The sixth season of The Handmaid’s Tale opens with three episodes that reposition several central characters. June Osborne (Elisabeth Moss) and Serena Waterford (Yvonne Strahovski), who had briefly found common ground at the end of season five, are split again as the new season begins.
Serena departs from a train while holding her infant son, avoiding a confrontation with Gilead refugee women. Her escape leads her to New Bethlehem, a separate enclave managed by Commander Lawrence (Bradley Whitford). Her arrival marks a return to the place where her influence once held weight, though her role there appears to be taking on a new form.
June, who had helped Serena during the train incident, continues north and reaches Alaska. There, she reconnects with her mother, Holly, portrayed by Cherry Jones, who reprises her role from earlier seasons. Holly, who had been presumed dead, welcomes June and her granddaughter. The reunion provides June a moment of stability before she joins a new resistance effort. She soon leaves to assist with a mission to recover her husband Luke (O-T Fagbenle) and close friend Moira (Samira Wiley), who are held in the contested region between Canada and Gilead.
Nick (Max Minghella), now a High Commander, agrees to help with the rescue. He and June meet again during the operation, which results in Moira and Luke’s return. The encounter also brings Nick into contact with Moira for the first time and leads to a brief exchange between Nick and Luke. June tells Nick she still cares for both men, and they agree not to say goodbye this time.
Co-showrunners Eric Tuchman and Yahlin Chang explained the structure of these early episodes. Tuchman said the idea to place Holly in Alaska came early during the planning stage. He viewed it as a necessary shift in tone following the darker elements of the train sequence. Cherry Jones’s return was framed as a way to mark that tonal change. Moss directed the first two episodes and worked with Jones during the shoot. Tuchman described the filming process as one led by Moss’s steady involvement, both on and off screen.
Serena’s arc in New Bethlehem continues when she encounters Commander Wharton, played by Josh Charles. He is introduced as someone aligned with Serena’s vision for reform. Wharton is connected to Nick through family, adding new interpersonal links across the leadership in Gilead. Serena’s intent to present herself as a political actor rather than a symbolic figure is shown through her early meetings in the enclave.
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Chang said Serena remains driven by personal belief and ambition. Her return to Gilead follows a period of threat, but she reframes it as part of a larger obligation. She remains consistent in how she views her purpose, and in how she interprets the systems around her.
Janine (Madeline Brewer) appears in episode three at a Jezebel facility. She encounters Aunt Lydia (Ann Dowd), who has begun questioning the foundations of Gilead’s rules. The reunion between Janine and Lydia adds to the tension building around Lydia’s role. Tuchman described their relationship as strained but rooted in long-standing emotional ties. Lydia’s reaction to Janine’s placement contributes to her evolving position.
The season continues with June entrusting her daughter to Holly before joining the resistance mission. Her interactions with Nick highlight the ongoing complexity between the two characters. Chang acknowledged that the relationship was formed under extreme circumstances, which complicates how June views Nick’s current standing within Gilead. Though he remains helpful to her, he holds a position in the same structure she continues to fight against.
Critical response to the first three episodes has included early praise for Moss’s directorial approach. The Rotten Tomatoes rating opened at 100% from 16 published reviews. While the score is based on limited data and could change, the initial response reflects a shift from the more divided reception to the previous season.
Production of this season resumed following delays tied to the industry-wide strikes in 2023. The new season arrives just as Hulu begins work on The Testaments, based on Margaret Atwood’s sequel novel. The series, which follows new characters including Aunt Lydia, entered production one day before the release of the new season’s premiere.
