‘Handmaid’s Tale’ Hulu Debut Sparks Smart, Politically Savvy Online Reactions

Debbie Emery
‘Handmaid’s Tale’ Hulu Debut Sparks Smart, Politically Savvy Online Reactions

“The Handmaid’s Tale” had an instant impact when it debuted on Hulu on Wednesday night.

And for once, the reactions on social media about the streaming drama based on Margaret Attwood’s dystopian novel were surprisingly intelligent and educated.

“‘This will become ordinary’ — when the banality of evil stops being a dystopia and instead becomes the evening news,” one Twitter user said.

Also Read: Hulu's 'The Handmaid's Tale' Endorsed by Planned Parenthood: 'A Terrifying Cautionary Tale'

Not surprisingly given the current political climate, many compared the totalitarian theocracy set in a near-future New England to life in the U.S. under the Trump administration.

“Just to be safe, let’s keep Mike Pence from watching #HandmaidsTale,” another user said, referring to the vice president.

“The #handmaidstale is basically what would happen if #mikepence was president for 12 minutes,” quipped another.

“Instead of lamenting how ‘timely’ #handmaidstale is, how about we work extra hard to NOT be like The Handmaid’s Tale? C’mon,” was a another response.

Also Read: Elisabeth Moss on Why She Became a Feminist: 'Our Generation Has Taken Our Rights for Granted' (Video)

Based on a seminal 1985 novel by Margaret Atwood, “The Handmaid’s Tale” centers around a servant in the household of a high-ranking official in a totalitarian society called Gilead. Being one of the few remaining fertile women in Gilead, she is forced into sexual servitude.

The series stars Elisabeth Moss, Joseph Fiennes, Yvonne Strahovski and Alexis Bledel.

See the Twitter reactions below.


Related stories from TheWrap:

'Handmaid's Tale' Tribeca Panel Turns 'Bizarre' as Cast Downplays Feminist Themes

Watch 'Handmaid's Tale' First Trailer From Hulu – It's Creepier Than You Thought (Video)