Showrunners Eric Tuchman & Yahlin Chang On Concluding “The Handmaid’s Tale” In Its Sixth And Final Season Of (Part 2)

There is a moral ambiguity to a lot of the characters. Would you say that many of them “good” or “bad” are ultimately just in it for themselves and their own interests?

Eric: The show really is a survival story, and it is that way for June. But when I think about it, many of the characters behave and make decisions out of self-preservation. Without giving too much away, that really comes through in this season. Serena often has to act out of self-preservation for herself, and now for her child. And then there’s a character like Commander Wharton (Josh Charles), who we introduced this season, who seems like a genuine true believer. He really thinks he’s on God’s mission to create God’s Kingdom here.

So, because it’s such an oppressive, life-or-death, high stakes world that they live in, a lot of the characters do behave in a way to save their own necks.

Yahlin: I think you see that way more on the Gilead side than anywhere else. June, Luke and Moira all live their ideals and are heroic. And Lawrence also sticks his neck out a lot – he has done great, heroic things while at the same time making decisions for his own survival. I think that’s what makes those choices realistic – most human beings do make decisions based on what’s good for them, but also balance that with what’s good for the world. That’s why our very heroic characters are probably a little more heroic than your average, everyday person. The people who are in Gilead have to contend with the fact that they could be put on The Wall at any moment. They have less freedom to live their ideals, so it’s actually quite heroic when they try to do what’s right. #TheHandmaidsTale #TVwriting Hulu

Continue reading our interview with showrunners Eric Tuchman & Yahlin Chang HERE.