Movies

How The Handmaid’s Tale Series Ends Will Shock You

BBG News

In a surprising turn of events, one of television’s most thought-provoking and prophetic series, Hulu’s “The Handmaid’s Tale,” based on Margaret Atwood’s novel, has concluded its eight-year run. Starring Elisabeth Moss as June Osborne, a woman forced into servitude as a Handmaid in an alternate America governed by the totalitarian theocracy of Gilead, the series delved deeply into women’s rights and autonomy issues. As the seasons progressed, these themes resonated increasingly with current events, making it a tough watch for some, yet it consistently drew record-breaking viewership. For those who found the show too emotionally taxing, be reassured that the final season was less somber, although it did not lack tearjerking moments entirely. The finale primarily focuses on the rebellion against Gilead and June’s quest to dismantle this oppressive regime once and for all.

Without a doubt, some of the most thrilling scenes from “The Handmaid’s Tale” occur in the episodes just preceding the finale. In episode 8, titled “Exodus,” the Handmaids orchestrate a significant uprising during the wedding of Serena (Yvonne Strahovski) and Commander Wharton (Josh Charles). This rebellion results in the deaths of numerous Commanders, causing a major weakness within Gilead. Moreover, Serena’s marriage to Wharton is short-lived, as she learns upon returning home that he had secretly employed a Handmaid, disregarding Serena’s fertility.

In Episode 9 titled “Execution,” Gilead responds harshly by apprehending June and numerous other Handmaids, planning to execute them publicly on the gallows. However, resistance flares up once more, this time spearheaded by the underground group Mayday. They manage to liberate the Handmaids, assassinating several commanders and a significant number of Gilead’s military personnel in the process. Once freed, June teams up with Commander Lawrence (Bradley Whitford) to orchestrate the demise of the remaining powerful commanders using an explosive device that brings down their aircraft. Ultimately, it is June and the Handmaids who emerge victorious.

Nevertheless, the final episode of The Handmaid’s Tale is packed with disclosures and ends the series on an unexpectedly optimistic tone. Let me explain the positions that the main characters in the series find themselves in following the series finale.

Commander Joseph Lawrence

Commander Joseph significantly contributed to the rise of Gilead’s dominance, shaping its economy as its principal designer. However, throughout the series, his actions became more and more abhorrent to him, particularly the enslavement of thousands of women. In Season 6, he collaborates with Mayday to dismantle Gilead from within. He is assigned to place a bomb on a plane carrying top commanders, but before they board, he slips away. The mission proves to be his last; the other commanders spot him before he can escape. In a selfless act, Joseph gives up his life in an attempt to reverse the atrocities he played a part in creating within the world.

Commander Nick Walker

In the final season of The Handmaid’s Tale, Nick (Max Minghella) navigated a challenging path, juggling his feelings for June with his role as a father and a top-ranking official in Gilead. His betrayal of June’s plot to assassinate a group of commanders at Jezebel’s irreparably damaged her trust in him. Nick’s loyalty to the commanders ultimately led to his downfall. At the suggestion of his wife Rose (Carey Cox), he boarded the same plane as the other commanders—the very one Lawrence had rigged with a bomb. Nick perished alongside Joseph and the other high-ranking officials.

Rita

Martha (a woman who works as a domestic servant and is infertile) named Rita (Amanda Brugel), formed bonds with the Handmaids in the story. In the Mayday uprising, she played a crucial part even after fleeing to Canada. However, she returned to New Bethlehem in hopes of seeing her sister again. Miraculously, they were reunited following many years apart. At New Bethleam, Rita prepared the cake for Serena’s wedding with Commander Wharton. She secretly added a sedative to the cake, which led to the Handmaids killing 37 commanders in one night, shifting the balance against Gilead. She saved June from execution by shooting the crane operator who aimed to hang her. Rita stood as a representation of silent courage throughout The Handmaid’s Tale, and it is said that without her, the liberation of Boston would never have transpired.

Emily

The standout character making a surprising return this season on “The Handmaid’s Tale” is Emily, who was once a main character but departed after Season 4. We caught up with her in Season 5, when Sylvia (Clea DuVall) informed June that she had gone back to Gilead (having escaped to Canada) to join the resistance group Mayday.

