The Handmaid’s Tale has been running for four seasons now. That’s four seasons of brutal drama featuring June (Elisabeth Moss) trying to free herself from the control of her minders in Gilead, a dystopian version of the United States where women able to bear children are effectively treated as slaves, the better to preserve the nation’s ability to produce babies in the face of a fertility plague. The show has gone well beyond the confines of Margaret Atwood’s book, but there is an end in sight. According to The A.V. Club, the show’s sixth season will be its last.
Of course, there’s still a fifth season to watch first, and that one is right around the corner. “In the fifth season, June faces consequences for killing Commander Waterford while struggling to redefine her identity and purpose,” reads the official synopsis. “The widowed Serena attempts to raise her profile in Toronto as Gilead’s influences creep into Canada. Commander Lawrence works with Nick and Aunt Lydia as he tries to reform Gilead and rise in power. June, Luke and Moira fight Gilead from a distance as they continue their mission to save and reunite with Hannah.”
The Handmaid’s Tale season 5 will premiere on Hulu on September 14.
There’s a Handmaid’s Tale sequel series coming
The original show may be coming to an end, but Hulu has no intention of giving us an end to this misery. The Handmaid’s Tale creator, showrunner, and executive producer Bruce Miller is working on a sequel series based on The Testaments, Atwood’s 2019 sequel novel. That book is narrated by three women, including the villainous Aunt Lydia, played with skin-crawling banality on the original show by Ann Dowd.
There’s no word yet on when The Testaments might be along. But we return to Gilead very soon.
To stay up to date on everything fantasy, science fiction, and WiC, follow our all-encompassing Facebook page and sign up for our exclusive newsletter.
Get HBO, Starz, Showtime and MORE for FREE with a no-risk, 7-day free trial of Amazon Channels