[Warning: The following contains MAJOR spoilers for The Handmaid’s Tale series finale.]
The Handmaid’s Story has ended after six seasons on Hulu. The fictional authoritarian regime of Gilead didn’t fall within the sequence finale, nevertheless it suffered its greatest army loss to this point when Mayday and the U.S. army liberated Boston within the penultimate episode. The sequence finale, which got here out at midnight E.T., 9 p.m. PT on Could 27 on the streamer, picked up 19 days later when Massachusetts had been utterly freed and restored as an American state. Additionally freed was the lacking Janine (Madeline Brewer), who had been trapped in Gilead since Mayday’s assault in Episode 9. Aunt Lydia (Ann Dowd) and the now-widowed Naomi Lawrence (Ever Carradine) introduced Janine to the Gilead-Boston border and introduced Charlotte together with them. Janine and her daughter had been ultimately reunited and protected within the U.S., making June (Elisabeth Moss) yearn for her long-lost daughter Hannah much more.
Sadly, June, Luke (O-T Fagbenle), and Hannah didn’t reunite in The Handmaid’s Story sequence finale. She was seen in a brand new flashback scene and in a imaginative and prescient June had whereas visiting her previous bed room within the fire-damaged Waterford home within the present’s last moments (Hannah was performed by Jordan Hutson as a substitute of Jordana Brewster). Hannah shall be a predominant character within the upcoming spinoff The Testaments and shall be performed by Chase Infiniti. With June and Luke nonetheless alive and deeply concerned with Mayday by the top of the finale, it’s attainable that they may make appearances in The Testaments, although nobody from the spinoff’s workforce have confirmed any such cameos. It’s in The Testaments that The Handmaid’s Story followers would possibly lastly see Gilead fall.
June and Luke have gone their separate methods. As for Serena (Yvonne Strahovski), revealing the time and placement of the commanders’ flight to Washington, D.C. within the penultimate episode received her safety from the U.S. authorities and Mark Tuello (Sam Jaeger). Earlier than Serena boarded the bus that will take her to a refugee middle, she shared an emotional second with June throughout which June did her the large favor of claiming she was forgiven. Whether or not June actually forgives Serena for all the pieces is up for debate, nevertheless it’s sure that June knew that Serena wanted to listen to these phrases in an effort to transfer ahead.
The finale additionally introduced again Alexis Bledel in a shock cameo that supplied a long-awaited replace on Emily, who has been in a close-by city in Massachusetts since returning to Gilead to affix the resistance in Season 5. Moira (Samira Wiley) and Rita (Amanda Brugel) are nonetheless concerned with Mayday. And June’s mother, Holly (Cherry Jones), additionally got here again to Boston with child Nicole. Luke and Holly each urged June to write down a e-book chronicling her time as a Handmaid, as a result of the folks in her story — together with the lately deceased Nick (Max Minghella) and Commander Lawrence (Bradley Whitford) and all the slain ladies June knew — had been price remembering.
The sequence ended with June visiting the Waterford home the place the story all started, after which she began recording the primary web page of her e-book on a recording gadget. Elisabeth Moss closed out the sequence by reciting the primary web page of Margaret Atwood‘s The Handmaid’s Story novel, recreating the identical shot that opened the sequence within the “Offred” pilot. The choice to finish the sequence by “writing” the Atwood e-book was made all the way in which again when former showrunner Bruce Miller was first growing the dystopian drama for Hulu. In actual fact, it was a part of the imaginative and prescient he pitched to Moss earlier than she agreed to star.
Miller continues to be an govt producer for the sequence after stepping down as showrunner for the ultimate season. He did this to pivot to creating The Testaments spinoff, which is at present filming in Toronto. Miller additionally wrote the sequence finale, which was directed by Moss and fittingly titled “The Handmaid’s Story.” Right here, Bruce Miller explains The Handmaid’s Story sequence finale to TV Insider.
To get began, you might have Alexis Bledel again. Inform me how and why that occurred.
Bruce Miller: Effectively, why it occurred was as a result of I used to be very wanting to see the character and what had occurred to the character. It was one thing I all the time wished to do, and Alexis has an advanced schedule and an advanced life, and it didn’t work out that it was a superb time to do it till the top. She moved heaven and earth to stand up to us, and so there have been much more sensible issues than character and emotional issues.
