South by Southwest, the Austin-based tech and entertainment expo, is known for hosting some experimental TV promos. This year, American Gods has a giant buffalo, The Man in the High Castle is opening a Resistance Radio station, Better Call Saul and Twin Peaks opened restaurants for Los Pollos Hermanos and Double R Diner. But none of those compare to the uncanny valley insanity that is whatever’s going on for The Handmaid’s Tale.
The Handmaid’s Tale, spotted at #SXSW. @MargaretAtwood pic.twitter.com/agMmvKWilp
— Erica Grossman (@erica_grossman) March 10, 2017
Attendees have been pointing out on Twitter that a large group of women dressed as Handmaids from Hulu’s upcoming show The Handmaid’s Tale have been popping up randomly around Austin. They don’t say or do anything, most likely because their character counterparts wouldn’t be allowed to, but according to the official Twitter account… you can ask them, “Should we walk by the river?”
If someone there asks them, please, let me know what they said. I haven’t read the book yet and I’m dying with curiosity.
All these (presumably) Handmaid’s Tale folks are scaring me. #sxsw pic.twitter.com/VkXHYzhsUI
— Anthony Balderrama (@anthelonious) March 10, 2017
I want to believe that the women walking around sxsw dressed as breeders from Handmaiden’s Tale are part of PR stunt. But.
— Ana Marie Cox (@anamariecox) March 10, 2017
People have already pointed out how Margaret Atwood’s novel, despite being over 30 years old at this point, is especially relevant in 2017’s sociopolitical climate, but this definitely makes it seem a little too real. Either that makes it insanely clever marketing, or it’s yet another sign that we’re way behind on our women-only bunkers.
[Twitter]