SPOILER ALERT: The following reveals major plot points from the series finale of Hulu‘s The Handmaid’s Tale.
Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale concluded its run tonight after 8 years and 6 seasons, following June Osbourne (Elisabeth Moss) in her fight to rid the world of evil.
While there were wins for the rebellion, Gilead lives on with many of June’s strongest allies trapped there at the start of the episode, like Aunt Lydia (Ann Dowd) and Janine (Madeline Brewer). Her beloved daughter Hannah isn’t free, but she learns she will be closer to her.
In an early scene in the episode, June reconnects with Serena (Yvonne Strahovski) and her baby boy, Noah. These women have come a long way from the mortal enemies they were throughout most of the early seasons. June was Serena’s former handmaid, and there’s no way they could ever be friends, but by the end, they reached a point of respect. Serena congratulates June on her victory, and June tells Serena that they couldn’t have done it without her.
Things get a little tense between them for a brief moment when Serena gives June her condolences for the loss of Nick (Max Mighella), who died aboard an airplane last week alongside his father-in-law, Commander Wharton (Josh Charles), and Commander Lawrence (Bradley Whitford).
The conversation lightens when Serena tells June, “You know, if he ever thought he had a real choice, he would’ve chosen you.” June, while holding Noah, gives Serena a warm smile.
Serena is contending with the fact that she will never be able to return to Gilead because too many people want her dead. Lost as to who she will be moving forward, June suggests she just be Noah’s mother.
Mark Tuello (Sam Jaeger) shuffles Serena to a bus that will take her somewhere she and her baby will be safe. This could be the final moment that June and Serena see each other, leaving the latter with so much to say.
“June, when I recall some of the things that were done to you, the things that I did, and that I forced you to do, I’m ashamed,” she says with tears in her eyes.
June replies, “You should be.”
Serena adds, “Yes, and I’m sorry. If words mean anything at all, I am sorry.”
Then something truly divine happens for both of these women, something June couldn’t bring herself to do before this moment.
“I forgive you, Serena. I do,” said June as Serena cried, knowing how hard it was for the former to say those words and mean it.
Serena thanks June with genuine remorse in her heart, “God bless you, June. Both women are now free from the evil ties that bound them.
Mark couldn’t believe what he just witnessed, and honestly, neither could I. He tells June she was generous with Serena, and she said, “You have to start somewhere, right?” June, always leading by example. He has further news to share: her old neighborhood has opened up. She goes to thank Mark, but questions if he’s Captain Tuello, to which he remarks, “It’s Commander, actually.”
As she moves on, she stops and looks into an empty shop. A woman appears beside her, sharing that the space used to be an ice cream shop. When they panned over to the stranger, I screamed.
Alexis Bledel returns as Dr. Emily Malek!! Viewers have not seen her on the show since she departed in the fourth season. June is just as stunned. The women embrace, forever changed due to their experience as handmaids. They catch up, and Emily reveals she’s been in Bridgeport, a “hot spot for the rebellion,” she said before adding, “I was a Martha, the Commander was a friend.”
The pair catches up and spends a lovely afternoon together. Later, Mark had June taken in the middle of the night for something important. She’s half asleep, and it’s freezing outside, when she sees a figure led by a few men. It’s a woman thrown onto the icy snow—it’s Janine. She’s a little worse for wear, but Janine is a warrior. She’s been through way worse, yet still fighting for her life.
In further shocking events, Naomi (Ever Carradine) appears next with Angela in her arms and Aunt Lydia by her side. Naomi shares a sweet final moment with Angela, whom she raised, but was born to Janine and Naomi’s deceased husband, Commander Putnam (Stephen Kunken). Janine originally named her Charlotte, but Naomi insisted the girl’s name be Angela.
Janine is curled into June’s lap when Naomi approaches with the child, unbeknownst to Janine. June tells Janine, “Look who is here.” Janine is stunned to see it’s her baby girl and begins to laugh and weep simultaneously. As the realization sets in that they have been reunited forever, Janine is overwhelmed.
June thanks Naomi for doing the right thing, knowing how hard this was for the former. Aunt Lydia tells June to take care of Janine and Charlotte, and June thanks her, too.
“Blessed is the woman who does not walk in stride with the weak,” June said, paraphrasing Psalm 1.1.
Moss is brilliant in this finale, showing a woman who was tortured and terrorized, whose heart was broken over and over, who survived. She is seeing the fruits of her sacrifice come true one by one, and it’s glorious. Her emotions and facial expressions capture something that mere words would be difficult to express. Everything June has gone through has led her to this moment.
She is back at the bus depot, and many people are waiting for their loved ones, including June and Luke (O-T Fagbenle). June spots her mom, Holly Maddox, and her daughter Nicole, whom she shares with Nick, RIP. It’s a big reunion and there are nothing but smiles for miles.
June tells Nicole her plans for the future, wanting to protect all the little girls like her and her sister from Gilead. Holly listens tenderly as June tells her youngest she will have to leave her again in the company of her grandmother, just a little while longer. However, Holly is panicked to learn June has to keep fighting. Holly understands and is proud of who her daughter has grown up to be. She promises to tell Nicole about how her mother is a warrior.
Luke and June have a tête-à-tête about their relationship. After everything that’s happened, they don’t know one another like they used to, but maybe there’s time to start fresh. June hasn’t given up on getting their daughter Hannah back, and she tells Luke as much in a touching moment. Luke hears about her plans to return to Gilead and tells June he will meet her there.
Since becoming a rebel, Luke has evolved a lot as a character. By this final episode, the pair seems more in sync in their life missions and who they are after all that’s gone down. A great example is when Luke tells June that it’s okay to love the people who were in her life, including Nick. June still has so many emotions and trauma to process, but she’s in a good place.
Serena landed in a place to stay overnight and is frustrated. There isn’t anything her son needs available, like wipes, diapers, and fresh clothes. She remembers that June gave her a bag, and when she opens it, magically, there’s everything they need in there and more.
Later, June returns to the charred remains of the Waterford home, where it all began for her. She looks into her old room, grateful for having survived. June takes out an audio recorder and begins dictating her experiences after being encouraged by her mom and Luke to write a book about her story.
In the closing moment, she ends her recording.
“My name is Ofred,” June said before looking straight at the camera with a smile.
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