Warning! SPOILERS for The Handmaid’s Tale season 5 finale ahead.The Handmaid’s Tale season 5 ended with a bang as all its major storylines reached their inevitable conclusion – here’s the ending of The Handmaid’s Tale season 5 explained in full. Despite The Handmaid’s Tale season 5 starting with June (Elizabeth Moss) seemingly safe in Canada, it soon became clear that she wasn’t done trying to make Gilead pay and, more importantly, get information about her and Luke’s (O-T Fagbenle) daughter, Hannah. While Gilead’s threats were never too far from June, throughout The Handmaid’s Tale season 5 it also became clear that Canada wasn’t safe for her and Nichole, making their hastened trip out of Toronto unavoidable in the end.
Although those that June might have considered allies in Gilead proved to be either unable or unwilling to help her in The Handmaid’s Tale season 5, episode 10, one particular storyline about June’s Gilead connections ended up truly flourishing, as both Serena and June found themselves on a westbound train out of Toronto. The Handmaid’s Tale season 5’s ending also proved to be a turning point for many other characters, including Aunt Lydia, but also Nick and Luke. Here’s a breakdown of The Handmaid’s Tale season 5 ending and what it means for June’s future.
What The Final Moment Between June & Serena Means
Serena’s (Yvonne Strahovski) surprise appearance on the same train June and Nichole had to take to escape Toronto, thus Gilead’s influence, proved exceptionally fortuitous, at least considering what it meant for their relationship going forward. Throughout The Handmaid’s Tale, June and Serena have been fierce adversaries, with Serena causing irreparable harm to June. Nevertheless, The Handmaid’s Tale season 5, episode 7 brought a tentative reconciliation between the two, with June admitting that she didn’t kill Serena because she didn’t want to.
The Handmaid’s Tale season 5 finale ending with Serena and June reuniting but with their status being similar and without a power imbalance between them perfectly complemented their confrontation turned supportive discussion and helpful assistance in The Handmaid’s Tale season 5, episode 7. It’s unknown whether Serena and June’s exchange in The Handmaid’s Tale season 5 finale means they’ll both have a hand in plotting against Gilead in the future. Still, their meeting by chance surely detailed a new start for the two, a clean slate after everything June and Serena went and put each other through.
What Will Happen To Luke Now?
Among the many shocking happenings in the season 5 finale of The Handmaid’s Tale, Gilead’s attempted assassination of June via a Canadian citizen hostile to refugees wasn’t as surprising as it was impactful. While Luke managed to stop the man before he killed June, he nevertheless sent him to the hospital for the injuries sustained in the aggression, making him a person of interest. As the guy ended up dying and Luke decided to sacrifice himself to let June and Nichole escape, it’s highly likely that he could possibly be convicted of manslaughter. Considering also how The Handmaid’s Tale season 5 showed Canada becoming less and less welcoming toward refugees from Gilead and Luke inadvertently killing a Canadian citizen, they will likely try to make an example of Luke.
Why Nick Can't Let Go Of June & What It Means
While The Handmaid’s Tale season 5 had Nick (Max Minghella) adamantly pushing June away because of his new commitments to Rose and their family, both Gilead and the U.S. in Canada tried to bring him over to their side by offering potential proximity to June. In the end, their analysis proved correct, as Nick was quick to accept helping the American government in Canada for a chance to see June and try and secure her protection. However, attacking Commander Lawrence (Bradley Whitford) in front of the other Commanders showed Nick’s hand, making his behavior not only unjustifiable for Gilead (June always was their enemy, after all) but also obviously dangerous for him, as they found with what could be believed to be a traitor in their midst. It’s unclear whether this means that Nick will have to escape Gilead to fight them in The Handmaid’s Tale season 6 or if they’ll somewhat forgive him while continuing to keep him on his toes. Still, as Rose decided she didn’t want to be with him anymore, it looks like Nick will have one less ally in Gilead in The Handmaid’s Tale season 6, making his future perilous.
What's Going To Happen To Janine After Handmaid's Tale S5?
