Drawing comparisons is part of the job for writers, editors, and publishers. Once you’ve done the job long enough, the skill automatically takes over every part of your life. Similarities pop up in the weirdest things—music, TV shows, movies, even political debates. Sometimes, drawing a comparison is easy. Other times, though, it could take you 3 seasons and 11 episodes to truly see a similarity.
In this case, I’m talking about last night’s episode (S03E11) of The Handmaid’s Tale (a classic book you should read, by the way), which kinda reminded me of an old BBC sitcom from the 80s, called ‘Allo ‘Allo!
Now, if you haven’t ever watched ‘Allo ‘Allo!, you’re really missing out. The show was banned in Germany way back when, because of Nazis and swastikas and all that WWII stuff nobody wanted to be reminded of. The purpose of the comedy was to actually mock the German invasion of France during WWII, though, not to glorify it. That’s why it is often seen as a British classic comedy.
Anyway, so how does ‘Allo ‘Allo! compare to The Handmaid’s Tale?
Well, first off, they both deal with oppression in some way or another. One (The Handmaid’s Tale) is simply filmed to showcase the theme in a much darker and way more explicit way. Where ‘Allo ‘Allo! dealt with the oppression of entire races and countries, The Handmaid’s Tale focuses on the oppression of women. See where I’m going with this?
Still, there are other resemblances to take note of other than themes:
Below: Fred Waterford and Serena Joy Waterford (The Handmaid’s Tale)
Surely I can’t be the only one who sees the striking resemblance between Herr Otto Flick and Helga from ‘Allo ‘Allo! to Fred and Serena Waterford in The Handmaid’s Tale?
Right: The French Resistance (‘Allo ‘Allo!)
And we’ve known for quite some time that the Marthas in The Handmaid’s Tale isn’t exactly the meekest ladies in the world. They remind me a lot of the French Resistance ladies in ‘Allo ‘Allo!.
(There’s a small spoiler up ahead, so take note of that, please)
Of course, the final nail in the coffin for me in regards to whether there were comparisons to draw between these shows or not came last night when June went into Jezebels to have a chat with Billy the bartender. Now, I don’t usually rift on The Handmaid’s Tale, because the show is so freaking dark at times, but I couldn’t help myself when June said:
“Picassos, Cézannes, all the greats.”
In ‘Allo ‘Allo!’s later seasons, the entire plot revolves around “The Fallen Madonna with the big boobies”, which is a painting that the Gestapo wants badly. Hilarity ensues, of course. And that’s what popped into my head last night while June was in Jezebels.
(Spoiler Ends)
There are a few other comparisons that can be made, too. For example, the concentration camps during WWII is very much like the colonies in The Handmaid’s Tale. Though, I can’t recall if ‘Allo ‘Allo! truly handled that darkness in any way, I’m sure they eluded to it at some point. There’s also this force trying to get people out of areas that have been occupied—in The Handmaid’s Tale, women and children are trying to get out, whereas in ‘Allo ‘Allo! the British spies are trying to get out.
I may be reaching in some way, yes, but now that it’s in my head, I can’t unsee it …
