Five Major Divergences Between The Testaments TV Series and Atwood's Novel
The sequel to The Handmaid's Tale has sparked widespread discussion among viewers, with fans of The Testaments eager to understand how the television series diverges from Margaret Atwood's acclaimed novel. The new ten-part series, available on Disney+ and Hulu, focuses on the privileged young women of Gilead, known as 'Plums,' as they navigate marriage school and prepare for their roles as wives. While adapted from Atwood's 2019 sequel book, the show introduces several significant alterations that set it apart from the source material.
1. The Timeline Adjustment
The most substantial change lies in the timeline. In the novel, The Testaments is set fifteen years after the events of The Handmaid's Tale, whereas the television series takes place merely four years after the finale of the Emmy Award-winning show. This adjustment means that June Osborne's uprising in Boston remains a recent memory, with its repercussions still palpable in Gilead. The screen version appears to maintain momentum from the previous series, avoiding a longer time-jump that might have disrupted narrative continuity.
2. Daisy's Character Redefinition
Due to the timeline shift, Daisy in the TV show is not the same character as in the novel, where she is revealed to be Holly/Nichole, June's baby with Nick Blaine. In the current timeline, Holly/Nichole is safely residing in Toronto as a five-year-old. For practical reasons, the show reimagines Daisy as a child sought by Gilead, believed to belong to them, implying she was one of the children rescued during Angel's Flight in The Handmaid's Tale.
3. Alterations in Agnes and Daisy's Ages
The timeline change also affects the ages of Agnes and Daisy. In the TV series, Agnes is portrayed as around fourteen or fifteen years old, while in the book, she starts at thirteen or fourteen and ages into her early twenties by the end. Daisy is depicted as a similar age to Agnes in the show, but in the novel, as sisters, she is several years younger, highlighting a key narrative divergence.
4. June's Enhanced Presence
The novel centers on Agnes Jemima, Daisy, and Aunt Lydia, with June mentioned only briefly at the end when the girls reunite with their mother. In contrast, the TV series features June more prominently, showcasing her interactions with Daisy and her active involvement with the Gilead resistance, thereby expanding her role beyond the book's scope.
5. Nick's Fate and Implications
In The Handmaid's Tale TV series, Nick was killed off when his airplane was bombed, along with other high-ranking Commanders. However, in the novel, Nick remains alive and meets with his daughters alongside Luke Bankole. The Testaments has yet to address how Nick's death will be handled in the adaptation, but given Daisy's different characterization, this may not be a critical issue if Holly/Nichole does not become a major character.
The Testaments airs weekly on Hulu and Disney+ on Wednesdays, continuing to explore these adaptations while captivating audiences with its unique take on Atwood's dystopian world.
