Season 5 Will Take Your Breath Away

The fifth season of Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale is a breathtaking look into the long-term impact of trauma. You continue to root for all of the Handmaids as they fight for justice and pray for the destruction of Gilead.

This season, however, it’s clear that this fascist regime is stronger than ever, and so is Elisabeth Moss’ June Osborne. Her relationship with Serena Joy Waterford (Yvonne Strahovski) is even more layered than in previous seasons; the two need one another to survive.

June will face the consequences of killing Commander Waterford as she simultaneously seeks allies in her efforts to save her daughter Hannah. A now-widowed and pregnant Serena aims to raise her profile in Canada as Gilead’s influence makes its way there. A regretful Commander Lawrence attempts to right his wrongs by joining forces with Nick and Aunt Lydia to reform Gilead and gain power.

The fan-favorite Hulu drama, adapted from Margaret Atwood’s classic bestselling novel, was just renewed for a sixth and final season. This news comes ahead of the premiere of the 10-episode fifth and penultimate season, which will premiere with two all-new episodes on September 14, with additional episodes streaming Wednesdays.

As much as you want all the Handmaids and Marthas to gain freedom, you also do not want the series to end. Yes, this season is that good. It holds a firm grip throughout without a wasted moment of screentime.

Throughout its first four seasons, the cult classic garnered 15 Emmy awards as well as the prestigious Peabody Award. And in 2017, it made history for Hulu as the first streaming service to win an Emmy in the Best Series category when the program took home the award for Outstanding Drama Series.

It’s not an easy show to watch, but it’s one of the most important on television, and its message has only become more relevant over the nearly 40 years since Atwood’s book was first published.

In an interview last season, Moss spoke about the lifelong impact of the trauma inflicted on those living under the cruel regime in Gilead, explaining that even though June managed to escape its horrors, she would never be the same. “June will never be able to forget what she has seen or done. A prison can be anywhere, and I think she’s in an emotional prison no matter where she is. Gilead never leaves you.”

Bruce Miller serves as series creator and showrunner, and for diehard fans, he’s developing The Testaments, a follow-up to The Handmaid’s Tale that will pick up the story years later.

Starring alongside Moss and Strahovski are Bradley Whitford, Max Minghella, O-T Fagbenle, Samira Wiley, Ann Dowd, Madeline Brewer, Amanda Brugel, Sam Jaeger and Mckenna Grace (who delivers some of the best scenes of the season as Handmaid-in-training, Esther Keyes).

The Handmaid’s Tale is executive produced by Miller, Moss, Warren Littlefield, Daniel Wilson, Fran Sears, Eric Tuchman, Yahlin Chang, Rachel Shukert, Sheila Hockin, John Weber, Frank Siracusa, Steve Stark and Kim Todd. The series is produced and internationally distributed by MGM Television.

The Handmaid’s Tale is on the short-list of television series that continue to marvel season after season. And though the fans have always hoped for June’s fight to end, we thankfully do not have to say goodbye to her just yet.