“It’s been an incredible year for women in television…” is how Reese Witherspoon began her speech after receiving the Emmy for Big Little Lies , which won Outstanding Limited Series (which Witherspoon produced along with co-actor Nicole Kidman).
Truer words haven’t been spoken. After the utter domination of the Mad Men s and the Breaking Bad s and the True Detective s of the world, 2017 saw female narratives coming to the forefront. In a year when Claire Underwood became president of the United States, and Daenerys Targaryen showed, yet again, who’s ‘kween’, also came out new TV shows that took some of the spotlight away from their more formidable allies.
Among them was Westworld , about a Wild West-inspired theme park where men and women get to play out their fantasies among robotic ‘hosts’. The main protagonist is a host played by Evan Rachel Wood, whose storyline involves getting sexually assaulted by one of the guests in the park.
Then, of course, there’s Big Little Lies , based on Liane Moriarty’s novel that tells the story of five women — played by Kidman, Witherspoon, Shailene Woodley, Laura Dern and Zoe Kravitz — who need to navigate the murky waters of parenthood while dealing with their own set of problems. Kidman’s character, for example, is a victim of domestic abuse.
The Handmaid's Tale -- "The Bridge" Episode 109 -- Offred embarks on a dangerous mission for the resistance. Janine moves to a new posting. Serena Joy suspects the CommanderÃs infidelity. Aunt Lydia (Ann Dowd) and Janine (Madeline Brewer), shown. (Photo by: George Kraychyk/Hulu)
The parallel is hard to miss, especially when you throw into the mix The Handmaid’s Tale , based on Margaret Atwood’s novel about a dystopian future where the role of women has drastically changed under a Christian theonomy that has overthrown the US government. The protagonist, June (Elisabeth Moss), is forced to play the role of the Handmaid under the current regime. Her only purpose of existence, according to the new laws, is procreation, and she’s forced to have sexual relationships with the male masters of the households she’s assigned to, one after the other.
The Handmaid’s Tale surprised many by edging out some serious contenders like Westworld , The Crown (another female protagonist-driven show), Stranger Things , This Is Us , House of Cards and Better Call Saul for Outstanding Drama Series. The taut, stirring show has all the trappings of an emotional drama, but unfolds like a thriller. The pilot provides a punch to the gut by, first, effectively setting up this highly unusual world — even for those who are completely unaware of the source material — and then ending on a note that is both violent and optimistic at the same time.
Every episode is closely-knit and yet, I’d recommend a steady viewing approach rather than a frenetic binge-watch to savour the impact. The performances are all top-notch; Moss’s TV resume finds another uptick after compelling portrayals in Mad Men and Top of the Lake , while the ever-dependable Ann Dowd turns in another bone-chilling performance after her recent turn in The Leftovers .
Crowning The Handmaid’s Tale with the top TV award is a victory for creators who are increasingly throwing the limelight on thorny issues that plague women, and men, in the modern world.
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