Why The Handmaid’s Tale’s Golden Globes Win Is A Big Deal, If Not Remotely Surprising

The show’s success also says a lot about life right now

Published on8th January 2018 at 4.31am

The Handmaid’s Tale is probably one of the most timely and poignant shows to hit our television screens in the last year or so. Few need reminding why this is the case, but the parallels that could (and have) been drawn between 2017’s most popular dystopian drama and the political and societal unrest that has shaken all of us deeply are likely to continue to resonate well into 2018.

Beyond the eerily distressing echoes of systematic undoing to progress in women’s rights, the show’s production is incredible. Which it’s why it’s safe to say that not one person watching the 2018 Golden Globes could have been surprised when the show scooped up the award for Best TV Series (drama) on Sunday night.

Nevertheless, it’s still of course a huge deal. Not just because well, it’s nice to win an award for your hard work on a brilliant series, but because it’s a victory that holds particular poignancy after a year dominated by stories of sexual harassment and women’s inequality.

In accepting the award executive producer Bruce Miller said: ‘To all the people in this room and this country and this world who do everything they can to stop *The Handmaid’s Tale *becoming real, keep doing that’. It's a call to action that many of us have desparately hoped for while watching the events of last year play out, and a call that echoes the one heralded by the Times Up movement too.

Elizabeth Moss also went on to win an award for the show, taking home the accolade for Best Actress (drama) for her role in The Handmaid’s Tale’. Quoting Margaret Atwood, Elizabeth said in her acceptance speech: ‘We lived in the blank white spaces at the edge of print. It gave us more freedom. We lived in the gaps between the story.’

‘Margaret Attwood, this is for you’, she went on to say, ‘and all the women who came before you and after you who were brave enough to speak out against intolerance and injustice and to fight for inequality and freedom in this world. We no longer live in the blank white spaces in the edge of print. We no longer live in the gaps between the stories. We are the story in print and we are the story ourselves’.

The sentiment of the evening has been clear and the #WhyWeWoreBlack concept seems to have carried through from the red carpet to the acceptance speeches made on stage. But what's important about the trend of conversation is that while it acknowledges the injustices that have gone on for too long, the intention isn't necessarily to be a negative one, but one of progress and working towards a future that is further from Margaret Atwood's novel than we are at the moment.

The cast and crew are very aware of the show's significance amongst what's been going on, for better and for worse. ‘There are a lot of times we wish we weren’t as relevant as we are,' explained executive producer Warren Littlefield, speaking backstage at the awards. 'We went into development and then into production and the world was a very different looking place it was not a Trump world and mid-way through the first season reality changed and I think each every day we’re reminded of what we carry forward – a responsibility to live up to Margaret Attwood’s vision and also to be a part of the resistance. And today we also join the resistance for Times Up. So that feels, I think for all of us, a really important and good place to be and we love that our work is being celebrated.'

We love that their work is being celebrated too. *The Handmaid's Tale's *merit is undeniable. But we shouldn't overlook its significance as IRL political signpost too. Because, although at times it was difficult to watch, shows like *The Handmaid's Tale *which challenge and highlight the injustices of our world only help us to face the things that, outside of the TV screen, aren't so easy to address head on.

MORE: Everyone Who Wore Black At The Golden Globes

Golden Globes 2018 - Grazia

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Angelina Jolie

Attending with her son Maddox, Angelina Jolie chose a floaty sheer dress with voluminous feather-trimmed sleeves.

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Alicia Vikander

Alicia Vikander showed off her innate style in a high neck dress with keyhole cut-out back and embellishment detail.

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Michelle Williams and MeToo founder Tarana Burke

A Louis Vuitton clad-Michelle Williams was noticeably moved to be with #MeToo founder Tarana, saying: 'We're here because of Tarana, she started a movement, and it caught fire.' 'It's deeply humbling,' Tarana added, 'This is something I started out of necessity… this moment is so powerful.'

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Emma Stone and Billie Jean King

Emma Stone decided to invite Billie Jean King as her date to the Globes, the tennis pro and pioneer who she played in Battle of the Sexes. Stone looked typically fashion-forward in a lace, one-shouldered dress.

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Dakota Johnson

Dakota Johnson, who is a presenter at tonight's awards, wore a Gucci gown (what else!) with a stunning train featuring a silver sequin motif at the back.

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Dakota Johnson

Dakota Johnson's looked even more stunning from the back.

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Jessica Chastain

The always superbly dressed Jessica Chastain aced the dress code in an Armani Prive velvet halterneck gown with silver crystal embroidery on the sides.

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Jessica Biel and Justin Timberlake

Jessica Biel channelled Hollywood glamour in a nude gown with sheer black overlay and black sash detail, keeping things classy with a low chignon and diamond accessories. Husband Justin Timberlake opted for an all black suit.

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Kendall Jenner

Kendall Jenner had her Angelina Jolie moment posing in an asymmetrical dress with tiered skirts by Giambattista Valli.

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Salma Hayek and Ashley Judd

Salma Hayek and Ashley Judd posed together on the carpet, with the former in a high-necked, long-sleeved dress and the latter in a low-cut layered lace gown. Their appearance was poignant, as the two starred together in Frida, the film Hayek accused Harvey Weinstein of harassing her on.

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Claire Foy and Matt Smith

The Crown's stars posed together on the red carpet, with Claire Foy looking sensational in a low-cut tuxedo look teamed with slicked back hair and a bold red lip.

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Catherine Zeta-Jones

Catherine Zeta-Jones looked incredible in a daringly low-cut illusion dress with sheer skirt by who else than Zuhair Murad.

