‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ cast and creators reflect on the show’s impact ahead of final season

As the highly anticipated sixth and final season of The Handmaid’s Tale approaches, the cast and creative team gathered at PaleyFest LA to look back on the series’ journey and offer a glimpse into its conclusion. The Hulu hit, which has captivated audiences with its harrowing yet powerful storytelling, will come to an end on April 8.

The event, held at the Dolby Theatre, featured a discussion with stars Elisabeth Moss, Yvonne Strahovski, Bradley Whitford, Ann Dowd, Samira Wiley, O-T Fagbenle, Madeline Brewer, Amanda Brugel, Sam Jaeger, and Ever Carradine. They were joined by executive producers Eric Tuchman, Yahlin Chang, Bruce Miller, and Warren Littlefield in an intimate "clips and conversation" style presentation spanning all six seasons.

Reflecting on the Show’s Evolution

Series creator Bruce Miller noted the significance of concluding the show on their own terms, stating, “It’s been a show that we started the way we wanted to start it; we’re ending it the way we want to end it.” However, The Handmaid’s Tale evolved beyond its initial goal of simply being a compelling drama. Executive producer Warren Littlefield pointed out how real-world events, particularly the political climate under the 45th U.S. president, transformed the show into a symbol of resistance and a broader fight for human rights.

An Emotional Look Back

During the event, the cast experienced a mix of laughter and tears as they revisited key moments from the show. Strahovski admitted that certain scenes from the first season remain "purely unwatchable" due to their intensity, while Wiley wiped away tears, humorously commenting, “This show is rough.” Whitford acknowledged Moss’s incredible performance, joking that The Handmaid’s Tale was essentially “Sophie’s Choice, the series,” given the depth of her character’s suffering.

A Hopeful Yet Relevant Finale

Looking ahead, co-showrunner Yahlin Chang described the final season as a "love letter" to the fans who have remained devoted despite the show’s often grim narrative. “We all know that it’s not the easiest watch,” she admitted. However, she emphasized that they aimed to end on a note of victory, hope, and triumph. “This season, we wanted to feel rewarding.”

Despite the show concluding, its themes remain painfully relevant. Whitford remarked on the eerie parallels between the show’s timeline and real-world events, stating, “It is very weird that this show started shooting in 2016; here we are, unthinkable things have happened, and we’re bewildered right now.” He stressed that societal issues such as racism, misogyny, and religious hypocrisy will persist beyond the series, making its message all the more important.

Littlefield reinforced this sentiment, encouraging audiences to continue the fight for justice: “In a world that we want to just kind of walk away from because it’s so very painful, don’t give up the fight. Our women are not Marvel characters; they’re ordinary women doing extraordinary things. The war is not over, but the fight continues. That gives us hope, and that is our legacy.”

The final season of The Handmaid’s Tale premieres on Hulu on April 8, promising a powerful conclusion to one of television’s most impactful series.