As “The Handmaid’s Tale” nears its series finale, these characters come together for a poignant reunion. It provides just the right combination of wistfulness and optimism as they look back on their up and down rides. June, played by Elisabeth Moss, takes a heartbreaking walk back into the destroyed Waterford home. This is the same spot that served as the starting point for her nightmarish saga as a Handmaid in Season 1. In this final episode, viewers witness her dictating what will become her book, the titular “The Handmaid’s Tale,” solidifying her narrative amid the chaos of her past.
Written by series creator Bruce Miller, the brilliant but maddening finale distills years of character growth and thematic change. Prior to officially signing on to the project, Miller participated in extensive conversations with Moss. They made sure that the show’s ending would feel genuinely right for the characters and the viewers watching. The emotional impact that this collaboration provides is felt the furthest, with a heaviness accompanying the entirety of the final episode.
As the season finale goes on, June is reunited with Emily in a moving and impactful scene that reflects both women’s anguish and survival perfectly. Emily, who has recently lived in Bridgeport—one of the country’s biggest centers of rebellion—that Emily recounts to June. Their conversation reveals the toll that their experiences have taken, yet it highlights their undying commitment to fight for their loved ones.
“Look at us. It’s so f