Emmys 2017: Why The Handmaid’s Tale should win Outstanding Drama
By Robin Lempel
The Handmaid’s Tale deserves to win best drama at the Emmys. The show was not only gorgeous, but also packed a punch and had a lasting effect on society.
The Outstanding Drama Series category at the 2017 Emmys has some stiff competition. But with its poignancy and astounding relevance, I believe The Handmaid’s Tale should win at the 69th Primetime Emmy Awards.
I do think that Better Call Saul and House of Cards will be pushed aside for a new show and I could see Stranger Things or Westworld winning. Even The Crown or This Is Us could bring home the award.
But The Handmaid’s Tale is the show that packed a punch and stayed with you. The Handmaid’s Tale, of course, is Hulu’s adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s dystopian novel.
The show tells the story of Offred (real name June) living in the Republic of Gilead. Gilead is a theocratic totalitarian society in what used to be part of the U.S. In this new world, women are stripped of their rights. And because of an infertility epidemic, fertile women are forced to become Handmaids. The Handmaids are forced to have sex with the Commanders in the hopes of conceiving a child.
And The Handmaid’s Tale came at just the right time. With today’s political climate, the show felt almost like a warning. And it clearly struck a nerve. We’ve seen Handmaids all around the country. At first it started as a brilliant marketing scheme from Hulu, but then there were a number of protests around the country where women dressed up in Handmaids garb because they felt the story had such relevance to today. Planned Parenthood supporters protested the health care bill in Washington D.C., women dressed as Handmaids in Columbus to protest a bill that would ban the D&E, and there were protestors in Concord, Austin, and more.
If the Emmys want to make a political statement or vote for the show that had the most societal and cultural impact, The Handmaid’s Tale is the obvious choice.
But The Handmaid’s Tale is more than just a political statement. It’s also just a very good show. Beautifully acted, written and shot, The Handmaid’s Tale was haunting and filled with details.
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From the tiny looks of hatred Offred gave to the huge horrors in Gilead, The Handmaid’s Tale threw you right into this terrifying world. The show had so much drama and suspense. It pulled so many emotions out of me. I watched the show filled with dread and panic and yet eagerly waited for the next one.
So who do you think will win best drama?