Not much is known about Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale season 5, but one cast update will surely disappoint viewers as it will leave untold the story of a character that has been there since season 1. While it’s unknown when The Handmaid’s Tale season 5 will release, some updates have confirmed exciting things happening, including the new casting of Christine Ko as a resistance leader named Lily. An interview with The Handmaid's Tale June Osborne, Elizabeth Moss, also revealed that season 5 will include a lot and that it’s “one of the wilder rides,” so much that Moss almost couldn’t “keep up with the amount of activity happening.” Still, one particular cast update about an actor leaving might mean viewers won't be seeing the conclusion to a beloved character’s story in The Handmaid's Tale season 5.

While initially being presented as a secondary character in The Handmaid’s Tale, Emily’s (Alexis Bledel) story became more and more important throughout the series. Through her eyes, viewers got to see life in the colonies, which was quite different from the life the Handmaids had to withstand in Gilead. Her experience before the coup and during the establishment of Gilead depicted struggles that were different from June’s, as Emily didn’t organize acts of disobedience against the Commanders as June did. While she might have participated due to her proximity to June, and because of it, Emily also managed to escape Gilead, she wasn’t believed to be as important as June was.

Related: Handmaid’s Tale: Everything We Know About How The World Sees Gilead

Alexis Bledel's The Handmaid’s Tale season 5 exit is the latest update on what has so far been a very secretive upcoming season. While it’s unknown whether she already filmed some scenes as Emily or not, The Handmaid’s Tale season 5 will have to deal with her character leaving. Emily’s story’s conclusion remaining untold robs viewers of one of the most compelling storylines of The Handmaid’s Tale. It was also one of the very few that ended somewhat happily compared to the stories of other Handmaids, as Emily managed to escape to Canada and find her wife and son.

emily the handmaids tale

Emily’s centrality in The Handmaid’s Tale continued even after she and June reconnected in Canada. While her story offered a different perspective on Gilead’s oppression when they were still there, Emily proved central in killing Fred Waterford in Handmaid’s Tale season 4, which was a far more violent reaction compared to how Emily had faced things in the past. Her Handmaid’s Tale season 4 story of confronting the Aunt who outed her relationship with a Martha, which resulted in capital punishment for the Martha and physical punishment for Emily, and the Aunt asking for forgiveness depicted the complex realities faced by all who lived in Gilead even after they left. Handmaid’s Tale season 4 offered both June and Emily the chance to confront their abusers, and Emily’s reaction offered a perfect foil and balance for June's way of dealing with the trauma.

While Emily’s story might seem concluded, as she reconnected with her wife and their son in Canada in Handmaid’s Tale season 4, it still has a lot to offer. Emily’s way of dealing with everything Gilead took from her is almost diametrically opposed to how June handles it. Now that June is in Canada advocating for those left behind, taking an even bigger leadership role in the fight against Gilead, the contrast with Emily is even more apparent and interesting. Emily’s story not being recounted by The Handmaid’s Tale season 5 will result in an even greater focus on June, and it will deprive the show of one of its most multifaceted characters.

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