The Handmaid's Tale 1: Sylphs, Swans, and Duality

Our first streaming TV series to highlight is Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale!

But what does Swan Lake have to do with Gilead?

This episode uncovers the ballet references woven throughout the show’s first season, from a music box playing Tchaikovsky’s “Swan Theme” to how Handmaids are staged like a corps de ballet of sylphs and swans. These choices aren’t accidental. Together, they reveal how ballet becomes a powerful language for exploring identity, power, and the roles women are expected to perform.

Once you notice the swans, you’ll never watch The Handmaid’s Tale the same way again.

📸: Hulu