In the “SNL” version of Hulu’s original show “The Handmaid’s Tale,” completely oblivious men apparently missed out on the government-sanctioned subjugation of women.
The sketch finds Cecily Strong playing Elisabeth Moss’ character Offred, as she and the other handmaids — who are enslaved by the government to bear children for important men — walk through town. You can check out the sketch up above.
Strong channeled Moss as she gave an opening narration to explain the show. “Women are enslaved and we have no rights and no freedoms. Forced by an oppressive government to bear children under penalty is death. My name is Offred, and I intend to survive.”
On the way, they ran into Chris Pine and Alex Moffat, two men who knew the women before the government was taken over by Christian fundamentalists.
Apparently, Pine and Moffat’s characters accidentally missed the revolution. Lucky for them, and for all the men in “The Handmaid’s Tale,” nothing has changed.
“Ash, Jen. What the frick is up?” Moffat asked as they met the group of four women.
“You missed my Cinco de Mayo half birthday,” Pine added.
“Do you not know?” Strong returned. “It’s the Republic. It’s different now. We’re handmaids. The government subjugated the women. They took our money and our jobs and our kids.”
“Oh, yeah,” Pine said. “I think read something about that. Super busy with work lately.”
“If they see us talking to you, we will be punished,” the women returned, worriedly looking around for government soldiers.
“That sucks. You guys should fight back,” Moffat said.
“Yeah, my dad’s is a lawyer,” Pine told them, still not grasping the severity of the situation. “He could help you. Although he mostly does entertainment law.”
“We can’t,” the women returned.
“Sorry for helping!” Pine said sarcastically.
The women implored the men to keep their voices down — if they handmaids were found speaking to them, they’d be punished. But oblivious, Pine and Moffat continued, eventually joined by Mikey Day.
“The girls squad! J-Town, what’s different about you?” Day asked, referring to Vanessa Bayer’s character Jen. Like in the show, her eye had been removed by government agents for disobedience.
The sketch concluded when one more man who knew the women, Kyle Mooney, showed up, dressed as one of the government soldiers from “The Handmaid’s Tale.”
“Girls squad!” Mooney shouted. “This is going to sound awkward, but I have to take you to the government to torture you, but after that we’re going to play tipsy putt-putt. You all should come through!”
“SNL” closed the sketch with the logo for “The Handmaid’s Tale,” and the tagline, “See, Netflix, we have one too!”