The Handmaid’s Tale Finale Honors the Series with a Powerful Real-World Reference

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As I sat down to watch the final episode of The Handmaid’s Tale on May 27, 2025, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of excitement and trepidation. A series finale is like a double-edged sword – it has the power to etch an unforgettable memory into our hearts or tarnish an otherwise brilliant show for some diehard fans. Knowing that this was the end, I couldn’t help but feel a pang of sadness. I hoped that they would give us a fitting conclusion that would resonate with fans and stand the test of time.

Thankfully, followers of “The Handmaid’s Tale” can look forward to the upcoming release of “The Testaments,” which is currently in production. However, being presented with a new book doesn’t make the finale of “The Handmaid’s Tale” any less impactful. The episode is filled with powerful emotional swings, such as June’s reunion with Emily and Janine’s liberation from Gilead along with her daughter, Charlotte. The final scenes of the season are what truly make it a memorable conclusion to an outstanding series.

June Revisits the Waterfords’ Destroyed Home

& Retraces Her First Steps in the House as a Handmaid

Elisabeth Moss’ character, June Osborne, faces a tough trip to the Waterfords’ demolished residence. Following the Gilead takeover and her time at the Red Center, June was initially assigned as a Handmaid to Fred and Serena Joy Waterford. While residing in the Waterfords’ home, June experienced much torment at the hands of Serena, while also having to maintain Fred’s happiness in private. The conditions under the Waterford household were truly harsh, but a message hidden in their former Handmaid’s closet provided her with hope and motivation.

Upon reaching the Waterfords’ former residence, June dons a coat reminiscent of the hue typically worn by Gilead’s wives, an unexpected match. She cautiously navigates the gates, climbs the steps towards the entrance, pausing to gaze at the house hesitantly. Following a brief pause for fortification, she timidly pushes open the front door and enters. June proceeds through the foyer, making her way towards the rotten stairs that lead to her old bedroom, a room where Serena once imprisoned her and barred her from escaping.

With a mix of wariness and trepidation, she climbs the stairs and surveys her former dwelling. Not only is the house dilapidated following the fire that led Fred and Serena to flee, but it serves as the site of her deep-seated trauma. The Waterfords were her initial introduction to Gilead beyond the Red Center. They inflicted harm, exploited her, and turned her life into a waking nightmare. Both Serena and Fred played significant roles in the rise of Gilead, thus stripping June of her husband, child, and liberty. Returning to this location is difficult for her, as evident on her face, but she feels compelled to confront her past in order to achieve closure and progress.

June hesitates before stepping into her old room, a familiar phrase, “Don’t let the bastards grind you down,” still visible on the distant wall. Her eyes linger on the closet where she first encountered those words carved into the base of the wall. The room is in a state of neglect, but it remains undeniably hers. She cautiously moves towards the windowsill, a spot she’s frequented in the past, and settles down. Reaching for her eldest child, Hannah, she finds her absent. However, June understands that if anyone requires her tale, it is the daughter who was taken from her when the U.S. collapsed and Gilead emerged as a ruling power.

June’s Final Scene Honors the Novel & the Series’ Very First Episode

She Decides to Write The Handmaid’s Tale

As June perches on the windowsill, pondering thoughts about Hannah, she reflects upon her mother Holly’s earlier advice in the episode – that she should write a book. At first, June had dismissed the idea as unworthy since it wasn’t a particularly good story. However, with some persuasion and contemplation, June comes to understand the significance of her tale. Many individuals trapped and subjugated within Gilead, or those who have just emerged from years of suffering, would benefit greatly from June’s account. Her narrative could provide solace and inspiration to others in similar circumstances (and there are numerous such individuals in the world of The Handmaid’s Tale).

In the same spot where she ended the series premiere, Season 1, Episode 1 – “Offred,” June takes out a recorder and switches it on. Settling in this familiar place, she begins narrating, sharing her experiences as a Handmaid under the Waterfords’ service. These spoken words mark the start of the book that her mother had always encouraged her to write.

A chair, a table, a lamp, and a window with white drapes – these are the objects in the room. The glass on the window is shatterproof. However, it’s not their physical freedom they fear. A Handmaid wouldn’t be able to escape easily. Instead, they dread other forms of escape – those that lie within themselves, such as rebellion or defiance. I try to keep these thoughts at bay, but on special occasions called Ceremonies, it can be difficult not to think about them. Thinking too much can make things worse for me. My name is Offred.

the objects in the room, the fear of other forms of escape, the character’s name (Offred), and the difficulty of thinking during special occasions called Ceremonies.

– June Osborne’s final words in The Handmaid’s Tale

A chair, a table, a lamp.” This moment marks a significant loop for the show, since the story that spawned the series is now being penned by the series’ central character. After enduring Gilead and the Waterfords, as well as numerous trials, June lives on to author “The Handmaid’s Tale,” a tale that remains vital in a world where Gilead persists.

June’s novel starts by magnificently honoring Margaret Atwood’s groundbreaking, impactful, and popular novel. There isn’t a more fitting conclusion to the series than by highlighting once again this remarkable work of literature that laid the foundation for the series. The finale goes beyond merely referencing Atwood’s novel; it also serves as an enormous callback to the very first episode of The Handmaid’s Tale. The series finale made numerous connections to Season 1, demonstrating how the same characters emerged from Gilead as liberated women – like shopping partners, for example.

In a parallel to the Season 1 premiere, “Offred,” June concludes her novel recording by declaring, “I am Offred.” Seated on the windowsill during her narration, her resolve is clearly visible in her gaze as the camera focuses in. This scene echoes the finale of the first episode. Following Serena’s instruction for her to return to her room, June expresses that there’s always someone observing and she must maintain a facade to stay safe and eventually reunite with her daughter, Hannah. She assures the audience that she hasn’t relinquished hope or forgotten about her life prior to Gilead, mentioning Luke, her husband, Hannah, her daughter, and her true name. The episode concludes with June stating:

As a cinema enthusiast, I must say that using her true name carries a risk for June, for in the oppressive society of Gilead, Handmaids are not allowed to identify themselves; instead, they are known only by their Commanders’ names. In defiance, when June utters, “I am June,” the camera zooms in on her resolute visage, a testament to her unyielding will to endure and persist through the torments she encounters. This indomitable spirit is beautifully encapsulated in June’s final scene of the series finale. Although June has gained her freedom and discarded the restrictive red Handmaid uniform, Gilead still holds sway over her life – as long as they possess her daughter, her struggle continues. As long as Gilead maintains its power, her battle remains unfinished.

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2025-06-03 21:06