WARNING: Spoilers for The Handmaid's Tale season 5, episode 3 below.

Serena is back in Canada and June has a message for her at the end of The Handmaid's Tale season 5, episode 3, setting up their battle for revenge. The last few episodes of The Handmaid's Tale have seen Serena and June prodding at each other in typical fashion. After June sent Serena Fred's severed finger, Serena returned to Gilead for Fred's funeral. It was there she took her first shot at June, putting Hannah front-and-center at the funeral, ensuring June would see her daughter standing next to her mortal enemy. June's propensity for violence has left a lingering question over her relationship with Serena, though.

After murdering Fred, the next logical step in June's quest for vengeance would be murdering Serena. Now that Serena has been sent back to Canada by the Commanders in Gilead, June is in a perfect position to do so. Her episode-capping threat to Serena was less about Hannah and more about the ease with which June can access her. It also seems as if Gilead is provoking June by sending Serena back to Canada - June killing the former Commander's Wife would be beneficial to Gilead in multiple ways, getting rid of a suspected traitor and garnering sympathy for the fundamentalist nation.

Related: What The Dancer In The Handmaid's Tale Season 5 Episode 2 Really Means

Ultimately, at the end of The Handmaid's Tale season 5, episode 3, it seems unlikely that June will kill Serena. June was lucky once, getting away with the murder of Fred both because it happened in No Man's Land and because Fred ultimately got what he deserved (a sentiment shared by Tuello and, by extension the US and Canadian governments). Luring Serena to No Man's Land would prove difficult and killing her on Canadian soil would surely result in some form of punishment for June. Additionally, as much as June hates Serena, she also has a begrudging respect for her. This won't stop her from taking her revenge, but it seems to give June pause and could prolong their battle of wills for the foreseeable future.

Why June Shouldn't Kill Serena Joy In The Handmaid's Tale (& What Should Happen)

Serena and Hannah in The Handmaid's Tale

Ultimately, June killing Serena would be a bad decision for several reasons. While her murder of Fred may have been cathartic in the moment, it has only caused June more pain. June's PTSD is flaring up once again as she is consistently having flashbacks to her time in Gilead. Killing Serena may provide momentary relief from her pain, but it would continue the cycle of violence that began in the Waterford's home and Gilead at large. There are other avenues of revenge that June could take to ensure Serena is fittingly punished for what she has done, though.

With Serena back in Canada as a Global Ambassador for Gilead, the former Commander's Wife is vulnerable. While she serves as a way for the United States government to have an in with Gilead, she could also be prosecuted for her past crimes at any moment. June working with Tuello to ensure Serena pays for her crimes is one way for her to get her revenge. It would also put on display all the terrible things Serena and, by extension, Gilead, have done over the course of the show. As sympathy grows for Serena despite her villainy, a publicized trial could do necessary damage to her and Gilead's image. Conversely, June killing Serena in The Handmaid's Tale would likely only lead to more sympathy for Serena and Gilead, playing right into their hands.

New episodes of The Handmaid's Tale premiere Wednesdays on Hulu.