Warning: Contains SPOILERS for The Handmaid’s Tale season 6, episode 10!
The Handmaid’s Talehas finally ended, and here is every main character’s fate from the finale, ranked by how satisfying it was. The world ofThe Handmaid’s Taleisn’t over yet, as Hulu has already announced that it will be adaptingMargaret Atwood’s sequel novelThe Testamentsinto a series. However, most of the show’s main cast members have had their stories wrapped up for a while, and here are all of them, ranked from least satisfying to most satisfying.
The Handmaid’s Taleseason 6, episode 10picks up a little while after the deaths of Commanders Lawrence, Wharton, and Nick, showing the aftermath of June and Mayday’s big plan. Now,the United States has successfully taken back Boston, although they are still a long way from bringing down Gilead. Most of the episode focuses on wrapping up each character’s thematic arc while showing where they are headed in the future. Some characters are prepared to keep fighting, some have gone into hiding, and some will have their stories continued inThe Testaments.
10Moira Strand
She Is Mostly Sidelined In The Finale
Of all themain characters inThe Handmaid’s Tale, Moira Strand’s ending was unfortunately the least satisfying. Although Moira took a more active role in season 6, going into Gilead with June several times, she felt like a bit of an afterthought in the series finale. Her character arc wasn’t wrapped up in a narratively significant or thematically important way, andit seemed like the show was more focused on June’s other relationships than her relationship with her best friend. It is doubtful that Moira will show up inThe Testaments, making her finalThe Handmaid’s Taleappearance all the more disappointing.
9Mark Tuello
He Is Continuing To Fight For His Son
Mark Tuello was never the most interesting character inThe Handmaid’s Tale, with him acting as the personification of the United States government as well as someone who can fix seemingly any problem that June or Luke encounters. He doesn’t really change throughout season 6, which is why the conclusion to his story isn’t really satisfying for his sake. However, whenhe explains that he keeps fighting so his son doesn’t have to, it immediately becomes apparent how important this is to June. Thus, his final moments in the show are still powerful.
8Emily Malek
Her Absence From Previous Seasons Is Explained
Emily Malek disappeared fromThe Handmaid’s Taleafter season 4, with actress Alexis Bledel taking a break from the public eye. However, Emily finally returned inThe Handmaid’s Talefinale, and her grand re-entry was absolutely fantastic. Emily used to be one of the show’s main characters, and it was incredibly unsatisfying for her to be written out of the show. Luckily, Emily finally explains where she has been in the finale, with her continuing to fight Gilead from within.
This explanation was clearly written just to explain the cameo appearance, andEmily’s absence from season 5 was obviously not the show’s original plan for the character. So, while her arc as a whole is a bit unsatisfying, her appearance in the finale makes things much better.
7Nick Blaine
He Died Alongside The Other Villains
Although Nick Blaine isn’t inThe Handmaid’s Talefinale, his arc was completed in episode 9, and his impact on June was present in episode 10. After he betrayed June, she had to let Nick die inThe Handmaid’s Taleseason 6, episode 9, or else he would have foiled Mayday’s plans. Thus, he was caught in the exploding plane alongside Lawrence, Wharton, and several other Commanders.
Nick’s betrayal of June was one of the most shocking moments in the series, and it was great to see him pay. However, he was one of the only sympathetic characters in Gilead, and his death wasn’t quite as complex as he was. It is nice to see that June is still conflicted over her choice, as she hasn’t been able to throw her feelings for Nick out even after the betrayal.
6Luke Bankole
He Decided To Split Up With June
Luke is another character who has seemingly become less important to June as the show has gone on, with him rising through the ranks of Mayday. In the final few episodes,he was in a leadership position within Mayday while June was inside Gilead. When they reunite again in the series finale,June and Luke both recognize that they have grown apart, highlighting that Luke’s shrinking importance was an intentional choice by the show. Thus, they decide to split up. This is an incredibly complex conclusion for these characters, but it is a satisfying end to Luke’s arc in service of June’s arc.
5Commander Lawrence
He Died A Hero’s Death
Commander Lawrence has always been one ofThe Handmaid’s Tale’s most compelling characters, as it has been impossible to get a read on him. Season 6 proved that Lawrence was mostly watching out for his own ambitions, with him caring more about New Bethlehem than Gilead of the United States. Thus, his involvement with June in the latter half of season 6 was incredibly interesting, as he was quickly becoming stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Although Lawrence seemingly always had another trick up his sleeve,he was out of tricks in episode 9. Lawrence was caught with the bomb as he was boarding the plane, meaning that he either had to reveal the plan or sacrifice himself. Thankfully, Lawrence died a hero’s death, getting on the plane and dying alongside the rest of the Commanders. Although his New Bethlehem story wasn’t wrapped up sufficiently, it was nice to see Lawrence’s redemption arc come to a close as he helped bring down Gilead.
4June Osborne
She Is Continuing The Search For Hannah
Although June Osborne is the main character inThe Handmaid’s Tale, her fate isn’t the most satisfying one. However, it still works incredibly well. Most of episode 10 highlights how the supporting characters have been used to grow June.Her forgiveness of Serena Joy, splitting up with Luke, conversation with Tuello, and the continued fight for Hannah shows that she has finally figured out what she needs to do, even if her battle is not over.
Sadly, June’s arc was hindered by one thing: Hannah. Hannah is a main character inThe Testaments, meaning that she couldn’t be rescued from Gilead orreunite with June inThe Handmaid’s Tale. This was a bit disappointing, as rescuing Hannah has been June’s main goal since season 1. However, her acceptance that she can’t save Hannah right now works as a setup forThe Testaments.
3Janine Lindo
She Got A Relatively Happy Ending
Janine has gone through a lot inThe Handmaid’s Tale, with her story being tragedy after tragedy. Thus,it was nice to see her arc completed with an unquestionably happy ending. In the finale, Janine is released from Gilead and reunited with her daughter. Janine’s years of torture are presumably over, with her having the happiest ending of the main characters.
2Serena Joy Waterford
She Asked June For Forgiveness
Serena Joy Waterford is another one ofThe Handmaid’s Tale’s most complex characters, with her starting out as the show’s main villain before going through a redemption arc. In the finale,Serena asks June for forgiveness, which June gives her. Serena then goes to a refugee camp with her son, where she realizes that she is living in the exact same conditions that June lived in back in season 1. This dramatic irony combined with Serena’s sincere growth makes for an incredibly satisfying ending, putting a cap on her villain arc.
1Aunt Lydia
She Is Now A Mole Within Gilead
Of all the character arcs inThe Handmaid’s Taleseries finale, Aunt Lydia has the most satisfying fate. Lydia has slowly transformed from one of Gilead’s most strict defenders to one of its fiercest enemies, something that can clearly be seen in episodes 8, 9, and 10. The finale reveals that Lydia is now working as a mole within Gilead, rescuing Handmaids like Janine. This perfectly sets upThe Testaments, completes her transformation, and compliments the themes of the show, making it the most satisfying conclusion inThe Handmaid’s Taleseason 6.
