The Handmaid's Tale (2017–2025)

Bias Rating

Analyzing...

Strong Left

Viewer Rating

Rating: 8.2

Overview

A religion-based autocracy has taken over most of the United States, renaming the country Gilead. In this country women are second-class citizens. Anyone trying to escape is punished. One such person is June, who is capt...

Starring Cast

Elisabeth Moss • Yvonne Strahovski • Ann Dowd

Where to watch

Hulu

Disney Plus

Prime Video

Bias Dimensions

Political: Strong Left

Diversity: High

LGBTQ: Negative

Overview

Starring Cast

Elisabeth Moss • Yvonne Strahovski • Ann Dowd

Where to watch

Hulu

Disney Plus

Prime Video

Detailed Bias Analysis

Analyzing...

Strong Left

Primary

Political: Strong LeftConfidence: High

The film's central thesis is an explicit and stark critique of a totalitarian, patriarchal, theocratic regime that controls women's bodies and lives, directly promoting themes of reproductive freedom, individual autonomy, and resistance against religious extremism, which are core progressive ideologies.

Diversity: HighConfidence: High

The film does not feature explicit race or gender swaps in its casting. However, its narrative strongly critiques traditional patriarchal power structures, portraying male figures in positions of authority as oppressive villains, making a significant statement on societal power dynamics.

Secondary

LGBTQ: NegativeConfidence: Medium

The Handmaid's Tale portrays LGBTQ+ identity as a capital crime within the dystopian society of Gilead, leading to extreme persecution, torture, and death for queer characters. The narrative emphasizes the profound suffering and dehumanization faced by these individuals, resulting in an overwhelmingly negative depiction of LGBTQ+ themes within the story's context.

FemPower: N/R

The movie does not contain any action or adventure elements.

Gender Swap: NoConfidence: High

The television series "The Handmaid's Tale" is a direct adaptation of Margaret Atwood's novel. All major characters whose gender was established in the source material maintain the same gender in the show, with no instances of canonical gender swaps.

Race Swap: NoConfidence: High

The source novel does not explicitly specify the race of several characters, including Moira, Luke, and Rita. While the show cast Black actors in these roles, their race was not canonically established as different in the original text, thus not meeting the definition of a race swap.