Taylor Swift’s Re-Recorded Track Sets the Stage
The moment you hear those familiar notes in the penultimate episode of The Handmaid’s Tale, it’s clear something big is about to go down. Taylor Swift’s ‘Look What You Made Me Do (Taylor’s Version)’ doesn’t just play in the background—it explodes into the tense opening, ramping up the energy as June, played by Elisabeth Moss, leads Mayday in a gutsy attack on Gileadian commanders. The episode, which premiered on May 20, 2025, instantly made waves, but not just for its action.
Behind the scenes, Elisabeth Moss revealed she had been angling for a Swift track for years. She wanted to find the right moment—not just a random drop, but a scene where the emotions and the song would line up perfectly. Moss admitted, “I’m so glad we waited because there could not be a more perfect song for a more perfect moment.” Her hope was to tap into the same defiance and power Swift channels through her music, something the entire Handmaid’s Tale cast—self-professed Swifties—could get behind. The collective excitement took over the set, making Swift’s track feel even more electrifying when it finally aired.
Why Taylor’s Version Matters
So, why did the show opt for Taylor’s Version of the hit single and not the original? It’s got everything to do with Swift’s own battle for control over her art. In recent years, Taylor Swift has been on a mission—re-recording her early albums to regain ownership after a long, well-publicized feud about her music rights. By using Taylor’s Version, shows like The Handmaid’s Tale can support her directly and avoid the old masters, which she doesn’t control anymore. That’s a move Swift has encouraged, and production teams have been following her lead.
Moss herself geeked out a bit about Swift’s project. She compared Taylor’s re-recording journey to building a collection of “horcruxes” or “infinity stones”—basically, gathering up all the scattered pieces of her creative power and forging something new and stronger. It’s not just about nostalgia; it’s about fighting for autonomy and making strategic, artistic choices. That message resonated with the narrative arc unfolding on screen, where June and the resistance are also taking back power from oppressive forces.
Fans lit up social media the second the episode dropped, sharing clips of the opening scene and praising the song choice. Group chats buzzed with excitement, as everyone recognized Swift’s sharp, vengeful anthem as the perfect fit for a show built around rebellion and resilience. As the credits rolled, the sentiment was clear: this was one crossover that just made sense.
The stage is now set for the Hulu adaptation’s series finale, which airs May 27, 2025. With Swift’s powerful track echoing in viewers’ minds, expectations for the concluding episode couldn’t be higher. If this episode’s musical moment is anything to go by, the ending might just deliver another unforgettable punch.