I just finished binge-watching The Handmaid’s Tale Season 6 on Hulu, and I’m still reeling. The final season, which wrapped on May 27, 2025, had me glued to the screen, but it also left me with some mixed emotions. After eight years of June Osborne’s fight against Gilead’s dystopian nightmare, I was hoping for a finale that’d blow me away. Instead, I got a mix of powerful moments, some frustrating stumbles, and a bittersweet ending that’s still swirling in my head. Here’s my honest take on what worked, what didn’t, and why this last chapter hit me so hard.
The Good: It’s Still Got That Handmaid’s Spark
Season 6 jumps right in after Season 5’s cliffhanger, with June (Elisabeth Moss, who’s absolutely incredible) and her former foe-turned-uneasy-ally Serena Joy (Yvonne Strahovski, stealing every scene) on a train fleeing Canada for Alaska, both holding tight to their kids and their pasts. The early episodes feel like the show I fell for—gritty, intense, and full of those quiet moments that break your heart. There’s this one episode, “Shattered,” where a rebellion goes down at Serena’s wedding, and it’s pure Handmaid’s Tale: clever, brutal, and so satisfying. The visuals are stunning—snowy Gilead forests, shadowy safe houses—and the Radiohead songs hit at just the right moments.
Moss is a powerhouse, carrying scenes with a single glance, but Strahovski is unreal this season. Serena’s shift from villain to someone you can’t help but root for is so well done, I was cheering for her even when I didn’t want to. Ann Dowd’s Aunt Lydia and Bradley Whitford’s Commander Lawrence get some juicy moments, wrestling with their own guilt and schemes. Janine (Madeline Brewer) had me in tears—her scenes with her daughter Charlotte are pure heart. Newcomer Josh Charles as Commander Wharton adds a creepy but fresh vibe, and when the show’s on fire—like in the rebellion scenes or June’s desperate fight to save Hannah—it’s some of the best TV I’ve seen in ages.
The Not-So-Good: Stuck in a Loop
Here’s where I got a bit annoyed. As much as I love this show, Season 6 feels like it’s spinning its wheels at times. June sneaking back into Gilead again? Come on, how many times can one person dodge death and go back? The middle episodes drag, with storylines that feel like they’re just filling space. Nick’s arc was my biggest letdown. Without spoiling too much, his big moment in Episode 6 (“Surprise”) felt so off to me—I was practically shouting at my TV. It seemed like the writers were just trying to stir up drama for no reason.
Hannah’s storyline bugged me, too. She’s such a huge part of June’s fight, but she barely shows up until the end, which felt like a missed opportunity. And while I know the show’s setting up The Testaments (that sequel series is coming), it sometimes feels like they’re holding back on a real ending to leave room for what’s next. Some episodes feel like they’re rehashing old ground instead of pushing forward, and it’s frustrating when the show’s trying to juggle June’s personal trauma with big resistance plots but doesn’t quite nail the balance.
The Finale: Beautiful, But Not Enough
No spoilers, but the finale, directed by Moss herself, left me torn. I was hoping for a huge, Gilead-smashing showdown, but it’s quieter, more about June’s emotional journey. There’s this gorgeous scene where she revisits the Waterford house and starts writing her memoir, quoting Atwood’s novel, and it gave me chills. A surprise cameo from Alexis Bledel’s Emily had me sobbing, and Janine’s moment with Charlotte? Total heart-melter. But it felt more like an epilogue than a grand finale, heavy on reflection but light on the chaos I was craving. It’s beautiful and meaningful, but I wanted more fire.
Why It Hit Me Hard
Even with its flaws, Season 6 got under my skin. Dropping in 2025, with all the real-world chaos we’re living through, the show’s warnings about power and oppression feel scarily real. I love that it doesn’t give us a neat, happy ending—real fights for freedom are messy, and the show leans into that. Moss and Strahovski deliver performances that deserve all the awards (seriously, give Yvonne an Emmy). The small moments—like June and Moira sharing a laugh or Aunt Lydia showing a flicker of humanity—are why I’ve stuck with this show for so long.
My Final Take
The Handmaid’s Tale Season 6 isn’t perfect, but it’s a fitting end to a show that’s been a wild, gut-wrenching ride. It’s got those classic Handmaid’s moments that make you cheer and cry, even if it trips over repetitive plots and pacing issues. If you’ve been with June from the start, you’ll want to see this through for the stellar acting, gorgeous visuals, and emotional payoff. It’s not the explosive finale I dreamed of, but it’s raw, honest, and still has me thinking days later. Stream it on Hulu, grab some tissues, and brace for a goodbye that’ll leave you both moved and a little restless. Here’s to June, Serena, and a fight that never really ends.