THE old Taylor just came to the phone— loud and clear— and we’re not sorry for it. 

Taylor Swift’s Look What You Made Me Do (Taylor’s Version) made a surprise but unmistakable debut in the opening scene of The Handmaid’s Tale, leaving fans buzzing as anticipation for Reputation (Taylor’s Version) reaches a fever pitch.

The iconic pop song played during episode 9, as June (played by Elisabeth Moss) leads Mayday— the secret resistance group— to attack the commanders of Gilead. 

But Taylor Swift’s music wasn’t chosen at random. Much like the singer’s own knack for intentional Easter eggs, Elisabeth Moss—who stars in and executive produces the series—said the placement was carefully planned and deliberate.

In her interview with Billboard, Moss explained her choice. 

“I’ve been wanting to use a Taylor song for many years on the show and we finally found the perfect spot for a track from her, and I’m so glad we waited because there could not be a more perfect song for a more perfect moment,” she said. 

As it happens, many of the cast members are Swifties in their own right.

“Taylor has been such an inspiration to me personally. As a Swiftie myself, and I think I can speak for [co-star] Yvonne [Strahovski] and our entire cast as well, who are all Swifties, it’s such an honor to be able to use her music in the final episodes of our show,” said Moss. 

Moss directed Episode 9, entitled Execution. She personally requested the editor, Wendy Hallam Martin, to use Swift’s song. 

“I said to my editor, Wendy, ‘I really want to find a place for a Taylor track in the last 2 episodes of the show’ and we wanted to find a music queue for the opening of 9, and all the credit goes to Wendy for picking this track for this moment!” 

The use of LWYMMD (Taylor’s version) track may also signal the imminent release of Reputation (Taylor’s Version). 

Swift is known for planting carefully timed clues across her projects, and fans believe this bold placement is her latest breadcrumb leading up to the long-awaited re-recording. 

As part of her effort to reclaim ownership of her masters, Taylor has been re-recording her past albums—and teasing each drop with theatrical precision.