Chase Infiniti has explained how The Testaments, the popular and acclaimed spin-off to The Handmaid's Tale, is different in approach to the main series despite their shared universe.
Set four years after the events of its predecessor, the Disney+ series follows a new generation of subjugated young women in Gilead, with June's daughter Agnes (Infiniti) at the forefront of the action.
While Gilead continues to oppress women and girls under the guise of increasing the declining birth rate, the spin-off has a much lighter tone compared to the main series, with teenage friendships being a core theme.
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This was very much an intentional choice, with Infiniti telling Variety: "[What] I really loved about the first two episodes... was the amount of love that Agnes has for her friends, and how close-knit that friend group is."
"We wanted to show that it doesn't matter where you grew up, or how you grew up; friendships are universal and stand the test of culture and upbringing," said the star, who added that they were "mindful" of the central themes.
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Unlike June, Agnes and her friends experience a more sheltered life in Gilead as they attend a wife school run by Aunt Lydia. But despite being the daughters of high-profile commanders, the reality of their situation is bleak.
"You see the blanket of beauty that they've draped over these girls' world. It makes it more palatable for them," Infiniti highlights. "But in reality, they're still just as dark and terrifying. They're just tied up with a bow, and they look prettier."
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Despite the differences between the The Testaments and its predecessor, Infiniti shared that she rewatched The Handmaid's Tale in preparation for her role, but explained that she didn't want to take too much inspiration from it.
"I also really wanted to make an effort to not rely on [The Handmaid's Tale] too much, because [it's] told from the perspective of somebody who has lost everything," said the actor, who recently starred in One Battle After Another.
The Testaments streams on Disney+ and Hulu.
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