Janine’s (Madeline Brewer) fate was also left up in the air at the end of The Handmaid’s Tale season 5. It’s unknown what kind of punishment she’ll have to face for refusing her posting at the Lawrences, especially considering how her reaction was understandably vehement at being called Ofjoseph. Margaret Atwood’s novel, on which The Handmaid’s Tale is based, didn’t detail Janine’s story, leaving the TV show version of her character’s future open. However, as Emily was previously punished for escaping her posting by being sent to the colonies, Janine’s next journey could possibly lead her there.
Aunt Lydia's Handmaid's Tale Season 5 Ending Sets Up Her Testaments Story
Aunt Lydia’s Testaments transformation was already hinted at by The Handmaid's Tale season 5, episode 4 when she proposed to keep the Handmaids at the Red Center rather than post them to the Commanders’ houses. While Aunt Lydia managed to keep Janine under her wing for as long as she could, The Handmaid's Tale season 5 finale forced her hand in trying to find the best possible posting for her, despite Janine categorically refusing that. Janine’s posting falling through could have been expected considering her new attitude after Esther poisoned her. Still, the Eyes brutally seizing Janine proved transformative for Aunt Lydia, who never questioned Gilead’s methods before, but tried to forcibly oppose the Eyes to stop them from taking Janine. This will likely lead to The Testaments’ version of Aunt Lydia, still in Gilead but working to change it from the inside by helping Gilead-opposing resistance Mayday.
Is Canada Really Becoming Another Gilead In The Handmaid's Tale?!
The Wheelers’ influence and the way people reacted to their fertility center might point to Canadians being susceptible to Gilead’s influence in The Handmaid’s Tale season 5. As some Canadians also proved sympathetic to the Waterfords’ struggles in season 4, The Handmaid’s Tale surely depicted increasing support for anything related to Gilead by some Canadians. However, what The Handmaid's Tale season 5 tended to show in abundance was Canadians’ refusal to continue hosting refugees, which played into the hands of Gilead, as it wished they returned to New Bethlehem. It’s unclear whether Canadian politics could be influenced by Gilead in The Handmaid’s Tale season 6, but as June and Nichole started moving to Hawaii, it’s unlikely Toronto will occupy such a considerable position in the future.
What The Handmaid's Tale Season 5's Ending Song Means
As The Handmaid’s Tale season 5 finale’s ending saw Serena and June meeting again, "bury a friend" by Billie Eilish accompanied the scene, joining The Handmaid’s Tale season 5’s long list of songs. The song was detailed by the singer-composer as describing the perspective of the monster under the bed, but the eerie lyrics perfectly describe June and Serena’s unusual relationship too. Antagonism was always common between Serena and June, first because of their roles as a Wife and a Handmaid and then because of their shared history. However, The Handmaid’s Tale season 5 changed things by having them show kindness toward each other, making the lyrics "What do you want from me? / Why don't you run from me? / What are you wondering? / What do you know? / Why aren't you scared of me? / Why do you care for me?" particularly appropriate for Serena and June’s relationship.
The Handmaid's Tale Season 5's Ending Brings The Show Full Circle
The Handmaid’s Tale season 1 spent much time trying to show the differences between June’s life in Boston before Gilead and her daily experience as Offred and a Handmaid to the Waterfords. The Handmaid’s Tale season 6 starting off as another new beginning for June, one hopefully less tragic than her life in Gilead, mirrors the beginning of June’s story in The Handmaid’s Tale. In addition, as June is set to go through this change with Serena, it’s poignantly full circle as they are two very different people from who they were in The Handmaid’s Tale season 1, especially after Serena had a taste of what being a Handmaid felt like. Finally, considering how June and Serena were often at the forefront of The Handmaid’s Tale’s most crucial and intense scenes, it makes sense that it would be their conjoined story leading the show into The Handmaid’s Tale’s sixth and final season.
Is The Handmaid's Tale Season 6 Happening?
The Handmaid's Tale was confirmed for a sixth and final season ahead of The Handmaid's Tale season 5’s premiere. While it’s unknown when The Handmaid's Tale season 6 will be released, it will likely function as a bridge between the story in The Handmaid's Tale and its sequel The Testaments, jointly developed by MGM Television and Hulu. However, whenever The Handmaid's Tale season 6 becomes available on Hulu, it will surely give a fitting end to June’s story.