June is free! Elizabeth Moss’ character in The Handmaid’s Tale has had quite the journey: being abducted into a culty and sexually depraved nation, conceiving and birthing a baby in secret despite insurmountable odds, stealing said baby and sending her to Canada with hundreds of others June helped free, leading an insurgent rebellion, being offered multiple opportunities to escape the tortuous Gilead and turning them down…but now she’s free! So, where can the show go from here?
Season Four Episode Six was intense, to say the least. June was clearly reluctant to leave Gilead, her abductive home, which is home to her first-born, pre-Gilead daughter. Even as she sailed away to Canadian freedom it still seemed unlikely June would ever leave, as she has somehow always found a way to switch things up at the last second, letting everyone else enjoy freedom while she continues to be a martyr on the inside. So yes, June’s no longer in Gilead. But how can there be a show about Gilead without a main character in Gilead?
The show is about to drastically shift focus, perhaps from June’s role as a Handmaid to her readjustment to a normal society, or her work fighting Gilead from Canada…or maybe Jeanine, the only surviving Handmaid accompanying June on her last leg of the journey, will become the lead character. However, it’s unclear if Jeanine’s even still alive after Gilead bombed the Chicago insurgency, so while this character option would be great, it might be a stretch. Or, maybe despite what literally everyone wants, June will somehow return to Gilead. Please, June, don’t go back. It’s incredible you’re somehow still alive. Don’t risk it now.
The Handmaid’s Tale will be continuing. The show was renewed for a fifth season as this fourth season premiered. Viewers clearly are attached to the story. The show has evolved as June’s character has—from oppressed Handmaid, to a small rebellion leader, to a massive insurgency inspirer—and so the show can evolve again. The show is set to redefine itself, but if most viewers are like me, they’ll be happy to watch June do literally anything. Leading the charge from Canada would be awesome, but if the rest of the show is just June knitting intricate scarves, that’s fine with me!
Either way, I’m excited to continue watching The Handmaid’s Tale, and I hope you’ll join me in following June’s story! If you do, make sure to add it to your Recommended Shows and Currently Watching on BingeRoom so your friends can stay up to date on your latest binge!