I all the time wished to know what occurred to the character that she was taking part in, Emily, but additionally she was so central to June for thus lengthy. Even earlier than the present began, they had been strolling companions. So there was one thing about bringing her again on the finish that if June was going to re-experience that a part of her life, it felt prefer it was not possible to do with out that particular person as a result of with out figuring out that each of them had made it out, you couldn’t imagine within the not possible being attainable. However the two of them collectively, each being alive and free actually, I believe was the one factor that June and the viewers actually didn’t count on to happen. I hope.
Inform me concerning the resolution to have them revisit the Wall for this scene and have this location with such a darkish historical past be a considerably extra hopeful place.
There’s extra hope, nevertheless it’s not all hope. There’s nonetheless our bodies hanging off within the nook. I wished as a lot as attainable for us to imitate their strolling that they’d carried out in Gilead, with sufficient widespread corners and visuals that you just type of really feel like this is similar place. June, by going again to that a part of city, is proudly owning her trauma in a manner that’s not possible with out with the ability to trod free on the territory the place you had been enslaved. And that’s why the present ends together with her being house [at the old, dilapidated Waterford house] for the primary time. She’s been there for thus lengthy trapped, and now she’s house and it’s completely different. And so I believe that them again on their very own turf collectively, however the turf actually issues. And on this case, the concept of the Wall and it being a spot the place they spent lots of time considering what this world was like, they return there to verify in on, “What’s this world like?”
Disney / Steve Wilkie
June decides to write down a e-book about her time in Gilead, as inspired by Luke and Holly. The sequence ends with Elisabeth Moss reciting the primary web page of Margaret Atwood’s Handmaid’s Story novel verbatim. Why was that the proper ending?
I had learn the e-book loads earlier than I acquired concerned in it as a challenge, and I had additionally listened to the audiobook. And when you take heed to the audiobook, you understand so in a extra visceral manner that, oh my God, that is entire factor’s an audiobook that was recorded as soon as they begin speaking about the place they discovered [Offred’s story] and all that. So I used to be very conscious as I used to be adapting it. That is [June’s] perspective. She didn’t know something [outside of Gilead], and there’s no media. She didn’t know something she didn’t know on the time. In order that made the present, that outlined the present, the truth that it was her perspective and the truth that her perspective is tied into the truth that it was these tapes.
So after I very a lot began the challenge, that was in my thoughts, and I believe it was one of many first conversations I had with Elisabeth. I believe it was earlier than she even stated sure to the position when she had simply learn the pilot. She’s been on an exceedingly giant variety of reveals which have gone a really very long time. She has great style by way of the initiatives that she chooses. So that you even have the dialog about, “Effectively, what would occur if lightning struck and this truly all works out and it goes on? What would you assume the ending for this type of character story can be?” At that time, I used to be realizing how wealthy the e-book was as an adaption materials. I used to be saying I’d actually observe Margaret Atwood’s lead. And the very last thing that she did, the final factor Offred did within the e-book, was document this. That’s the very final thing. And I stated, “I believe we will nonetheless get there, that the very final thing about that is that she recorded this story.”
From the start, we had been fascinated about that. We weren’t navigating in direction of it. It was there. You possibly can take heed to the primary episode of The Handmaid’s Story, and you’ll hear that tape recorder begin clicking. And that we placed on 10 years in the past once we made that. You possibly can hear that click on from the tape recorder that she activates within the pilot.
The story within the e-book of the handmaid, though it’s advised on the finish as historic notes, is that that girl who was Offred recorded this story in some unspecified time in the future, she was not but free, and Gilead didn’t fall instantly. So her recording that story is a part of the character that we all know. One of many final issues, however probably the most vital belongings you discover out about her is, she determined to document this horrible, troublesome story of loss and ache, however you document it as a result of there have been so many individuals in it who’re price remembering, so many ladies particularly who’re price remembering.
June and Luke have gone their separate methods by the top however have this intention to ultimately to go discover Hannah collectively. Luke’s plan is to free extra states as a result of that frees Hannah. After which June says she’s going to go discover her instantly. Why not have them go collectively?
