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[This narrative reveals crucial plot twists from the final episode of The Handmaid’s Tale series, which is called “The Handmaid’s Tale.”]

Peering through a glass pane labeled “Freedom,” June (Elisabeth Moss) and viewers of The Handmaid’s Tale caught the sound of a well-known voice.

Gazing at a window emblazoned with the word “Freedom,” June (Elisabeth Moss) and spectators of The Handmaid’s Tale picked up on a familiar tone.

“Blessed be the fruit.”

In the final episode of the Hulu series that started airing on Tuesday, it was Alexis Bledel’s voice we heard again, reprising her role as Emily.

June’s (Elisabeth Moss) reaction to her arrival was just as surprising to her character as it is to viewers who haven’t witnessed the Handmaid since Bledel parted ways with the show following season four on Hulu. Bledel, a founding actress who garnered four nominations for her role in this dystopian series, left without providing a clear reason.

During the filming of the fifth season, Bledel stated, “After careful consideration, I decided it was necessary for me to take a break from The Handmaid’s Tale at this point in time. I am deeply thankful to [showrunner] Bruce Miller for crafting such authentic and impactful scenes for Emily, and to Hulu, MGM, the cast and crew for their continuous support.

The show later revealed why character Emily, played by Clea DuVall, was missing from the fifth season’s premiere. June learns that Emily chose to return to Gilead to search for Aunt Lydia (Ann Dowd) and had called to bid farewell to her family, including a young son. When June insists on rescuing Emily, Sylvia advises against it, believing they won’t see Emily again. Sylvia accepts, “This is what she needed to do.” “She’s gone now.

Bledel chatted with The Hollywood Reporter for a recent retrospective piece on the show and discussed her comeback – a concept originated by the series’ creator, Bruce Miller, who penned the final episode titled “The Handmaid’s Tale,” which was helmed by Moss.

She agreed right away to return for the final cameo, as it seemed fitting to wrap up Emily’s storyline and give viewers a sense of resolution. Bruce assembled a wonderful cast that was both kind and talented, and many members of the original team were still involved in season six. The production is smoothly operated, with everyone giving their best. I can’t wait to see what they come up with for the sequel series, The Testaments.

Upon Emily’s arrival, she and June resumed the recurring motif of the last season by strolling together through a liberated Boston, following a warm greeting that echoed their initial scene in the series (during which June referred to Emily as a “hypocritical little thing” in voiceover). The red cloaks they once wore are now obsolete, as their city is free from Gilead’s control, thanks to the triumph of the Mayday resistance movement against the oppressive, fictional fascist regime.

Emily caught up on the time she’d been away, informing June that she had been assisting a Commander who was also a friend and maintained contact with Sylvia and her son. “Then you weren’t completely absent?” June inquired. “Not at all,” Emily responded. “They are the ones motivating me to persevere.

The group paused in front of a wall and Emily gestured towards it, highlighting the wonder of their existence, united, to appreciate the encouraging and uplifting statements penned by females who have recently escaped Gilead. Adorning these messages are two suspended figures – not the usual image of two hanging handmaids, or Marthas, or “traitors.

Emily encouraged June to broaden her understanding of what’s considered impossible. As Bledel’s brief appearance concluded, the storyline unfolded into a dream scenario where June envisioned a world without Gilead. In this imagined reality, June, Emily, Moira (Samira Wiley), two-eyed Janine (Madeline Brewer), Rita (Amanda Brugel), and deceased handmaids Alma (Nina Kiri) and Brianna (Bahia Watson) were depicted enjoying themselves in a karaoke bar, laughing, hugging, and singing Fleetwood Mac’s “Landslide” together.

Bledel emphasizes to THR about her guest appearance that she hopes people will learn to maintain optimism even when situations seem difficult or impossible. She advises to sow seeds of hope, even if it seems unlikely for them to grow. After all, you never know; those seeds might just find a way to flourish.

Speaking to THR about the series finale, Moss mentioned that when Miller initially proposed the idea of having Bledel return for the final episode, she was determined to make it happen. As it turned out, Bledel was on board as well. “I told him at the time, ‘You realize now that you’ve told me that, we have to do it.’ It’s not always easy to reach out to an actor and ask them to return for one episode, since they are usually busy. Fortunately, she wanted to be a part of it from the beginning. She didn’t need any convincing at all,” Moss explained. “On my first day on set, my very first scene was with Alexis. So getting to work with her again was particularly meaningful.

Miller mentioned that when she returned to set, it was filled with warm embraces. “She would cry and hug people every few steps,” he described, going on to say that “it was heartwarming to see her and Lizzie pick up where they left off after such a long gap. It’s like observing the Yankees bullpen every day – these individuals are just so talented.

*”Watch the final episode of The Handmaid’s Tale on Hulu now! Dive into our cast and creator oral history with Hollywood Reporter, and our comprehensive finale breakdown featuring Bruce Miller and Elisabeth Moss.

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2025-05-27 08:55