Warning: Contains SPOILERS for The Handmaid’s Tale season 6, episode 9 and The Testaments!
The Handmaid’s Taleseason 6 has already killed off two of the show’s biggest villains, which is shocking considering that the show’s finale hasn’t been released yet.The Handmaid’s Talehas had a lot of villains throughout its six seasons, and with Fred Waterford being dead for several years,season 6 finally decided to introduce some new ones. However, both of these villains have already been killed off after only a few episodes, a decision that some see as shocking.
The Handmaid’s Taleseason 6, episode 9 has an explosive ending, with several of the show’s main characters dying. After being freed from execution by Gilead, June works with the United States in order to plan their next move. Serena Joy informs them that the Commanders will be flying to Washington D.C. in order to prepare for Gilead’s next move. So, they devise a plan to get Commander Lawrence to place a bomb on the Commanders' plane. Unfortunately, the Commanders catch Lawrence, forcing him to get on the plane with them. The bomb blows up as the plane takes off,killing Commander Wharton, Commander Lawernece, and Nick.
The Handmaid’s Tale Has Killed Off Commanders Wharton & Bell
Even Though They Were Just Introduced In Season 6
In the last two episodes,The Handmaid’s Talehas already killed off Commanders Wharton and Bell, the season’s two main villains. Commander Bell is killed as part of June’s initial attack.After drugging the Commanders at the wedding, June goes to Commander Bell’s house. There, she stabs Bell to death, freeing Janine and allowing her to join June’s army of Handmaids.
In the very next episode, Commander Wharton is killed when his plane explodes. Wharton and Bell were major forces in early episodes ofThe Handmaid’s Taleseason 6,so it is shocking to see that they have already died. This raises a lot of questions about what will happen next in the series, as we are heading into the finale without a living main villain.
The Handmaid’s Tale Finale Doesn’t Need An Individual Villain
June Is Facing All Of Gilead
However,The Handmaid’s Talefinale doesn’t need a living main villain. Throughout the show, June has been taking on all of Gilead. The show has proven that no matter how many Commanders die, the system of Gilead will always replace them. The only way that June can win is by taking down the whole country, not killing the Commanders. Even withso many Commanders dying in episodes 8 and 9, there are still tons left who can keep the country going.
This is the lesson that June needs to learn inThe Handmaid’s Talefinale, as it would offer a strong thematic point about real fascist countries.Having June be forced to go up against the whole of Gilead would give the series a more interesting ending, raising the stakes and making the finale feel more grand.
Probably Not, Thanks To The Testaments
Although June will surely try, it is doubtful that Gilead will be defeated inThe Handmaid’s Taleseason 6 finale. Hulu has already announced thatit will be adaptingThe Testaments, Margaret Atwood’s 2019 sequel novel.The Testamentsstill takes place in Gilead, meaning that it will be impossible to tell this story while defeating Gilead inThe Handmaid’s Talefinale.
However, it is possible that the story could be tweaked to give June some success. It is possible that June could temporarily take down Gilead, or force Gilead to switch to the New Bethlehem model. This would prove that June has made progress in the finale, while leaving the door open for the story ofThe Testaments. However, it is impossible to tell exactly what is going to happen until the finale ofThe Handmaid’s Taleis released.
