Warning: Contains SPOILERS for The Handmaid’s Tale season 6, episode 10, “The Handmaid’s Tale.“The Handmaid’s Taleseason 6, episode 10 - the show’s series finale - finally brought back Alexis Bledel as Emily Malek.Bledel leftThe Handmaid’s Taleafter season 4, with it later revealed that her character had returned to Gilead to continue fighting against the regime that had taken over the United States. That was where it left things, though, and through most of season 6, it seemed as though Emily’s fate would be left unaddressed.
Thankfully,The Handmaid’s Tale’s ending found room to include Emily, even with so many other stories to wrap up, not to mention having to set upThe Testamentsshowthat will serve as a sequel. The return of Emily - and Bledel, who hadn’t appeared in a TV series since departing - was extremely welcome, as were the other returns in the episode, and they were important for bringing this story to a close.
Why Alexis Bledel’s Emily Returned In The Handmaid’s Tale’s Series Finale
In a sense, Emily’s return inThe Handmaid’s Taleis fan service, but very much the good kind. Hers was a story that deserved closure, because it’s one of the very best the show has told. After all she went through in Gilead, her finally making it out and reuniting with her family could’ve been a happy ending for her. That she chose to go back and continue fighting was powerful, andit’s only right we finally got a sense of what had happened to her.
Emily, like June, has fought to make the world better for those she loves, revealing she’s been part of the rebellion in Bridgeport, disguised as a Martha, and is still in contact with her spouse, Sylvia, and son, Oliver. It highlights how much more there is to this story even beyond what we’ve followed with June, and just how big the fight really is. At the same time,it offers even more hope that Gilead can be defeated, and that June can reunite with both of her daughters when it’s all over, because, as Emily says, the definition of"impossible"has changed.
They also walked down the street together, like they did at the beginning, always in twos… but now as free women fighting back against the regime.
The character coming back was also part ofThe Handmaid’s Taleseries finale bringing things full circle.She recalls the ice-cream place with an amazing salted caramel flavor, the exact same comment from the show’s first episode, which let June/Offred know that Emily/Ofglen wasn’t as pious as she thought, setting up their entwined journey of rebellion, escape, and returning to fight again. They also walked down the street together, like they did at the beginning, always in twos… but now as free women fighting back against the regime.
What Alexis Bledel Said About Her Handmaid’s Tale Return
The Actress Has Commented On Playing Emily One More Time
It was Bledel’s own choice to leave the TV show - one that was seemingly taken for personal reasons - but she also jumped at the chance to come back for the finale, and to give Emily some closure. The actress was such a core part of the show for so long that it’s only right she was at least asked back, and there was no hesitation in saying yes, as she revealed toTHR:
“It was an immediate yes.It felt right to bring closure to Emily’s journeyand offer the audience a sense of completion. Bruce [Miller, the show’s creator] put together such a kind and talented group, and so many of the original crew were still there in season six. The production runs like a well-oiled machine - everyone brings their best. I’m excited to see what they create in The Testaments.
“I hope viewers take away to keep hope alive when things seem impossible. Even if it seems like seeds you plant couldn’t possibly grow, plant seeds of hope anyway. You never know; they might find a way.”
Alma & Brianna Also Returned For The Handmaid’s Tale’s Ending
The Two Handmaids Were Killed In Season 4
Emily isn’t the only character who comes back after several years away, as the finale also sees the return of Alma (Nina Kiri) and Brianna (Bahia Watson). Similar to Emily,they were Handmaids who were long part of the show and key figures in June’s rebellion against Gilead. Unfortunately, both of them died when crossing a train track trying to escape back in season 4, but the show finds a poignant way of having them return.
Alma and Brianna both appear in a vision sequence of June’s, as she imagines what life could have been like in Boston had Gilead never taken over. We see the three of them, along with Emily, Rita, and Moira all dancing in a club, having a great time without a care in the world. It’s a heartfelt moment, and feels right that they get to be a part of this; a reminder of how much was lost, how much fighting there is still to come, and of why there’s still hope.
