The Handmaid’s Tale Finale: Emily Returns in Surprise Twist
The Handmaid’s Tale Series Finale: Emily Returns for Powerful Reunion After Shocking Losses
The Handmaid’s Tale wrapped up its long and intense journey on May 27, 2025, with a powerful final episode that surprised fans—and pulled at their heartstrings. One of the biggest moments? The unexpected return of Alexis Bledel’s character, Emily, in an emotional scene with June (Elisabeth Moss).
Every act of resistance has led to this. The series finale of #TheHandmaidsTale is now streaming on @hulu and with #HuluOnDisneyPlus. pic.twitter.com/fUXgImXTEX
— The Handmaid's Tale (@HandmaidsOnHulu) May 27, 2025
Emily’s Return After Long Absence
Emily was a key part of the series through its first four seasons, but she disappeared without warning after Season 4. The story explained she had gone back into Gilead to fight in the resistance and target Aunt Lydia. Since then, viewers hadn’t seen or heard from her—until now.
In the final episode, following Boston’s liberation and the fall of Gilead’s control in the region, June finds herself walking by the water. Suddenly, she sees Emily. The moment is deeply symbolic, mirroring their walk from the very first episode of the series. But this time, instead of bodies hanging on a wall, they pass burning effigies of Gilead’s commanders and graffiti calling for freedom.
Thank you for standing with us. Nolite te bastardes carborundorum. #TheHandmaidsTale comes to an end tonight on @hulu and with #HuluOnDisneyPlus. pic.twitter.com/kvqwytNx0O
— The Handmaid's Tale (@HandmaidsOnHulu) May 26, 2025
Their exchange is brief but meaningful. Emily explains she had been undercover as a Martha in Bridgeport, helping fuel the rebellion while staying in touch with her family. She reassures June, saying: “I’m thinking of adjusting my concept of the impossible.”
Major Losses Set the Stage
Emily’s return comes at a time of chaos and loss. Just one episode earlier, two major characters were killed—Commander Nick Blaine (Max Minghella) and Commander Joseph Lawrence (Bradley Whitford). Lawrence sacrificed himself by planting a bomb on a plane filled with Gilead’s top male leaders, a bold move that shifted the tide of war.
The emotional weight of these deaths made Emily’s reappearance even more powerful. As June struggles with grief, Emily’s return brings her a moment of clarity—and a reason to keep fighting.
Fans React to Emily’s Return and Series Finale on Social Media
“If he ever had a real choice, he would have chosen you.”
— I Just Can't. (@queentaylr) May 27, 2025
#TheHandmaidsTale pic.twitter.com/yLFJY3FCW2
#thehandmaidstale series finale pic.twitter.com/BRBokvWGUD
— Danielle Potter (@mellowyelli) May 27, 2025
At least my girl Janine is happy, safe, and reunited with her daughter THAT WOMAN DESERVES ALL THE HAPPINESS #TheHandmaidsTale pic.twitter.com/LyuVyVZfmZ
— tht SPOILERS (@praisebejune) May 27, 2025
A Bittersweet But Hopeful Ending
The finale ties up the story in a way that honors the past while looking to the future. June, who began the show trapped in a brutal theocracy, now walks in a free city, reunited with an old friend and ready to rebuild. Emily’s presence reminds us how far they’ve come—and how much they’ve lost along the way.
The Handmaid’s Tale may be over, but its final moments left a lasting impression. With one last twist, the show gave its fans a powerful reminder of hope, resistance, and the bonds that can never be broken.
