Content Warning: This article contains discussion of sexual assault, assault, and rape.
The Handmaid's Tale is a dystopian series where the lives of the main characters just seem to get worse and worse. Living under the totalitarian religious regime of Gilead, their behaviors are restricted and their choices are nonexistent.
While life in this fictional world is beyond grim and it seems like everyone's lives are so controlled that nothing exciting could ever possibly happen, there have been some genuinely shocking moments throughout the series. But, what were the most unexpected plot twists in Handmaid's Tale history?
10 Luke Being Alive
June unsurprisingly hadn't heard anything about Luke since their failed escape to Canada, and given the firefight that ensued when June attempted to run with Hannah, it's understandable that she assumed Luke had been killed.
So, when the ambassador from Mexico's assistant not only knows who June is, but tells her that Luke actually survived and got out of Gilead, it was a genuinely shocking moment. And, the fact that The Handmaid's Tale followed up that cliffhanger with an episode about Luke made it all the more fascinating.
9 Moira At Jezebels
The mystery of where Fred decided to take June while Serena was away was as intriguing as it was terrifying. Their visit to the Jezebels in Boston was illuminating in many ways.
Of course, it expanded the imaginary universe of THT in a major way. But, that added mythology paled in comparison to the revelation that June's best friend Moira, who had been missing in action since she and June tried to escape (and who Janine claimed was actually dead), was alive and enslaved at Jezebels.
8 The Bombing At The Red Center
Apparently the name "Ofglen" is synonymous with rebellion in Gilead, because after Emily was caught and sent to the colonies, Lillie Fuller became Ofglen and one-upped the anti-Gilead activity.
Initially, it seemed like she was on board with the entire handmaid system, but the moment she spoke out in defense of Janine, she was harshly punished. Gilead literally took her ability to speak, so it should come as no surprise that everyone was unaware that she had become radicalized. However, her Red Center suicide bombing was not something anyone saw coming.
7 June Seeing Hannah
Both instances where June finally reunited with Hannah were an unsettling shock. The first time that June reconnected with Hannah in Gilead, it was apparently some form of nightmarish apology from Fred Waterford for raping her the night before.
And the second time was when the authorities were intensely torturing June for information, and the government finally proved once and for all that they don't care about children when they threatened a terrified Hannah to get June to talk.
6 Janine And Emily Returning From The Colonies
Sometimes the plot armor that protects the main characters on The Handmaid's Tale is unbelievably thick. But, one instance where most viewers were likely glad to overlook it was when Emily and Janine were sent away to the colonies instead of being executed like most rebels would be.
It seemed like they were doomed to die in a toxic, radioactive wasteland, but Ofglen's bombing drastically reduced the number of available handmaids, and Emily and Janine were shockingly brought back to Boston to fill those gaps.
5 Serena Losing A Finger
Considering how many things the Waterford household seems to get away with without ever suffering consequences, it seemed like when Serena pantomimed reading as a show of protest, she'd likely get away with it again.
But Fred decided that he'd had enough of Serena's recalcitrance and decided to demonstrate who was boss in the most brutal way. Instead of listening to Serena's pleas to allow women to read again, he had her arrested and let the government cut her pinky off.
4 Eleanor's Death (That June Didn't Intervene In)
One of the obvious flaws in Gilead's system, which was brought into sharp relief once the Lawrences became major players in the series, is that mental healthcare is a vital part of a functioning society. The brilliant Eleanor Lawrence couldn't get her necessary treatment as a result of Gilead's disbelief in mental illness, and eventually, things got so bad that Eleanor couldn't be trusted to keep important secrets.
When Mrs. Lawrence realized the threat she posed to the children escaping Gilead, she died by suicide to prevent herself from spilling the beans. And, while June could have possibly done something to help, as she found Eleanor before she had actually died, she chose not to because of the inadvertent threat Mrs. Lawrence posed.
3 Alma And Brianna Being Hit By A Train
Clearly, season 4 of The Handmaid's Tale really wanted to shake things up. Although one shocking moment may have topped everything else in the season (and in the season so far), Alma and Brianna's abrupt deaths were completely unexpected and heartbreaking.
It's a little hard to believe that these handmaids once again had an easy opportunity to escape. But, when June hesitates and considers what she wants to do with Aunt Lydia, the other women come back to get her, a delay that literally costs them their lives.
2 The Last Ceremony
Everyone who is familiar with the series was already well aware that Fred and Serena Joy Waterford were terrible, but their "last ceremony" really took things beyond any possible redemption for both of them.
Throughout the course of the episode, June was getting on both of their nerves, and in order to "put her in her place," they decide to rape her one last time. In an even more repugnant twist, they justify it as a natural way to help the baby come sooner, despite the fact that June had a high-risk pregnancy already.
1 Fred Waterford's Particicution
Anyone who has committed to watching four seasons of The Handmaid's Tale has pretty much given up on the idea of any of the bad guys getting what they truly deserve. Which is why it was so shocking when Fred Waterford finally did.
After some smooth negotiating June ensures that Fred is going to be returned to Gilead for justice, but it's not enough. So she wrangles up her newfound handmaid death squad and they all beat Commander Waterford to death.
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July 17, 2021 at 12:00AM
