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Heads Up: The following article discloses all plot details from Season 6 of The Handmaid’s Tale, which has been broadcasted in the US but not yet shown in the UK.

Here’s where it ends, after six thrilling seasons and 66 episodes of “The Handmaid’s Tale.” For the moment, anyway. June Osborne’s remarkable, life-threatening journey has concluded, though her tale continues to unfold. Stay tuned for more!

Despite the significant departures and expansions that the show has made compared to Margaret Atwood’s original work, it has left many wondering how series creator Bruce Miller might conclude this often-violent, yet sometimes beautiful and always poignantly relevant narrative. The manner in which he would bring this story to a close has been enveloped in a veil of mystery.

As the protagonist, having astonishingly slipped out of Gilead through the aid of both familiar and fresh allies, finds herself embarking once more into the heart of Gilead, driven by her desire for rebellion.

And who would she choose? Luke? Or Nick? Perhaps neither.

Would she then be able to reconnect with her eldest child, Hannah, and manage to liberate her from the oppressive rule?

After everything that has passed, could she once again take up the role of Hannah’s mother in a very straightforward manner?

As a movie reviewer, I found some lingering questions neatly addressed in Margaret Atwood’s sequel novel The Testaments. Interestingly, this TV adaptation will inevitably diverge from the original work. Regarding the heart-wrenching scenes between June and Nick – his betrayal in episode 6 and his tragic demise in the second last episode – these events certainly simplified June’s decision-making process. However, there remains uncertainty about whether their relationship, burdened by collective trauma, can endure.

But how did The Handmaid’s Tale sign off June’s story?

Read on for a full rundown of where the finale left all of the major players.

The Handmaid’s Tale ending explained

June

The opening scene featured June recounting the events that unfolded following the first attack on Boston, an event that occurred in episode 9, orchestrated jointly by Mayday and the U.S. military.

As a passionate cinephile, I can’t help but feel a sense of triumph as I recount the events that unfolded after Lawrence’s heroic act toppled the city’s Commanders. In the grand scheme of things, their departure marked the beginning of the regime’s retreat, which ultimately took just 19 days for us to reclaim the city.

A US flag was hoisted outside a church. Later, June watched on as a red cloak burned on a bonfire.

However, as she pointed out, that was merely the initial step. Other cities and even states remained to be overturned, with Colorado being one, where Hannah previously resided with the Mackenzies. That was until a few commanders from the western district were promoted, which now has her stationed in DC, a significant 2,000 miles nearer.

June wouldn’t let distance stand in her way; she’d tirelessly pursue bringing her daughter back home, even if it meant leaving Nicole with her mother Holly temporarily, for an indeterminate period.

She stated, “We’re in danger, and so are you, and they will persistently pursue us. Even after we’re gone, they’ll target our children and grandchildren.

In simpler terms, “We can’t always win by fighting, but look where passivity left us – in a state like Gilead. What we truly need isn’t to defeat Gilead, but to dismantle it instead.

During our chat, Holly motivated June to pen down a book about her experiences, past and present, yet at first, June hesitated.

It was during the conversation that Holly inspired June to write a book detailing her ordeals from the past and those she’s currently facing; however, initially, June wasn’t keen on it.

“It’s not a very good story,” she said. “There is so much violence and fear and loss.”

But Holly was quick to chime in.

She replied, “Not at all! It’s a tale of persistence and refusing to give up.” This narrative is meant for those few who might never locate their children, who will persevere tirelessly. Pen it down for your daughters, June. Share with them the story of their resilient mother.

And that’s exactly what she began to do.

Towards the end of the play, she returned to the Waterford residence and stepped into her former bedroom, where a message written in white paint – “Nolite te Bastardes Carborundorum”, which means “Don’t let the btards grind you down” – was scrawled on the wall.

After thoroughly processing her thoughts, June found herself seated on the window ledge. In a symbolic gesture reminiscent of turning a page, she extended her hand towards Hannah. Hannah reciprocated, touching her, as they bid farewell to The Handmaid’s Tale and welcomed The Testaments, a narrative that focuses on three main characters: Agnes (Hannah), Daisy (Nichole, currently residing with adoptive parents in Canada), and Aunt Lydia.

For these young girls, their entire existence has been shaped within Gilead, as they possess no personal recollections of any world beyond the one they were conditioned to live in beforehand.

Faced with the possibility of being arranged into marriage and living as a servant, they’ll need to seek out friends, both old and new, to join them in their struggle for independence and the life they truly want.

It’s quite likely that the adaptation of “The Testaments” might also touch upon the character of June, perhaps offering some insight into her storyline. Even though Elizabeth Moss has stated she won’t be involved, there’s a chance we may see something related to her character.

