After the most prominent leaders of Gilead died in the blast orchestrated by Mayday in the previous episode, we could already anticipate the fall of Gilead in The Handmaid’s Tale’s finale. Commander Joseph Lawrence, played by Bradley Whitford, was possibly one of the most morally complex characters on the show, and his death left fans emotional. Lawrence had failed to create a sustainable, just, and fair society, and him admitting to his many mistakes is what made him somewhat redeemable. He knew he’d messed up badly, and in his final moments he had this epiphany that the only way he could save the oppressed in Gilead was by sacrificing his life. And he was right; his sacrifice gave Mayday and the American military leverage, which resulted in Boston’s liberation. In nineteen days, Boston became a part of America again, and June knew it was just the beginning of the change she always knew would come. Their next targets were Massachusetts and then New York, gradually the West, and someday Colorado, when June hoped to be finally reunited with her daughter, Hannah.
Spoiler Alert
Did Janine survive?
Janine was captured by the Guardians when chaos broke out on the execution day of the handmaids. Aunt Lydia had been actively searching for Janine to ensure her safety. Even though Lydia was a heinous figure, her redemption arc was a saving grace. She tried to abide by the rules and contribute to building a nation rooted in Christian values, but eventually she had no choice but to admit that the handmaids were exploited by the commanders, and that she had played a significant role in enabling them. While she couldn’t go back to the past and fix her wrongdoings, she was determined to save Janine, because she had witnessed the torture she endured, and she felt a deep connection with her. Aunt Lydia, too, was captured by the Eyes, but was released eventually and was in contact with the US military to keep them updated about Janine. At midnight, June was woken from her sleep; she discovered that the military had finally found Janine. Lydia successfully brought her to Millerville, the new border road. Janine was handed over to June. Lawrence’s wife, Naomi, brought Charlotte along with her. Janine had fought tooth and nail to bring home her daughter, and finally she could hold Charlotte in her arms without the fear of execution. Possibly after Lawrence’s death, Naomi had made up her mind to return Charlotte to her biological mother. Aunt Lydia, too, must have insisted she do the right thing. Janine could finally rest and spend time getting to know her daughter. Aunt Lydia returned to Gilead, but before she left, June thanked her for not taking the side of the wicked, and choosing to do the morally right thing. Even though they shared contradictory opinions, they agreed on the fact that the women in Gilead deserved better.
What happened to Serena?
Boston would not have been freed without Serena’s help. She detested Wharton the moment she figured out he was just like every other misogynist commander in town, but she also felt hopeful when he promised to do better. She could’ve either been loyal to her husband and waited for him to save her from the US military, who had taken her under protective custody, or she could join the movement and share a vital piece of information that would drastically change the future. She chose to do the latter. Serena was no longer an impressionable woman who trusted the men around her to build a Christian nation. She knew that men like Wharton would eventually betray her and that he would reject the progressive, quasi-liberal world she intended to build. This time, Serena chose to be on the right side of history, which of course came at a great personal cost. Gilead rejected her, so she couldn’t go back. Canada and the EU refused to give her a passport over her past conduct and questionable involvements, so she was pretty much stateless and stuck in a limbo.
Mark, a US military commander, arranged for Serena and baby Noah to live at a UN refugee camp, but he promised to make sure to come up with a long-term solution. Before Serena left, she apologized to June and admitted that she was ashamed of the torture she’d subjected June to. June forgave her; it was not easy, but she believed it was the only way to move forward.
During The Handmaid’s Tale’s ending, Serena and Noah made it to the refugee camp, but she was told she had to move to another spot the next day because the camp didn’t allow children. Serena’s life was not going to be easy, especially because of her current nationality status. While she was aware of the challenges she would face, she was confident she would overcome it all with her baby boy by her side. All her life, she’d wanted to become a mother, and with Noah in her arms, she knew she didn’t need anything or anyone else to guide her. She was ready to carve her own path and ensure the well-being of her son.
What was June’s next plan?
June imagined having a gala time with her friends; this was the life they were meant to live had Gilead not been formed. But instead, years went by with them dealing with extreme abuse, harassment, torture, and living under constant fear. While she was glad that the US military was gradually taking over Gilead, she refused to sit quietly. She believed she still had a lot to do, and she was not ready to rest until every woman in Gilead was free. She had also realized that there was a thin line between freedom and captivity, and she was afraid that if she didn’t fight hard enough, they would end up at the same place again.
June was reunited with her mother and her daughter, Nicole, as they traveled from Alaska to Boston. She knew she wouldn’t be able to hold Nichole in her arms for long, but she hoped that one day her daughter would understand why. She didn’t wish for her daughters to ever experience what she did, and she was ready to move mountains to make sure that their future was safe. Moreover, bringing Hannah home was June’s primary goal, and she decided to work closely with Mark to move state by state and help the military plan strategies to take down whatever was left of Gilead. While June decided to work with the US military, Luke planned on moving to the Mayday base in New York to recon the spot and come up with ways to gain control there. June and Luke admitted that there was a distance between them, and they no longer knew each other the way they used to before, but they also knew that they could always rely on one another, and no matter what, they would forever be each other’s family. Before Luke left for New York, he advised June to write her life story, to remember all the people she’d lost and those who mattered deeply in her life. He believed they deserved to be remembered, and their contribution documented. While Nick failed to resist the dictatorship, there was no denying that he played a significant role in June’s life, and his death had left her heartbroken. He might have been far from perfect, but they found love at a rather cruel time, and he mattered deeply to June. Nick will forever be a monumental chapter in June’s life.
What does the final scene suggest?
It was not just Luke who thought June should write down her experience as a handmaid in Gilead; even her mother believed it was important for her to do so. June initially was hesitant about it, because she didn’t think her horrid experience was deserving of an audience, but Holly reminded her that her story was one of perseverance, rage, and hope. The way June fought through every challenging situation could encourage her young audience to never give up and to always look for the silver lining in clouds.
In season 6’s ending, June went back to the Waterford house, where her story began. The ending confirms that June took into consideration Luke and Holly’s advice—she was ready to document her story, a handmaid locked in the attic of a commander’s house, ready to fight the world to taste freedom again. The Handmaid’s Tale ends on a hopeful note; June’s fight was far from over. She not only had to find Hannah but also fight for the freedom of the women trapped in Gilead. She refused to rest until the world was a safe place for her daughters to grow up in. Her story would not only resonate with those who had lived under similar conditions but would also be a valuable read for the future generation, who’ll learn the most important lesson from dystopian times— to never give up.
