'Handmaid's Tale' Spinoff Tackles Screen Trauma with Careful Approach

The Testaments will handle onscreen trauma differently than The Handmaid’s Tale. Creator Bruce Miller discussed exploring Aunt Lydia's past in the new series.

Exploring Aunt Lydia's Backstory

Bruce Miller explained they are cautious about depicting trauma when delving into Aunt Lydia's history. The spinoff aims to align flashbacks with understanding her mindset at Gilead’s inception.

Miller emphasized being "very mindful about the level of trauma" shown to audiences, ensuring it supports character development.

Setting and Plot Overview

The Testaments, based on Margaret Atwood’s novel, picks up four years after The Handmaid’s Tale. It portrays a dystopian future governed by low fertility where women were assigned to bear children.

Aunt Lydia narrates as characters Agnes and Daisy, disguised as "Pearl Girls," work to smuggle information from Canada against Gilead’s regime, while Lydia remains a covert source in Gilead.

Youth Perspective and Cautionary Themes

Lucy Halliday noted that the young perspective might evoke new reactions not seen in The Handmaid's Tale. She hopes this view encourages reflection on societal impacts on the younger generation.

Chase Infiniti highlighted the series' role as a cautionary narrative, suggesting parallels between the show's events and real-world issues, advocating for unity as a powerful response.

The Testaments airs Wednesdays on Hulu.