"Elisabeth Moss Discusses Final Episode of Television Drama 'The Handmaid's Tale'"
Spoiler Alert: Elisabeth Moss promises a thrilling conclusion for the final season of Hulu's hit series, "The Handmaid's Tale," based on Margaret Atwood's bestselling novel. The 10-episode series delivers on Moss' promise, with her character, June Osborne, facing new challenges that test her resilience.
In an interview before the series premiere, executive producer Warren Littlefield revealed discussions on how to end the beloved show. "We wanted to reward the audience who followed this challenging journey and provide a satisfying conclusion," Littlefield said.
Throughout the final season, the producers stay true to Atwood's source material, with showrunner Bruce Miller emphasizing that the show's ending would not be audience-pleasing, but realistic for June. "I've followed June for so long, and I wanted to see what the Handmaid could achieve before her story ends," Miller explained.
The finale teases the beginning of the end of the war as Handmaids and Marthas gain freedom in certain regions. June reunites with Emily, learns that Moira made it out, parts ways amicably with Luke, reconciles with Serena, and witnesses Janine's release with her daughter, Charlotte. However, June and Luke remain separated from their daughter, Hannah, setting up the sequel, "The Testaments."
In an interview, Moss confirmed she will executive produce the sequel, but scheduling conflicts prevented her from acting or directing. The story of Hannah will be central in "The Testaments," according to Moss. "June will never give up on Hannah. She has work to do. She won a battle, but she hasn't won the war. And she has not gotten her daughter out. Her battle will never be over until that happens."
The final episode of "The Handmaid's Tale" includes a heartbreaking scene that ends the love triangle between June, Nick, and Luke. Moss directed this episode after reading the script and asked to do so to bring the necessary emotional weight to the scene.
June and Serena's relationship, described by Moss as an incredible example of two women with the same goal—protecting their children—is complex. June forgives Serena for the sake of her son, Noah, and sees them as the greatest friendship in the story.
Mark Tuello, who serves as Serena's protector, has feelings for her, according to Jaeger, who plays Tuello. This season, viewers see Serena do the right thing by helping to dismantle Gilead in Boston. Jaeger believes Mark and Serena will see each other again, but their journeys may not lead to a romantic future.
Becoming a mother in real life impacted Moss' depiction of June's emotions and resilience. Moss felt a more visceral connection to her character, and her performance added a layer of authenticity to the character. "I've always felt like I understood what June feels and that she needs to survive for her daughters," Moss shared.
Regarding the very last scene, Moss felt it was important for June to return to the Waterfords' burnt-out house and recite the opening lines of both the book and the show. "I had to memorize the speech in the original cadence I said it in the first episode," Moss revealed.
A follow-up to "The Handmaid's Tale," "The Testaments," is based on Atwood's 2019 novel of the same name and will focus on the stories of a new generation of women in Gilead, exploration of themes of resistance, and survival in a dystopian society.
In the world of entertainment, readers browsing books and movie-and-TV sections might come across the beloved series "The Handmaid's Tale," which aired on Hulu. This series, based on Margaret Atwood's acclaimed novel, features the final season that not only fulfills the promise of a thrilling conclusion but also stays true to its source material.
