Taylor Swift’s Re-Recorded Anthem Rings Out in The Handmaid’s Tale
When June Osborne rallies an army of handmaids on TV, you'd expect drumbeats or soaring orchestral swells. But in the penultimate episode of The Handmaid’s Tale, something very different kicked in: the sharp, biting opening notes of Taylor Swift’s re-recorded 'Look What You Made Me Do.' This marks the song’s first public unveiling from Swift’s highly anticipated Reputation (Taylor’s Version)—and what an entrance it was. As June (Elisabeth Moss) led a disciplined march, Swift’s voice pulsed through the tension, matching the handmaids’ defiance one line at a time.
The episode, titled 'Execution,' didn’t just drop a random pop hit. Elisabeth Moss—who directs and stars—has wanted Swift’s music in the show for years. She’s hardly alone: Moss laughs off set stories about how her fellow cast members, like Yvonne Strahovski, belt out Taylor lyrics between takes. For this high-stakes scene, Moss made a point to reach out and get permission. She described finally landing the track as a thrill and called it the 'perfect spot' for Swift’s music to collide with the long-simmering anger of Gilead’s survivors.
Why Taylor’s Track Was the Right Fit
There’s more to this pick than a catchy chorus. 'Look What You Made Me Do' isn’t just a pop song or a moment for fans to nod in recognition. The tune is a battle cry about reclaiming narrative and strength—exactly what June and her handmaid army demand. The lyrics sound almost tailor-made for Gilead’s rebels, twisting accusations of blame into a larger message about taking back power. Even the mood of the re-recorded track, more venomous and sleek than its original 2017 version, fit the episode’s fear-soaked energy.
The choice is already a talking point—both among Swift fans, who’ve waited for the debut of Reputation (Taylor’s Version), and for those who watch The Handmaid’s Tale for its chilly, ever-relevant commentary on control, patriarchy, and survival. The two fanbases overlapped perfectly in this episode. Elisabeth Moss says it best: including the song is an 'honor,' and the cast was buzzing when they learned it was happening. That kind of excitement doesn’t just stay on set—it pulses straight through the screen.
Pairing Taylor Swift’s feisty new track with a show famous for its resistance themes feels like a rare pop culture lightning strike. In the final charge against Gilead, 'Look What You Made Me Do' became more than a soundtrack—it helped set the tone for a fight no one in Gilead will soon forget.