In a recently freed Boston, Emily encounters June. Emily tells June that she was in Bridgeport, Connecticut, working as a servant for a Commander for about seven months. However, this person was a friend, enabling Emily to stay connected with Sylvia and her son Oliver. “So you didn’t disappear entirely?” June queries. “Absolutely not,” Emily replies, “They are the reason I’m battling.

Moira

Initially, Moira (Samira Wiley) was one of June’s dearest friends prior to the Gilead regime, and maintained a strong bond with her during their time within Gilead. In Season 4, she managed to flee to Canada, where she collaborated with June’s spouse, Luke (O-T Fagbenle), in providing shelter for refugees escaping from Gilead. As the story unfolds in Season 6, Moira joins forces with June and Luke against Gilead as part of Mayday. Although she is not present in the finale (with the exception of flashbacks), she persistently contributes to Mayday’s efforts towards America’s liberation from Gilead.

Janine

As a devoted film enthusiast, I’ve been left pondering one crucial mystery from the final season of “The Handmaid’s Tale”: the destiny of Janine (Madeline Brewer). Among all characters, she bore the brunt more than most, having stayed in Gilead throughout the series while many of her companions found a better life elsewhere. Heartbreakingly, Janine has been separated from her daughter Charlotte and forced into a life of sexual servitude as a Jezebel. Her plight takes a grim turn when she’s re-assigned as a handmaid under Commander Bell (Timothy Simons), a man known for his cruelty and oppressive nature.

Janine bravely contributes to the rebellion, narrowly avoiding execution by hanging, but unfortunately, in the chaos that follows, she is recaptured by Gilead, and her whereabouts remain uncertain.

In the final scene, however, Janine’s prolonged pain reaches its end. Aunt Lydia (Ann Dowd), who had been steadfast in her mission to rescue Janine, eventually realizes the harsh truth about Gilead. Simultaneously, Naomi (Ever Carradine), who was nurturing Janine’s child, joins forces with Lydia to release Janine. In a delightful twist, Naomi returns Charlotte to Janine, providing her with the long-desired happy resolution that she truly deserves.

Serena

Following the liberation of Massachusetts, Serena’s (Yvonne Strahovski) life has become unstable. Once a vital member of New Bethlehem, her passport was revoked, and she was denied entry by Canada and the European Union. Now a refugee, Mark (Sam Jaeger) secures her temporary accommodation at a UN settlement. In the refugee camp, she’s seen holding her son close, reassuring him he’s all she’s ever wanted. However, it’s hard to ignore the sense that this is just a comforting narrative for Serena to cope with her new life filled with uncertainty.

Before departing for the refugee camp, Serena takes the chance to genuinely apologize to June for everything she’s inflicted upon her. June accepts her apology sincerely, providing some solace to a woman who has undergone significant transformation throughout “The Handmaid’s Tale.” Despite their forced collaborations this season, one can sense that under different circumstances, these two might have been friends.

June

In The Handmaid’s Tale, June triumphantly frees Boston and Massachusetts from Gilead’s control after leading the Mayday rebellion. The story consistently tests June, but she always emerges victorious. She has managed to reconnect with her mother and daughter, Holly, and throughout the series, she has fought alongside Luke as part of Mayday. Despite their separation, their affection for each other remains strong, bound by a common purpose: retrieving their lost daughter, Hannah. Though viewers yearn to see June reunited with Hannah, the quest to bring her home is ongoing. Leaving her family behind, June continues her relentless pursuit to get Hannah back.

In this rephrased version:

Initially, both June’s mother and Luke encourage her to write a book about her personal journey. At first, she’s reluctant, but in the final episode, after walking through what used to be Gilead, she returns to the Waterfords’ house where she was once Offred, enduring a harrowing, transformative ordeal. She then starts documenting her experiences, mirroring the dialogue from the very first installment. As she gazes at the camera and smiles, the series concludes with a black screen.

The end of “The Handmaid’s Tale” is primarily a tribute to the victory of the rebellion, but the separation of June and Hannah serves as a reminder of how much further they need to fight for freedom. Although Massachusetts has been liberated, much of America remains under Gilead’s control for now. The upcoming series based on “The Testaments,” set 15 years after the events in the original story, suggests that there is still more to uncover about Gilead’s fate on screen in the coming years.

Read More

2025-05-28 00:07

Previous post Brie Larson’s Epic Return to the MCU: What We Know About Phase 6!
Next post Pakistan’s Bitcoin Reserve: A Bold Move or Just a Trendy Fad?