Taylor Swift's "Look What You Made Me Do" premieres in The Handmaid's Tale, fans smell Reputation coming

Taylor Swift has just left her stamp on dystopia - literally. Her re-recorded single "Look What You Made Me Do (Taylor's Version)" was on May 19 used in the latest episode of The Handmaid's Tale, and it could not have been more apt, or more melodramatic.

The dark, rebellious tune is played during an intense scene where June Osborne (Elisabeth Moss) organizes a high-stakes revolt against Gilead, the totalitarian regime that is the show's focus.

This is not a typical cameo. The placement was an all-out musical moment with Swift's cold vocals and thudding beat giving even more fierceness to a scene already brimming with peril and feeling. If "revenge dress" were a song, this is it.




The updated version of the song includes crisper production, newer synths, and Swift's older vocals. Although the essence of the song is the same as the original of her 2017 Reputation album, fans could see that this version goes towards a darker, more sleek sound ideal for a show that lives on high-stakes drama and defiance.

Elisabeth Moss, an actor and executive producer of the show, explained that the cast and crew of The Handmaid's Tale are huge Swifties. She said it was a natural fit to use "Look What You Made Me Do," and one that also aligned perfectly with the episode's themes: revenge, freedom, and taking back power.

Of course, Swifties are now believing this to be more than just a soundtrack selection. Swift has been gradually re-recording her initial six albums to take complete control of her music. Since Reputation (Taylor's Version) is among the last few left, this TV premiere has kindled massive speculation that the official release of the album is imminent, even potentially coordinated with the American Music Awards on May 26.

So was this just a revolting sync for a TV show? Maybe. But knowing Taylor, it was also a clue and the snakes, secrets, and Swiftian strategy of the Reputation era may be slithering back very soon.