As a result of I believe the vital a part of that is that they don’t have separate methods. They will’t go their separate methods. They’re each going in direction of the identical factor, however I believe they’re recognizing the truth that the a part of them that’s modified since Gilead is larger, extra vital, and extra insistent of their personalities proper now, and that’s what they’re going to observe. It isn’t a lot what they’re going to do, it’s the truth that they didn’t verify with one another after they determined. They each are preventing the struggle, however they’re making selections primarily based on what they assume is greatest for the state of affairs the place they will contribute one of the best to a hit. And Luke has proven on this season, he actually can contribute. He is aware of issues that really are extremely useful and his persona works to inspire folks [he gets the electricity back up and running in Boston in the series finale].
My sense is that they could cross paths, they could work collectively, however they’re not checking with one another. I believe they’ve separated in that manner. This is absolutely the important factor of their lives, and it might be till the very finish of their lives, however for now, bringing down Gilead and getting their daughter again is what they’re each doing. And so long as they’ve barely completely different concepts about what they need to be doing, they’re not going to be checking with one another, however they’re going to be supporting one another.
Disney / Steve Wilkie
We don’t see Hannah within the current timeline in any respect in this last season. Why not have June attempt to see her one final time? Is that this as a result of Hannah shall be a predominant character in The Testaments?
There definitely is a way, for me, that you just’re extra snug not seeing her as a result of you might have this massive, juicy pie to come back the place you’re simply following [Hannah’s] attention-grabbing story [in The Testaments]. In order that definitely makes you’re feeling extra, however the truth that [June] noticed [Hannah] in any respect ever once more was a miracle. I believe that we’re promoting the viewers a invoice of products by saying these items are that simple. She has not seen her since she noticed her in that field in jail. She has not seen her, and she or he didn’t see her very many instances earlier than that. She noticed her as soon as nose to nose and as soon as when she was asleep. However she has not interacted together with her in any respect. These issues, as June says within the finale, had been utterly not possible. And so I wished to maintain it to the not possible, not the fascinating.
And it’s definitely a extra practical ending, as unhappy as it’s. However we get a little bit of hope in Janine’s reunion with Charlotte. One other practical ending is Serena’s. She’s left together with her child, one plastic bag of provides, and a cot to sleep on in a refugee shelter.
She acquired all the pieces she wished.
Effectively, that’s my query. Did she? As a result of there’s that second within the finale when she says she doesn’t imply something now. June principally says, “You’ve your son. Isn’t this why you probably did all of this?” So is the message with Serena saying she means “nothing” now that she actually was making Gilead for the facility of it, along with wanting a baby? It actually was by no means this altruistic factor, her purpose for motherhood?
I don’t find out about that as a result of I’m positive there are many trappings of it, however I believe it’s simply watch out what you would like for. Typically you get precisely that. She thought, “The one factor I would like out of all of this personally, I’m constructing this entire world so I can have a baby. I get that, and I lose all the pieces else within the course of.” Is she a winner? She acquired precisely what she wished, what she prayed for greater than the rest on the planet. Even for a really clever, very considerate, very emotionally conscious girl as [Serena], she’s a simpleton with regards to these items, the concept of how individuals are going to truly function within the f***ing world. She’s a simpleton and a merciless simpleton.
Due to her separation from her dad and mom, we didn’t get to know Hannah very properly in The Handmaid’s Story. What could shock viewers concerning the particular person she’s grown into in The Testaments, and can Aunt Lydia be as current of a determine in Hannah and Daisy’s lives as she was in June’s?
To reply the second half, first I’d say that Lydia is definitely as concerned within the lives of Daisy and Hannah/Agnes in The Testaments as Lydia was within the lifetime of June, however in a really, very completely different manner. To start with of The Handmaid‘s Story, Lydia is definitely a formidable and terrifying character. In The Testaments, her position is taking good care of educating the plums — essentially the most valuable ladies in Gilead, probably the most valuable sources within the nation. Lydia shouldn’t be required to mete out punishment to the plums, however she shouldn’t be within the position of breaking the spirit of worldly ladies who know fashionable life, as she did with the Handmaids.
You’re proper that we didn’t get to know Hannah very properly in The Handmaid‘s Story, which was type of central to the tragedy of June. She was not in a position to get to know her daughter properly as she acquired older. So is that this Hannah (who’s now known as and thinks of herself as Agnes) who we count on her to be? I don’t know. I definitely see the June within her, and I hope over the course of the season and the course of the present, Agnes goes to attempt to change her world in ways in which would make June very proud.
The Handmaid’s Story, Seasons 1-6 Out there Now, Hulu
The Testaments, Sequence Premiere, TBA, Hulu