The Handmaid's Tale has been quite the journey. Over the course of the first five seasons, we've watched Elisabeth Moss's June lose her freedoms and rights after the United States became the Republic of Gilead, a totalitarian state where fertile women are forced to be Handmaids who bear children for wealthy families. She is torn from her husband, Luke, and daughter, Hannah, and assigned as a handmaid to Commander Fred and his wife, Serena Joy.
The show is set to return with a sixth and final season this year — but before we dive back into the world of Gilead, let's remind ourselves of the dramatic penultimate season.
Things are about to get very, very intense.
The fifth season opened right after the dramatic cliffhanger ending of season 4 that saw June and her ex-handmaid allies successfully killing Fred, the Gilead Commander to whom June had once been assigned as handmaid.
Following the murder, an elated, giddy June is confronted by the handmaids, who ask for her help in seeking revenge on the families they were once assigned to. When June refuses, she turn on her.
Meanwhile, Serena (Yvonne Strahovski), Fred's wife, finds herself seeking revenge for his murder. She returns to Gilead and convinces Commander Lawrence to broadcast a state funeral for Fred. June watches the proceedings on the big screen and is horrified to see that Serena includes June and Luke's (O-T Fagbenle) daughter, Hannah (Jordana Blake), in the event.
June speaks to Nick (Max Minghella) on the phone, discovering that he is now married and that Hannah will soon be married off.
Following the funeral, Serena applies to remain in Gilead, but her application is denied. Instead, she is sent to Toronto as a diplomat, allegedly to strengthen international relations, but, in reality, as a punishment for her unwed status.
Meanwhile, Esther (Mckenna Grace) poisons herself and Janine (Madeline Brewer) in an attempted joint suicide, but they are found by Aunt Lydia (Ann Dowd). After a long comma, Janine awakens but refuses to condemn Esther.
Now living in Toronto, Serena sets out plans for a Gilead Cultural Centre. In a bold move, she invites June to the opening ceremony.
Tensions break out at the ceremony and as Serena is escorted away by security, she crosses paths with June. For a moment, June considers taking out her revenge on Serena, reaching for her gun — but when she sees that Serena is pregnant, she stops herself.
Serena is taken in by the Wheeler family, who are overbearing, controlling, and overly fascinated by her pregnancy.
Meanwhile, June and Luke resume their search for Hannah. They enter No Man's Land where they are captured by Commander Wheeler's forces.
June is condemned to execution, which will be enacted by Serena — however, at the last minute, Serena shoots the guard on duty instead of June and the unlikely pair escape in a car.
Serena, who has started going into labour, holds June at gun point, forcing her to drive her through No Man's Land. The car crashes into a barn, and June helps Serena deliver her baby. June convinces Serena to return to Canada to seek medical help.
Just as June and Luke are about to leave the hospital, immigration authorities arrive and arrest Serena for entering Canada illegally. Her newborn son, Noah, is placed into the care of the Wheelers.
Later, when Serena is given the opportunity to return to her son, she seeks June's help — June tells her to accept the offer and to plot revenge from inside their home.
After returning to the Wheelers, Serena eventually escapes with her son.
Praise be. Here's everything we know so far.
Back in Gilead, Lawrence is working on his plans for a reformed, liberalised Gilead, which he calls New Bethleham.
Meanwhile, Aunt Lydia learns that Esther is pregnant after being raped by Commander Putnam (Stephen Kunken). She reports it to Lawrence, who eventually arranges for Putnam's execution.
Lawrence offers June a place in New Bethleham. While June considers the offer, Luke is fervently opposed.
Nick and June meet. Although she wants him to work with her as a spy, he tells her he has plans to reform Gilead with Lawrence from within. He then confesses his love for June who reciprocates.
Tensions continue to rise. There is an assassination attempt on June and she is later hit by a Gilead truck. Luke comes to her rescue and beats the driver. Meanwhile, in Gilead, Nick lashes out at Lawrence, blaming him for June's injury.
June and Luke realise they need to escape Canada after the truck driver dies. They plan to take a train to Bancouver, hoping to escape to Hawaii from there, however, Luke is arrested on the platform. Alone on the train, June finds Serena and Noah on board in a dramatic, cliffhanger ending.
When life imitates art.
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