A fan’s guide to what would go down in The Handmaids Tale season 6 finale. Several spoilers from Testament and episode 9.
I found the handmaid’s tale season 6 a slow ride. Well, that has been the case for last two seasons, but it lacked too much drama element.
But the episode 9 – too much drama, too many tears. I balled and looked for people to vent. Thanks to my community on Reddit, I had a shoulder to cry on.
Recap of Episode 9
Much of the series was a snooze-fest, owing to building the momentum for last episode. Anywho, I have a bone to pick with Bruce Miller, who always ALWAYS leaves a massive cliffhanger in the season finale.
Remember nick behind bars in season 5 finale?
Much like previous seasons, I expect no less. But knowing it’s the end of an era, not much will go differently from the book, The Testaments.
Of course, many scenarios have to align for the story to continue in upcoming series, The Testaments.
The episode started with the handmaids running on the street.
Voice in my head, “Where are the eyes?”
Ignored the flaw because I was sure something huge was coming.
Cues “Look what you made me do.” A new updated and rerecorded version of Taylor Swift’s song for the series.
Elisebth Moss had her perfect moment of using Taylor Swift’s song in the series.
The moment driver got out of the car, “Stay in here, I will double-check,” and the signature closeup of June’s face, I knew something was off.
They all got caught, and surprise-surprise, Aunt Lydia joined the ranks. She finally had that one last push she needed from Gilead regime to convert, and there you go – delivered.
This time, Luke got to be the hero. Poor guy and his bruised ego. He finally gets his time to shine and intervenes just when the “new Mr. Serena” is hanging all the handmaids in public.
Back story: Serena married in haste to another Waterford; we call him Wharton now. Turns out, he is no different.
Back to the story..
So, commander Wharton is at the hanging, and then all the cinematic is taking place for the crowd.
June asks for a few minutes to pray while all the handmaids are positioned for the hanging.
(we have watched the scene quite a few times, haven’t we?)
That’s when Luke, with Rita and his Mayday partners, show up. It ends up in a fight, and all handmaids start killing eyes. I remember eyes grabbing a few handmaids as it gets intense.
Metal note: I vaguely remember an eye pulling Janine aside. Need to watch the episode again…
And guess what?
Aunt Pheobe works with Mark Tuello. I knew she was a badass!
She was undercover, working as an aunt. She showed some cool ninja moves in the scene.
Tuello is seen entering Lawerence’s house, and rescues Serena. Aww… Will there be a happy ending?
He leaves some of his guys in Lawerence’s house to bring the high commander to the temporary HQ as soon as he comes home.
Oh, and I forgot to mention that part in sequence where Lawerence said goodbye to Charlotte.
He requests Naomi to please read her the bedtime book. The moment was unsettling like something bad was going to happen to him. He was asking her to let her read.
Grabs tissues.
It was a beautiful, fleeting moment. I had no idea what was coming.
End of Episode 9
So, second last scene, June is seen walking after a few hours inside a building where American agents have temporarily set-up.
She doesn’t look like she hung mid air for more than two minutes and fell like a ragdoll. Nope, she is invincible. However, her neck was just fine, I was expecting some bruising, but no, just the sore throat.
Moving on..
She is talking to Tuello, and working out next move. Then she and Serena had a moment and Serena revealed the whereabouts of the commanders.
Next scene, Lawrence comes to the HQ and meets June and Tuello. They brief him on how he has to place the suitcase of explosives in the aircraft that is scheduled to take all commanders to DC.
Lawrence had a moment of hesitation, but he caved in.
June volunteers to be his getaway driver. Was that necessary?
I was screaming at the absurdity of the situation but … moving on.
Last scene. They are at the hangar and commanders are there early. Few commanders had a spiteful exchange with Lawrence, but Wharton subdued it.
“We should all be at the united front in DC.”
He asks Lawrence to come along.
Wait what!
Lawrence is seen in deep thought that’s when he starts walking towards the jet, turns, and gives a final, beautiful, heart-warming goodbye to June. It was a gesture.
Hand on the heart!
Right when you are full of tears, on the blurry screen, you see Nick getting out of the car, and heading to the jet.
When he reaches the last step, he pauses; he senses her in the hangar. He briefly paused and continued inside.
He sat next to Lawrence, jeered on his loss. Hate Nick in that moment.
Then the conversation shifted towards June as usual: “She told me to give all this up, she did tell me, many times.”
Lawrence replied: “you should have listened to her.”
A meaningful pause. The camera zooms out. Jet engine rumbles. June is seen walking out of hangar, and then BOOM. Plane exploded, Nick died, Lawrence died.
I am a wreck. I cannot process.
The Testament ǀ A Quick Dive
Bruce Miller announced in 2023 he is working on the other arc of the series, The Testaments. The series will be adapted from the Margaret Atwood’s book of the same name.
It’s a three-part book. One part is narrated by Aunt Lydia in the form of manuscript, “The Adura Hall Holograph.” The other two narrators are Agnes and Daisy.
Agnes, June’s eldest is reverted to be an aunt to avoid marriage. She comes back to Adura Hall and uncovers indiscretions of Gilead.
Daisy lives in Canada with her parents Melanie and Neil, only to find out on her sixteenth birthday that they weren’t her parents.
Despite her parents’ wishes, she participated in a protest against Gilead in Canada. Her face shows up on television with other protestors, a change incident. But it panicked her parents.
Pretty soon, her parents died mysteriously in a blast. And she was rescued by a mayday operative, Ada.
Daisy learned she is the famous “Baby Nicole.” Melanie and Neil were mayday operatives who took her in as her mother (June) was in hiding.
Ada briefs Daisy, Melanie and Neil were in contact with a whistleblower in Gilead. Now they have lost contact with that person and now the backup plan is to send Daisy into Gilead.
Daisy talks to pearl girls (who are stationed in many parts of Canada to convert people) and shows interest in going to Gilead. After reaching Gilead, she meets Agnes. The reunion of sisters was made possible by none other than Aunt Lydia.
Now, the only hurdle left is fleeing Gilead with all the documents collected by Aunt Lydia and Agnes.
What to Expect in The Handmaids Tale Season 6 Finale
So, the last episode will be the last for The Handmaid’s Tale.
I vaguely remember there was no discussion of June dying in the book, so it’s possible that she will live.
All the rumors of her death in handmaid’s tale season 6 finale – poof!
But then, you expect the unexpected from Bruce Miller.
Aunt Lydia is a crucial part of Testaments, so she will live.
Moira, June, and Luke live underground as mayday. Gilead will not end entirely. It heads towards the final push at the end of the book.
Be prepared to see some more deaths. There is no mention of Serena Joy in Testament.
My guess, she continues to live a quite life with Tuello, or dies in final episode. There is no mention of Janine in the book.
Despite of all the commanders dying in the jet, someone will take over and handle the mess back to continue Gilead operations. Commander Judd is mentioned so he will be the big shot for now.
I recommend watching the handmaid’s tale season 6 finale with an open mind. It will not be a happy ending, Testaments will be.
When Does Testaments Releases?
The series is already in filming phase. For now, the release date is slated for April 2026. Hoping it stays that way.
