Farewell to Gilead: The New and Final Season of The Handmaid's Tale

After Fred’s (Joseph Fiennes) death, June (Elisabeth Moss) continues to struggle with life in Canada, knowing her daughter Hannah (Jordana Blake) is still trapped in Gilead.

After trying to rescue Hannah (again), Luke (O-T Fagbenle) and June barely make it back to Canada in one piece. But when a Gilead sympathizer finds her and nearly kills her, both Luke and June realize that their safe haven is no longer safe.

Meanwhile, after losing Fred, a pregnant Serena (Yvonne Strahovski) finds herself in the uncomfortable position of losing her power and autonomy.

It’s an ironic place for her to be, given her unsympathetic treatment of June as a handmaid. After baby Noah is born, Serena takes the first opportunity she can and runs.

In season five, we also see the influence of Gilead bleeding over the border. Gilead sympathizers begin protesting Canada’s refugee program, and more pressure is put on the Canadian government to accept Gilead as an equal.

Despite finding an outlet for her anger, Emily (Alexis Bledel) realizes that she’ll never be able to adapt to the quiet life Canada offers and leaves her wife and son to go back to Gilead. It’s understood she wants revenge against Lydia, but perhaps season six will offer more answers.

Aunt Lydia (Ann Dowd) and Janine (Madeline Brewer) are once again together. Though neither of their fate is certain. Aunt Lydia, seeming to realize the damage she’s done with her part in training handmaids, tries to reform the system only to run into a very dangerous wall.

And Janine is sent back to the Red Center after yet another rebellion. Aunt Lydia has always been fond of Janine, so when she is dragged off towards an unknown fate, the loss hits Aunt Lydia particularly hard.

And then there’s Nick (Max Minghella). He’s now married, and his wife is pregnant, complicating his feelings for June and his role in the rebellion. Will he and June continue to orbit each other? Or will this finally tear the star-crossed couple apart for good?

When it becomes obvious that Canada is going to punish Luke for beating the man who deliberately tried to kill June to death, they attempt to board a train that will take them to Alaska.

Unfortunately, Luke is arrested at the train station, leaving June and baby Nichole to board by themselves. And they aren’t alone.

Also on the train is Serena with her own newborn. It seems these two women are destined to continue on the same path at least one more time.

Though June is fleeing Canada, her resolve to rescue Hannah has never wavered. It’s a fairly reasonable expectation that she will once again venture into Gilead for one final attempt at rescue.

The threads of Aunt Lydia’s dissent were seeded in season five, and glimpses into season six hint that this path will continue. The sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale, published in 2019, featured a reformed Aunt Lydia fifteen years after the end of the original novel.

 Though the book and series diverged after season one, The Testaments has already started filming. Aunt Lydia’s trajectory will likely set the stage for her role in that new show.

The stage has been set for all of the characters to finally face the consequences of their actions over the last five seasons.

They will all grapple with their own tests and challenges, leading to what we can only hope is an explosive end strong enough to carry us forward into The Testaments.

All the main players are expected to return. The conflicted Commander Lawrence (Bradley Whitford) to either help or hurt as his position demands.

Moira (Samira Wiley) and Rita (Amanda Brugel) will likely be there to help Luke escape the Canadian justice system, possible with the help of Sam (Mark Tuello).

Naomi Putnam (Ever Carradine) returns, and we will finally meet the elusive High Commander Wharton (Josh Charles).

Season six began streaming on Hulu on April 8. Episodes are released weekly, with the series finale airing May 27.

Featured still from “The Handmaid's Tale” via Hulu