Warning: Contains SPOILERS for The Handmaid’s Tale season 6, episode 8!
Serena Joy makes a shocking revelation about Commander Wharton inThe Handmaid’s Taleseason 6, episode 8, and here’s why the formerly villainous character now refuses to have a Handmaid. At the beginning ofThe Handmaid’s Tale, Serena Joy was one of the main obstacles to June escaping her status as a Handmaid, with her undeniably acting as one of the show’s main villains. However,Serena Joy has been going through a redemption arcfor the last few seasons, and one scene inThe Handmaid’s Taleseason 6, episode 8 hints that she may have actually changed.
The Handmaid’s Taleseason 6 introduces a new villain in the form of Commander Wharton, who Serena Joy quickly develops a relationship with. Serena Joy sees that Wharton is different than Fred Waterford, with him seemingly being much nicer despite his position as a High Commander of Gilead. Thus, Commander Wharton proposes and the two decide to get married.The Handmaid’s Taleseason 6, episode 8features their wedding as well as June and Mayday’s attack after the wedding, but we also get to see a bit of Wharton’s home life after the ceremony is closed.
Is Serena Joy Refusing A Handmaid About Changing The World - Or Just Herself?
It Could Come Purely From Self Interest
After the wedding, Serena Joy goes home with Commander Wharton. Upon her arrival, however, she makes a tragic discovery:Wharton has a Handmaid. Wharton wants to continue doing Gilead’s Ceremony with the Handmaid despite the fact that Serena Joy can have children. This is incredibly upsetting to Serena, who refuses to live in a home that has a Handmaid. She tries to talk to the Handmaid while expressing her anger with Wharton. Serena Joy then leaves Wharton, proving that she will no longer be with a man like Commander Waterford.
Serena Joy’s reaction to the Handmaid is interesting, as it isn’t clear if she is morally opposed to the usage of Handmaids, or if she is just looking out for herself. Serena Joy can now have children, making the use of a Handmaid pointless whether or not Serena was morally opposed to them. It is unknown if Serena Joy would be this opposed to having a Handmaid if she couldn’t have children. It could also be that Serena doesn’t want a Handmaid because it highlights how Wharton treats women, meaning that she may be treated poorly in the future as well.
It is impossible to know if Serena Joy’s anger comes from righteousness or self-interest. It has been difficult to get a read on her this season, as she has been a bit back and forth. Serena Joy’s support ofCommander Wharton’s New Bethlehem projectis a good sign, as it shows that she is participating in making society better for Handmaids and women as a whole. However, her marriage to Commander Wharton shows that she is also interested in maintaining influence over Gilead, something that paints her in a more negative light.
Serena’s Comments About June Show She Hasn’t Fully Changed, But It’s A Start
She Is On The Right Track
Serena Joy has developed a more positive relationship with June sinceThe Handmaid’s Taleseason 5, giving some insight into how she has changed.Serena Joy seems to think that she and June are equalin their quests for vengeance. However, she fails to recognize how much more June has gone through, and how much of June’s pain is at the hands of Serena Joy.
However, recognizing that June is in the right is at least a start for Serena Joy. She may not want to burn Gilead to the ground, but sympathy with June and the other Handmaids proves that she sees the wrongs of Gilead.Serena Joy leaving Whartonproves that she is headed in the right direction, and her redemption arc may be completed by the end ofThe Handmaid’s Taleseason 6.
