After six intense seasons, The Handmaid’s Tale has wrapped up on Hulu, and Elisabeth Moss, who plays June Osborne and directed the series finale, is sharing what went into that gut-punch of a final monologue. In a recent chat with Variety, Moss got real about the emotional ride of crafting June’s last words, which hit screens on February 9, 2025.
Moss, who also served as an executive producer, said the monologue was a labor of love. “We poured so much into getting it just right,” she shared, explaining how it needed to capture June’s entire journey—her strength, her pain, all of it—while still leaving things open-ended enough to keep fans thinking. “It’s June saying what she needs to say, but it’s also about the bigger fight,” Moss added, keeping things vague to avoid spoilers.
Directing the finale gave Moss a deeper connection to June’s story. “It was a lot—acting and directing at the same time—but it felt so personal,” she said. “I wanted to do right by her.” Fans on X have been buzzing about the scene, with some calling it “absolutely devastating” and others saying it was “the perfect goodbye to June.” Though, not gonna lie, a few folks on social media wished a couple of loose ends got tied up.
Since its 2017 debut, The Handmaid’s Tale has been a powerhouse, diving deep into heavy themes like oppression and resistance, all based on Margaret Atwood’s novel. The show grew way beyond the book, and now there’s talk of a sequel series based on The Testaments—no word yet on whether Moss will be back for that one.
For now, Moss hopes June’s final words hit fans right in the feels. “We wanted it to break your heart but also leave you with a spark of hope,” she said. If the fan reactions are anything to go by, it sounds like they nailed it.
Source: Variety