Just as the last credits finished rolling for The Handmaid’s Tale, June took out a tape recorder and started narrating her tale. The truth, if shared, has the power to liberate not just me, but also the entire world.

Luke and Moira

Luke has completely committed himself to overthrowing Gilead. He shared with June that he’s planning to move towards the border close to New York with Moira and Mayday, intending to cause trouble there. Afterwards, he’ll locate June, and together they will work to retrieve Hannah.

It remains uncertain whether they’ll meet again, or if they do, their relationship may never regain its original form.

Or simply:

There’s doubt they’ll reconnect, and if they do, things might not be the same as before.

“We’re so different now,” he said. “Both of us. We don’t know each other like we did before.”

And like Holly, Luke also encouraged June to write a book about her life in Gilead.

He commented, “There were moments of goodness too, weren’t there?”

He added, “It wasn’t just hardships, was it? You had friends like Janine, Emily, Lawrence, and Nick; people who cared for you deeply, people you felt the same way about.

“They’re all worth remembering.”

In the final act, I found myself strolling along when all of a sudden, the captivating Emily, portrayed by Alexis Bledel, made an unexpected appearance.

She resided, under the hospice of a commanding friend, within Bridgeport, Connecticut – a locale renowned for its uprising.

She additionally shared with June that she was managing to stay connected with her family, who had grown even stronger as a group, surprisingly, despite the physical space separating them. This information filled June with optimism, thinking her own family might achieve similar closeness too.

Serena

The future for Serena seems to be the most unpredictable. After betraying Gilead by playing a crucial part in the demise of her second husband, Commander Wharton, along with his associates, she’s now a fugitive and is temporarily residing in a shelter with her son Noah.

“You’re all I need, you’re all I ever wanted,” she said while holding him tightly.

It’s clear that she cannot return to Gilead, neither does she desire to do so, and at this point, she lacks the ability to obtain a passport from Canada or the European Union. This situation leaves her in an uncertain state.

However, she genuinely holds June’s forgiveness with her, having conveyed her regret for the hurt she caused during their heartfelt goodbye and the emotional turmoil it brought about.

Janine and Aunt Lydia

Janine was finally released from the clutches of Gilead, thanks to Aunt Lydia.

During the early hours of the morning, June ventured with Mark to the recently established boundary of the regime, where Janine had been left behind by two Guards.

However, it wasn’t just her. Naomi Lawrence appeared alongside Lydia, accompanied by Angela, Janine’s daughter, and they all brought her back to her real mother.

As a devoted cinema enthusiast, I must say that while Janine’s tale concludes, as previously mentioned, Aunt Lydia is set to reappear on our screens in The Testaments. This captivating sequel unfolds 15 years after the events depicted in the book, but it seems that the timeline may be slightly accelerated in the show, with actor Ann Dowd hinting at a gap of approximately four to five years.

In the premiere of The Handmaid’s Tale season 6, as reported by Deadline, Miller stated that the character seems to be losing her ability to control herself. She is undermining herself by wanting to control other women but feeling it’s wrong, which contradicts her rigid moral compass.

I believe that the situation this season places her in makes her consider… what transpires when someone who craves control encounters powerlessness? Instead of collapsing, she strives to regain control. As we progress and delve into The Testaments, this is evidently her pursuit.

What turns an individual into someone akin to Lydia, who not only wishes for control but exudes confidence and possesses the ability to effectively manage? What becomes of such a person? Simply put, they don’t remain passive. If you deny them and attempt to suppress them, they might seize your nation.

How does The Handmaid’s Tale book end?

Atwood’s book ends on a somewhat ambiguous note.

Upon coming back to the Waterford residence from running errands, June encounters Serena, who has found the dress that June wore at Jezebel’s event with the Commander in it.

However, later that same evening, prior to carrying out any potential retribution, the Handmaid is interrupted as Nick shows up, and he isn’t by himself.

Accompanied by two eyes, he steps into the house and makes his way to June’s room. There, he shares with her that Mayday is responsible for this situation, and they are planning to extract her. However, it remains unclear whether he’s speaking the truth or simply trying to coax her into getting into the black van parked outside, without causing a scene, which she ultimately agrees to do.

“And so I step up, into the darkness within; or else the light.”

In summary, June’s story concludes here, except for a brief glimpse during the epilogue. This section is an excerpt from a symposium on Gilead studies, held by two scholars in the year 2195.

It is revealed that she documented some events from her life onto cassettes, which were found at the outskirts of Gilead (a place that no longer exists) close to the Canadian border. These tapes later became the basis for ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’, a written account.

It appears that Nick was probably being honest about his membership in the resistance, and that June successfully navigated her journey up to the border. However, the story does not reveal whether she successfully crossed the border or if she was apprehended at the last moment.

The Handmaid’s Tale airs on Hulu in the US and Channel 4 in the UK.

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2025-05-27 16:05