Spoilers ahead, obviously. Don’t blame me if you keep reading and get mad. Blame Gilead.
After six seasons of red cloaks, righteous rage, and Aunt Lydia doing the most (and the worst), The Handmaid’s Tale has finally closed the book — literally and metaphorically. Hulu said “you’ve been traumatized enough, babes” and wrapped it all up in a finale filled with tearful goodbyes, plot twists, and one dramatic return that had us screaming “OMG EMILY??” like we saw a ghost in a bonnet.
Let’s break down the 9 biggest, most gasp-worthy moments from the finale, aka the “Handmaids Unleashed: Final Chapter.”
1. June & Serena: Frenemies to Forgiveness Pipeline
Imagine spending multiple seasons mentally fighting someone with your eyes, and then saying “It’s okay, girl” in the final five minutes. June and Serena hugged it out like ex-besties at Coachella. Serena’s now a broke refugee in a crusty bus with her baby, and June forgave her like she wasn’t once the Regina George of Gilead. Serena: free-ish. Fate: unknown. Vibes: awkward but soft.
2. SURPRISE! Emily’s Back Like She Never Left
Alexis Bledel rose from the Handmaid ashes for one last slay. Emily popped up in the streets like “Hey bestie, sorry I ghosted after Season 4.” Turns out she was deep undercover in Gilead as a Martha (Gilead’s version of a barista/nanny/spiritual counselor hybrid), and she’s been sending voice notes to her wife and son this whole time. Emotional? Yes. Random? Also yes.
3. Janine Finally Gets Her Baby & a Break
Janine, sweet chaos queen, got her happy ending after 53 seasons of emotional trauma. Aunt Lydia handed her off like a weirdly aggressive babysitter, and BOOM — reunion with her daughter Charlotte! Naomi was like, “Fine, take the kid. My husband died, I’m done.” Janine cried. We cried. The mascara ran.
4. June & Aunt Lydia: Emotional Girlies Only
Aunt Lydia, previously Gilead’s headmaster of doom, told June to look after Janine. June said “Thanks” like Lydia hadn’t once orchestrated a mass whipping. Emotional growth! June even complimented her for finally growing a backbone. Character development? We love to see it. Spin-off energy? The Testaments is coming — and yes, Lydia’s still booked and busy.
5. June’s Mom & Daughter Reunite With the Plot
In a shocking twist, June’s mom Holly and her daughter Nichole/Holly (yes, same name — don’t ask) rolled up to Boston from a refugee camp in Alaska like it was a surprise episode of 90 Day Fiancé: Gilead Edition. Tears were shed. Luke smiled. Everyone wore layers because it’s always cold in dystopia.
6. June: “I’m Not Done Fighting, Babe”
June looked her baby in the eye and said, “Listen, I love you, but I gotta throw hands with Gilead some more.” Her mom was like “AGAIN?!” but ultimately agreed to babysit while June packed her metaphorical war boots. Moms: truly the MVPs of every resistance.
7. “Write a Book,” They Said. “It’ll Be Therapeutic,” They Said.
Full circle alert! Holly and Luke told June to write her memoir, which is basically the whole show. She resisted at first, probably because she knew writing a bestseller takes FOREVER, but eventually agreed. Therapy is expensive. Writing a trauma-fueled dystopian exposé? Free. (And Emmy-winning.)
8. June & Luke’s Flirty Plot to Rescue Hannah
Plot twist: Hannah’s been moved to Washington, D.C., which is either a rescue mission or a National Treasure sequel waiting to happen. June and Luke made sexy war plans and promised to “get her back,” like Liam Neeson but hot and sad. They even flirted like it was episode one again. Hope? High. Lip gloss? Glossing.
9. The Final Scene Is a Full-Circle Slap to the Feelings
June returned to the Waterford house (aka trauma central) and sat in her iconic window. Then she dropped the OG voiceover from episode one. YES — the “chair, table, lamp” monologue. Scientologist Elisabeth Moss said she matched her mouth perfectly to the original audio. Iconic behavior. Emmy behavior. Closure behavior.
TL;DR:
- Serena’s wandering in exile with baby Noah.
- Emily made a shock comeback like she never quit.
- Janine got her baby and a well-earned break.
- Aunt Lydia is now a semi-saint with a sequel.
- June’s got family, purpose, and a book deal (probably).
- Luke and June are in their “let’s save our kid and maybe kiss” era.
- Boston is free. Gilead is (mostly) shook.
- June’s story ends where it began — but this time, she’s the narrator.
So that’s it, guys. The Handmaid’s Tale wrapped like a luxury burrito of trauma, justice, and full-circle vibes. Now go cleanse your soul with a rewatch of The Kardashians or something light. You’ve earned it.
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Blessed be the finale, girlies.
