5 Shocking Ways The Handmaid's Tale Will End: Final Season Plot Details And The Testaments Connection

The Handmaid's Tale is preparing to draw its chilling, six-season narrative to a close, promising a finale that will be both cathartic and devastating for fans of Margaret Atwood's dystopian vision. As of today, December 18, 2025, the final season (Season 6) is well into production, with fresh details emerging about the character arcs and the ultimate fate of Gilead. The showrunners have confirmed that the final episodes will resolve June Osborne's story while simultaneously setting the stage for the highly anticipated sequel series, The Testaments. This means the ending is less of a definitive conclusion and more of a pivotal transition point for the entire universe.

The journey of June Osborne, from Offred to a revolutionary leader, is set to culminate in a bloody and emotionally charged final confrontation. Hulu has targeted a major release for the series finale, which is currently projected to drop on May 27, 2025. The final ten episodes will focus on June's unyielding determination to rescue her daughter Hannah and dismantle the oppressive regime, but the path to freedom will come at a brutal personal cost for many key figures.

The Final Chapter: Season 6 Synopsis and Projected Release

The ultimate conclusion of The Handmaid's Tale will be delivered in the upcoming Season 6, which began filming in September 2024. The series finale, Episode 10, is a major event for the streamer and is currently projected to be released on Hulu on May 27, 2025, at midnight ET. The official synopsis for the final season confirms that June Osborne (Elisabeth Moss) is pulled back into the fight to take down Gilead, even as she grapples with the fallout of her actions in the previous season.

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The core conflict remains June’s relentless mission to save her eldest daughter, Hannah, who is being raised as a Commander’s Daughter within the heart of the regime. While June and Luke Bankole (O-T Fagbenle) are separated once more, June’s focus shifts entirely back toward infiltrating Gilead, suggesting a high-stakes final mission with Moira Strand (Samira Wiley) and the American resistance.

Key plot points for the final season include:

• June’s Unyielding Fight: Her determination is the primary driving force, leading to a direct confrontation with the remnants of Gilead’s power structure.
• Serena’s New Role: Serena Joy Waterford (Yvonne Strahovski) attempts to reform Gilead from within, likely using her new status as a mother and her influence over Commander Lawrence.
• Nick’s Loyalty Test: Commander Nick Blaine (Max Minghella) faces challenging tests of character, forcing him to choose between his loyalty to June and his position within Gilead’s military.

The Shocking Fates of Gilead's Architects: Lawrence and Lydia

The final season will focus heavily on the internal reckoning of the two most complex figures in Gilead's hierarchy: Commander Joseph Lawrence and Aunt Lydia. Their arcs are crucial, as they determine the ultimate fate of the republic and serve as a bridge to the sequel series.

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Commander Lawrence's Reckoning and Potential Death

Commander Joseph Lawrence (Bradley Whitford), the architect of Gilead's economy and its most cynical leader, is set to face the consequences of his creation. The synopsis states he must "reckon with what he has wrought." His attempts to create a "kinder, gentler Gilead" by working with Nick and Serena are destined to fail, as the fundamental cruelty of the regime cannot be reformed.

A major, though unconfirmed, plot leak suggests a shocking end for the Commander: Commander Lawrence’s death. This dramatic exit, potentially occurring in the second-to-last episode, would be a massive turning point, leaving the fledgling "New Gilead" rudderless and plunging the regime into chaos, which is a necessary step for June's final push. His sacrifice or execution would be a tragic, yet fitting, end for a man who believed he could control the monster he built.

Aunt Lydia's Turn: The Final Betrayal

Aunt Lydia (Ann Dowd) is one of the few characters confirmed to return in the sequel series, The Testaments. This knowledge is a significant spoiler for her Season 6 arc. The final season will see her "reckon with what she has wrought," a journey that is expected to complete her transformation from a zealous zealot to a key figure in Gilead’s eventual downfall. The catalyst for this turn is likely the fate of Janine (Madeline Brewer), whose suffering has been Lydia's greatest personal failure.

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Lydia’s final arc will see her:

• Rejecting the Sons of Jacob: Her faith in the system will finally break after witnessing too much brutality, particularly against the Handmaids she views as her "girls."
• Gathering Intelligence: She will use her position to gather the secrets and documents necessary for the outside world—and the future Mayday resistance—to expose and dismantle Gilead.
• Survival: Her survival is a narrative necessity, as she is a primary narrator in Margaret Atwood’s sequel novel, detailing her past and her role in the resistance.

The True Ending: Setting Up The Testaments Sequel

The biggest clue to the show's conclusion is the confirmed existence of its sequel series. Hulu has announced that the TV adaptation of Margaret Atwood's 2019 novel, The Testaments, will follow the conclusion of The Handmaid's Tale. This means the final episode is designed to be a bridge, closing June’s story but opening the door to the next generation of resistance.

The Testaments is set 15 years after the events of The Handmaid’s Tale and is narrated by three women:

1. Aunt Lydia: Her survival and eventual role in the resistance are confirmed.
2. Agnes/Hannah: June’s daughter, who is raised as a Commander’s Daughter.
3. Nicole/Daisy: June’s second daughter, Nichole, who was smuggled into Canada.

Therefore, the series finale of The Handmaid’s Tale must achieve several key things to successfully launch the sequel:

• June’s Resolution: June’s story must find a definitive, though not necessarily happy, conclusion. The showrunners have stated the finale will "close June's story." This could mean her death, her imprisonment, or her disappearance into the resistance, allowing her to become a legend rather than a central figure.
• Hannah’s Status: The finale is highly unlikely to show a full reunion between June and Hannah. Instead, it must establish Hannah (Agnes) as a young woman still trapped in Gilead, setting up her role as a narrator in the sequel.
• Gilead’s Instability: The final moments must show Gilead as a weakened, fractured state—perhaps with the fall of Boston or the death of key Commanders—making its eventual collapse in The Testaments believable.

The ending of The Handmaid's Tale will be a powerful, emotional, and likely ambiguous farewell to June Osborne, ensuring her legacy lives on through her daughters and the women she inspired, setting the stage for the next chapter in the fight against Gilead.