"First time we all hung out": The Handmaid's Tale cast to their on-set moments; reflect on memories made

The cast of The Handmaid's Tale took a trip down memory lane in a YouTube video by Hulu where the actors respond to memories.

The video, which was shared on March 25, 2025, features some key cast members reflecting on sweet memories from the sets, from sharing their first meal as a team to inside jokes behind the scenes that made their journey possible.

Lead actress Elisabeth Moss reminisced, staring at a throwback photo:

“This was the first dinner, the first time we all hung out.”

The photo grasped the liveliness and friendship that would mark their years of teamwork on the highly praised dystopian series.

Since its premiere in 2017, The Handmaid's Tale has mesmerized viewers with its story of Gilead's dictatorial regime and June Osborne's power. Now, with the show preparing its finale, the cast is recalling the bonds made and the memories shared.

Hulu's featurette is a moving counterpoint to The Handmaid's Tale's sad subject matter, reminding the viewers that under all the dark storytelling is a cast that immensely adores spending time together.

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The Handmaid's Tale cast’s favorite moments on set

Throughout the clip, the cast members share experiences that surprised them over The Handmaid's Tale's six seasons on the air.

Elisabeth Moss, who, in addition to starring as lead June Osborne has directed several episodes, discussed those initial production days.

She commented as she gazed at an old cast picture:

“It’s crazy to think how young and excited we all were.”

Bradley Whitford, who plays Commander Lawrence, jokingly remembered how he "pitched" a now-legendary line from Season 2:

“Do you have an irony deficiency?”

His light-hearted joking with co-stars emphasized the teamwork involved in the show's production. In the meantime, Yvonne Strahovski (Serena Joy) and Ann Dowd (Aunt Lydia) discussed the seriousness of their scenes together and how they would be giggling shortly after filming intense scenes.

Another highlight was the notorious The Handmaid's Tale dance-off.

Yvonne Strahovski plays Serena Joy Waterford. She joked, pointing to the moments of fun that helped break the show's emotionally exhausting scenes:

“Whose idea was this? Clearly mine—it’s a dance-off, hello!”

Such behind-the-scenes peeks show the close camaraderie of the actors despite the show's dark subject matter.

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Goodbye to Gilead, as the cast wraps up an era

As The Handmaid's Tale builds towards its end, cast members are looking back on their time on the set and on the show's cultural resonance.

The show, which was adapted from Margaret Atwood's novel, has ignited conversations on women's rights, government surveillance, and defiance.

Max Minghella (Nick Blaine) recognized how:

“This show became bigger than all of us—it started conversations that needed to be had.”

The last season is bound to be an emotional roller coaster, and Hulu's flashback video is both an ode and goodbye.

With its cast, including Samira Wiley (Moira), Madeline Brewer (Janine), and O-T Fagbenle (Luke), the series left an impact on television. As the cast says goodbye to Gilead, the audience can revisit their journey through this flashback.

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The Handmaid's Tale can be streamed only on Hulu.