“The Testaments: Of the Daughters of Gilead”expansion of “Handmaid’s Tale”one of the most striking dystopian universes on TV arrives with the aim of making the public see Gilead from a new angle. The spin-off debuted on the Disney+ streaming platform last Wednesday (8), bringing a change of perspective in the narrative — essential to understanding the new generation that stars in the plot.
In an interview with CNNthe series’ screenwriter, Bruce Millerand the executive producer, Warren Littlefieldthey talked more about the deepening collapse of Gilead .
In the new plot, young Agnes Mackenzie (Chase Infiniti) e Daisy (Lucy Halliday) are in the process of maturing in the midst of new age of Gilead. While the first is obedient and devout, the second is a newly arrived convert from outside the local borders. Students at the brutal school for future Wives, they form a bond that shakes their present, future and even past.
“You really need to change your perspective,” summarized creator Bruce Miller, when explaining the production’s starting point.
Unlike the story centered on June, a woman ripped from her previous life, now the focus is on young people who were born and raised within Gilead — and who, therefore, see that system in a completely different way. According to Miller, the great turning point of “The Testaments” lies precisely in this perspective. “They only have memories of Gilead.”
More than surviving, they learned to live within the rules of the regime. They built friendships, developed their faith and found ways of happiness in an oppressive system. “How did they not only survive but thrive in Gilead and how will this be taken away from them?” the screenwriter added.
The new series also delves into a central dilemma: the moment when these young women realize that, to maintain their place in Gilead, they will need to give up their individuality.
Initially positioned as privileged figures within the hierarchy, they believe they are about to “do something incredible” for the regime. But the promise of belonging soon reveals its cruelest side: the demand for total submission.
“I think their perspective on realizing this is coming is fascinating, because we as the audience are a little bit ahead of them in terms of what’s coming and how bad it really is. These young women’s point of view — and Aunt Lydia’s point of view as well — is limited, and that makes the show interesting and scary,” the creator concluded.
Protagonisms beyond Elisabeth Moss
In addition to the change in narrative focus, the series faced the challenge of continuing without the actress starring. Elisabeth Moss as June Osborne.
“We were very attached to Lizzie,” admitted producer Warren Littlefield. The actress remains behind the scenes as executive producer, an appearance he describes as “invaluable.”
To maintain the connection with the original series, the return of Ann Dowdlike the iconic Aunt Lydia, works as a bridge between the two narratives. At the same time, the spin-off bets on a new generation of talents, such as Rowan Blanchard and other names besides Infiniti and Halliday.
“Would we have been able to satisfy the public with the new actresses? But with them, everything seemed to fall into place, we are very happy with the result”, added Littlefield.
In total, “The Testaments” will have ten episodes, which will be released weekly on Wednesdays.
