Handmaid's Tale Showrunners Reflect on Series' Lasting Relevance Amid Trump Era

The showrunners of ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ express dismay over the series’ continued relevance, citing a decline in women’s rights since its 2016 production start.

In a recent interview, Eric Tuchman and Yahlin Chang, the showrunners behind Hulu’s acclaimed series ‘The Handmaid’s Tale,’ discussed the series’ uncanny reflection of contemporary American politics. The series, inspired by Margaret Atwood’s dystopian novel, has been drawing parallels to the Trump administration since its debut in 2017. Tuchman expressed astonishment at the show’s continued relevance, stating, “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.” The showrunners emphasized that the series was never intended to make direct political statements but rather to authentically portray life under an oppressive regime. However, the overturning of Roe v. Wade during Trump’s presidency was cited as a stark example of how the show’s themes of power abuse and diminishing rights have become disturbingly pertinent. Chang highlighted a scene where the protagonist, June, is separated from her daughter, drawing a connection to the family separations at the U.S. border under Trump’s policies. As ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ concludes its run with its sixth and final season, the showrunners lament that the series’ cautionary tale about democracy’s fragility and the erosion of women’s rights has not been heeded, leading to a reality where, as Tuchman noted, “Women in our country have fewer rights now than when we started production in 2016.”