the overturning of Roe v. Wade as a significant regression in women’s rights since the series began production in 2016.

“But that warning was ignored, apparently, by the majority of voters, and Roe v. Wade was overturned. Women in our country have fewer rights now than when we started production in 2016,” he added, emphasizing the unsettling trajectory of women’s rights in the U.S.

No Intentional Political Commentary

Despite the resonances with current events, both Tuchman and Chang clarified that they never intended to make overtly political statements in their storytelling. They maintained that any connections drawn between the series and real-life politics were unintentional.

“The fact that our characters’ struggles can sometimes feel eerily relevant is a result of our commitment to authenticity in depicting life under an oppressive regime,” Tuchman said.

Connecting Fiction to Reality

Chang illustrated this point with a poignant example from the series. He recounted a scene where character June, portrayed by Elizabeth Moss, is separated from her daughter. He remarked on the chilling parallels with the separation of families at the U.S.-Mexico border under Trump’s administration in 2017, noting that the script was finalized before the policy was enacted.

Such instances highlight the disturbingly relevant discussions surrounding family separation and government authority. Chang expressed concern over how easily democracy can decline, emphasizing that the challenges faced in Gilead bear a resemblance to real-world issues.

The Fragility of Democracy

In his closing remarks, Chang reflected on the nature of democratic systems and their vulnerability. He remarked, “It is chilling. It’s also true—democracies backslide and fail all the time. Seventy percent of the world’s population lives in an autocracy. In our show, America as we know it was just this exceptional, temporary, extremely fragile experiment. Living in the world of Gilead imaginatively for this many years, I’m actually shocked that American democracy has lasted for so long.”