This scene from The Handmaid's Tale TV series opens with a flashback of the handmaids chanting while being shocked by Aunt Lydia. It then transitions to the present where Offred directly addresses the audience while being transported in a black van. When the van arrives at its destination, Offred is taken out and sees that many more handmaids have been captured, causing her hope to disintegrate. The script follows some narrative and genre conventions of dystopian drama through its flashback structure, tension-building introduction of the antagonist, and use of a strong female protagonist. The target audience is predominantly female ages 15+ who can relate to Offred and the themes explored.

1. a. Style (what media isthe script for, have theywritten it in a certain style?)
The mediascriptis forthe TV series, TheHandmaid’sTale,andit focusesheavilyonsetting,
as shownbythe use of “Moonlight”whichaddsto the mysteryof the scene. Thisscene
openswitha flashbacktogive the audience some contextforlateroninthe series.
Additionally,the openingdialogue is describedas“inunison”tosuggestthe charactersare
chantingthe dialogue inabig group,as suggestedbythe large amountof character names
listed.Immediatelyafterthis,aconversationoccurstoimplytoa new audience member
that thisisa continuedstory,fromapreviousseason.
b. Content(a briefsynopsis ofwhat the script isfor)
The seriesopenswithaflashback of a group of handmaidschanting,whilethe antagonist
“AuntLydia” shocksJanine withhercattle prodand the protagonist(Offred) isintroducedby
addressingthe audience.Afterthe flashback,the scriptopensatthe endof seasonone
while Offred’svoiceoverdirectlyaddressesthe audience whilstshe isbeingdriveninthe
blackvan. Once the characters arrive at the destination,Offredisroughlytakenoutof the
van to be revealedlotsmore capturedhandmaids,here herhope beginstodisintegrate.
c. Narrative structure (isit a traditional 3 act piece overcomingconflictor isit something
more complex?Whatnarrative theory can you apply?)
Regardingthe narrative structure;EdwardBranigan’stheory applies(toanextent) tothis
scriptas this segmentof the scriptembodiesthe endingof seasonone withajudgement,
while alsoincorporatingaflashback. Additionally,regardingVladimirPropp’stheory,there
are characterswithin TheHandmaid’stalethat follow thistheory,howeverwithinthis
section of the script,the protagonististhe mainfocus.
d. Genre (what isthe genre?What conventionshave they includedto make thisclear? What
genre theory can you apply?)
The genre of thisscriptis dystopiandramadue tothe language “handmaid”beinganew
formof language whichiscommoninthisdystopiansetting.Furthermore,the chantingof
handmaid’sandquickintroductionof the antagonistgivestensiontothe scene whichisa
keyfeature of a drama genre.
e. Target audience (who wouldyou say isthe TA for thisand why?)
The target audience forthisscriptwouldbe predominantlywomen,simplybecause of the
strongfemale castand female protagonistwhodirectlyaddressesthe audience,meaninga
female audience mayfeel more connectedwithherdue totheirabilitytorelate withher.
Moreover,the age of the target audience wouldneedtobe 15+ because of the sexual
elementsof the TV series,the swearingandthe violence usedbythe antagonistinthe
beginningof the script.