While June is rebelling against Gilead in The Handmaid’s Tale, the sequel show has a different idea in mind. After five seasons of suffering, June and the Handmaids are leading a full-scale revolution against the oppressive government in The Handmaid’s Tale‘s final season. The season six premiere has already earned praise from critics, including ScreenRant‘s Robert Pitman, who called the upcoming last episodes “just as good as the early seasons“, while complaining that the sequel show, The Testaments, “is the biggest detriment to season 6“, as it spoils the finale.
In an interview with ScreenRant‘s Tatiana Hullender, creator Bruce Miller and executive producer Warren Littlefield confirm that The Testaments does give away something about the ending. Littlefield stated that “Yes, Gilead is still there“, while both producers explained that there will be a difference in perspective from the original show. After all, The Handmaid’s Tale focused on June, who experienced a world prior to Gilead’s existence, while the sequel show will focus on a woman who was raised in Gilead. Check out their quotes below:
ScreenRant: We know The Testaments is coming, so Gilead is not overthrown in a day. How are you approaching that differently from the last six years of The Handmaid’s Tale?
Bruce Miller: I think June was at the very bottom of the ladder in Gilead. She was barely considered a woman. But her daughter, Agnes Mackenzie, who’s still stuck in Gilead, is at the very top of the order. So, what you realize is that they’re incredibly valued by Gilead, but it doesn’t matter. Being at the top or being at the bottom is still s–tty for a woman in Gilead.
Warren Littlefield: When we do The Testaments, that would be four years later, but we will end this year of The Handmaid’s Tale with a sense of closure and accomplishment. But yes, Gilead is still there, so we’re going to have an entirely different point of view.
It’s about young girls coming of age in that world; having only ever known the world that was Gilead. It’s a completely different point of view, with completely different orientation than The Handmaid’s Tale. I think that’s going be, and it’s going to be exciting. It’s going to be a beautiful place, but we’ll of course pull back the veil and remind people that in fact that they’re still in Gilead.
What The Gilead Changes Mean For The Testaments
June’s Rebellion Is Damned
While The Handmaid’s Tale often focuses on June’s quiet attempts at rebelling against the established social order, the upcoming spin-off, The Testaments, is based on a book in which June never plays a substantial role. The show has already reportedly begun production, but Miller just confirmed that it will diverge substantially from the book. After all, in Margaret Atwood’s original book, the main characters are Aunt Lydia (Ann Dowd), Aunt-in-Training Agnes Jemima, and Daisy, a 16-year-old Canadian girl, who is also known as Nichole Osborne. Both Agnes and Daisy will likely be portrayed as June’s children.
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After all, based on Miller’s comments, Agnes Jemima will likely be replaced by Hannah Bankole, June’s daughter. The change would fit, as Hannah was given the name Agnes MacKenzie by her adopted family, and she has been living in Gilead since she was a little girl. It would help to tie the show closer to The Handmaid’s Tale, which should satisfy audiences, and it means that many existing members of the cast can return for the sequel show. The changes will be significant, but they will likely lead to a similar story overall, even if June’s daughters are more involved.
Our Take On The Testaments’ The Gilead Changes
Gilead Needed To Change
Image via Hulu
After six seasons in the same general setting, it will be good to see some level of change in Gilead. June’s rebellion may be damned to fail, but it will still be interesting to see a new culture of Handmaids that are fully raised in this extremely oppressive society. The Handmaid’s Tale set itself apart by showcasing a modern-day response to the regime, and The Testaments can distinguish itself further by remaining fully embedded in that world. Gilead needed change, and this show could provide the perfect path forward.
The Handmaid’s Tale
7/10
- Release Date
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2017 – 2025-00-00
- Network
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Hulu
- Showrunner
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Bruce Miller
- Directors
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Mike Barker, Kari Skogland, Daina Reid, Reed Morano, Floria Sigismondi, Jeremy Podeswa, Kate Dennis, Richard Shepard, Amma Asante, Christina Choe, Deniz Gamze Ergüven, Bradley Whitford, Dearbhla Walsh, Liz Garbus
- Writers
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Kira Snyder, Eric Tuchman, Yahlin Chang, John Herrera, Jacey Heldrich, Dorothy Fortenberry, Marissa Jo Cerar, Lynn Renee Maxcy
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Elisabeth Moss
June Osborne / Offred / Ofjoseph
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