The Handmaid’s Tale Ending, Explained
The Handmaid’s Tale ending may not be completely satisfying to viewers who were hoping for uncomplicated conclusions, but it is true to the spirit of the show. After six seasons, Huluâs adaptation of Margaret Atwoodâs feminist dystopian novel aired its finale on May 26. If youâre looking for meaning, especially amidst everything happening with current events, well, thatâs understandable.
Mayday has liberated Boston from Gilead at last, but the nation of Gilead still exists in most of the rest of the United States, and June (Elisabeth Moss) still hasnât been able to rescue Hannah (Jordana Blake). But why, you might be asking in frustration. I think I can explain. (For what itâs worth, the spinoff series, The Testaments, is already underway and revolves around Hannahâs story in Gilead.)
The Handmaidâs Tale could conceivably have ended on episode nine, when Mayday won the battle for Boston. The rebels rescued June and the other Handmaids (plus Ann Dowdâs Aunt Lydia!) from the noose in the nick of time, having already killed a majority of the Commanders after Serenaâs (Yvonne Strahovski) grotesque wedding. The win became decisive when Lawrence (Bradley Whitford) brought a bomb onto the plane that was to transport the remaining Commanders, including Nick (Max Minghella), to D.C., and sacrificed himself in the process. Episode ten was about wrapping up as many loose ends as possible, though not every loose end.
Yvonne Strahovski as Serena
©Hulu/Courtesy Everett Collection
Janine (Madeline Brewer), who had been recaptured by the Eyes, was delivered back to Mayday by Naomi Putnam Lawrence (Ever Carradine), of all people. And Naomi doubled down on her 180 degree character change by sending Angela/Charlotte to live with her real mother Janine, where she would be safe. Serena and Noah were sent to refugee limbo, which she made peace with by reflecting on a) how blessed she was to have her son and b) the fact that she finally got Juneâs forgiveness. Emily (Alexis Bledel) popped in for a brief life-update (sheâs doing okay, and still gets to FaceTime with Oliver [Charlie Zeltzer] occasionally), and we left Moira (Samira Wiley) and Luke (OT Fagbenle) already planning their next Gilead assault. Juneâs mom Holly (Cherry Jones) has traveled with baby Nichole/Holly from Alaska to reunite with June, whose last struggle is with herself. She knows she has to continue the fight, but she doesnât want to leave her daughter again.
June actually explains it best in her emotional monologue to baby Holly, who seems to be fighting some wicked jet-lag. âItâs my job to keep you safe, you know that. You and your sister. I have another job too, I think,â she says. âI think I have to do my best to help keep all the little girls in Gilead safe too. If I can’t, I have to try.â Through tears, June explains to her daughter that she needs to stay with Grandma a little while longer, because she wonât be safe where June is going. But, she adds, âBut you know what? Can I tell you something? You donât have to be near mommy in order to feel her love. Itâll find you, no matter where you are.â
Samira Wiley (standing) as Moira
©Hulu/Courtesy Everett Collection
June then has an echoing conversation with her own mother, who begs June to stay somewhere safe instead of keeping up the fight. But, June argues gently, sheâs not safe anywhere right now, because of Gilead. And it was actually Holly (Big Holly, that is) who taught June how to fight for women. The argument the show, through June, is making is that until all women are safe, no women are safe. If we were to apply that to the politics of today, you might say that even if you live in a state where abortion rights are protected now, you arenât truly safe as long as there are states where abortion rights are not protected.
While the book was originally published in 1985, the series premiere in 2017 turned out to be remarkably timely, as it coincided with the height of the Me Too movement. Soon, The Handmaidâs Taleâand especially its instantly iconic costumingâbecame cultural shorthand for protesting against real world patriarchy.
In 2018, for example, after then-Supreme Court Justice nominee Brett Kavanaugh was accused of sexual assault by Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, demonstrators dressed as Handmaids to protest his confirmation. Handmaidâs Tale protestors returned in 2020 to protest Justice Amy Coney Barrettâs Supreme Court confirmation, and in 2022, after the decision to overturn Roe was leaked, the Handmaid costumes appeared again for protests outside Barrettâs house.
At the same time, reproductive rights have seen some political wins since the overturning of Roe v. Wade. For instance, voters in Kentucky and Ohio, two solidly Republican states, have voted to protect abortion access in their state constitutions. Like at the end of The Handmaidâs Tale, these represent partial wins against a landscape that seems hopelessâindicating that a brighter future is possible if we continue to fight. Another point that the finale episode of the series makes is the importance of continuing to tell and share our stories.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Moss explained, âWhat I connected to with June at the beginning was the same thing I connected with at the very end. She has this quality of wanting to survive, not only as herself, but to create a better future, specifically for her children, but also for the next generation. That is her goal in life. I saw that in episode one, in that first script. I remember calling my mom and telling her that. And itâs the same thing in the very last scene.â The season doesnât end with June finding Hannah, but it does end with her continuing her fight for Hannah, as well as everyone elseâs daughters. If the series simply ended with Hannahâs rescue, this message might have fallen flat.
America isnât at the warfare stage of fighting back, yet, but The Handmaidâs Tale ends with a reminder that there are multiple ways to push back against a misogynistic regime. One of which is simply telling your storyânot just the bad parts, but the parts where you fought back and won. Both Luke and Holly urge June to write a memoir. âIt isnât a story for the people who havenât lost anyone, they donât need the story,â Holly tells her. âThis is the story for people who may never find their babies. For people who never, ever give up tryingâŠWrite it for your daughters, June.â
Elisabeth Moss as June
©Hulu/Courtesy Everett Collection
So, in the final scene, June revisits the house where she lived as a Handmaid with the Waterfords. She takes out a tape recorder, and begins reciting the opening monologue of the series, simply describing her life. âA chair. A table. A lamp. The window with white curtains,â she says.
You could say, in some ways, June is writing a story for us.