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Alexis Bledel

Alexis Bledel wore a black and white one-shouldered jumpsuit by Oscar de la Renta to celebrate her show The Handmaid's Tale's nomination.

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Allison Williams

Former Girls star Allison Williams brightened up her all-black ensemble with a pop of tangerine in this beaded strapless dress by Armani Prive.

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Sadie Sink

Stranger Things star Sadie Sink wore a Miu Miu prom dress with full skirt and sweetheart neckline for her first ever Golden Globes.

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Debra Messing

Will and Grace's Debra Messing wore a black embellished tunic-style dress with trousers.

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Catriona Balfe

Outlander's Catriona Balfe oozed glamour in a black dress with off-the-shoulder sheer detail by Chanel.

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Margot Robbie

Margot Robbie chose an oriental-inspired dress with beautifully intricate silver embroidery.

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Emma Watson and Marai Larasi

Emma Watson brought Marai Larasi as her date, the founder of Imkaan, a black feminist organisation in London.

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Meryl Streep and Ai-Jen Poo

Meryl Streep brought Director of Domestic Workers Alliance, Ai-Jen Poo, as her date to the Golden Globes.

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Mandy Moore

Mandy Moore opted for a sleek, column dress with halterneck detail, adding a pop of colour with a scarlet sash belt.

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Amy Poehler and Saru Jayaraman

Amy Poehler chose ROC co-founder Saru Jayaraman as her date for the Golden Globes.

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Alison Brie

Glow star and nominee Alison Brie wore an old Hollywood-esque strapless dress with full skirt and sweetheart neckline, choosing a beautiful diamond choker to complete the look.

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Heidi Klum

Heidi Klum chose a gown with an asymmetrical hemline and ostrich feather detail.

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Ewan McGregor

Fargo's Ewan McGregor stuck to the dress code in an all black tux - including his shirt - looking very dapper indeed.

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Christina Hendricks

Christina Hendricks, star of 2018's answer to Big Little Lies, Good Girls, chose a simple off-the-shoulder black gown.

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Kit Harington

Kit Harington aka Jon Snow aka King in the North looked very dapper in an all black tuxedo.

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Chris Hemsworth

Chris Hemsworth looked very un-Thor-like in his tux.

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Sarah Paulson

Sarah Paulson chose a highneck gown with pleated skirt.

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Jude Law

Jude Law joked on the red carpet in sunglasses.

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Zoe Kravitz

Zoe Kravitz looked typically cool in a simple but chic column dress teamed with sapphire earrings.

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Isabelle Huppert

Isabelle Huppert looked very on-trend in an embellished metallic dress with sculptural shoulder detail.

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Gwendoline Christie

Game of Thrones and Star Wars actress Gwendoline Christie wore a ruffled black dress with sheer high neck.

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James and Dave Franco

The Disaster Artists' stars James and Dave Franco posed together in their tuxedos.

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Diane Kruger

Perennial best-dressed list member Diane Kruger looked like she'd stepped off the runway in a halterneck tulle gown with cape-like detail by Prada.

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Millie Bobby Brown

Millie Bobby Brown chose an 80s-esque backless dress with voluminous sleeves.

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Kerry Washington

Kerry Washington sparkled in an embellished strapless gown with thigh-high split.

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Maggie Gyllenhaal

Maggie Gyllenhaal was one of several stars who opted for strapless sequins.

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Michelle Pfeiffer

Comeback queen Michelle Pfeiffer chose a layered tulle dress which she wore with a short tuxedo jacket over the top.

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Lily James

Lily James went for full-on glamour in a black satin gown with ruffle details.

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Elisabeth Moss

The Handmaid's Tale's leading lady Elisabeth Moss wore a long-sleeved dress with Peter Pan collar.

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Kate Hudson

Kate Hudson played up her pixie crop with an ultra-feminine sheer, low-cut dress with strategically placed necklace.

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Mariah Carey

Mariah Carey lived up to her diva reputation in a fishtail gown with slashed neckline.

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Saoirse Ronan

Style maven Saoirse Ronan went for a futuristic black one-sleeved gown with silver accents.

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Natalie Portman and America Ferrera

Natalie Portman and America Ferrera attended the Golden Globes together, with Natalie choosing an elegant dress with boxy-neckline and sweetheart cut, while newly pregnant America chose a simple black dress worn with a blazer over it.

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Nicole Kidman

Nicole Kidman always rules the red carpet and tonight was no different in a floor-length lace gown with high neck.

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Greta Gerwig

Ladybird director Greta Gerwig chose a one-shouldered dress teamed with a gold choker.

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Halle Berry

Age-defying Halle Berry looked incredible in a sheer lace mini-dress.

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Emilia Clarke

Game of Thrones' Emilia Clarke was miles away from her on-screen persona in a very modern strapless dress, which she wore with her trademark peroxide blonde locks and bold red lips.

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Gal Gadot

Wonder Woman's Gal Gadot kept it simple in a black ruched column dress with an accompanying bolero by Tom Ford.

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Mary J. Blige

Mary J. Blige injected some fun into her LBD with one shimmering silver sleeve and panel in her skirt.

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Reese Witherspoon

Times Up kickstarter Reese Witherspoon opted for a simple yet chic one-shouldered gown with mermaid-skirt.

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Sally Hawkins

Nominee Sally Hawkins chose a full black skirt with asymmetrical velvet top.

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Penelope Cruz

Penelope Cruz - soon to be on our TV screen as Donatella Versace in American Crime Story - looked beautiful in an off-the-shoulder lace dress with a train by Ralph and Russo.