The Handmaid’s Tale Handled Alexis Bledel’s Season 5 Absence In The Most Twisted Way

It is important to note that Season 4 of “The Handmaid’s Tale” is a culmination of several different plots and sees criminal proceedings at the International Criminal Court. This is in addition to viewers witnessing the cathartic and exceptionally brutal death of longtime series antagonist Commander Fred Waterson (Joseph Fiennes). Having finally made it to Canada at the tail end of Season 4, June, Emily, and others who have been subjected to travesties beat Commander Fred to death. The season ends with Fred’s wife Serena (Yvonne Strahovski) receiving an envelope with Fred’s wedding ring and detached ring finger.

Season 5 immediately picks up after the shocking turn of events from the Season 4 finale, and as June comes to terms with what had just happened, she realizes that Emily is no longer with her. In a panic, she realizes that she must find her friend, so she quickly goes to Emily’s house in Canada and speaks with Emily’s wife Sylvia (Clea Duvall) to find out what happened to her friend. At this point, Sylvia explains to June that Emily has returned to Gilead in order to keep up the good fight and that she had previously called to say goodbye to Sylvia but didn’t want their child woken up. Sylvia then admonishes June for her actions but says that it doesn’t matter and that she is happy to have spent at least a little time with Emily before her departure. When June asks Sylvia to let her know if she hears anything from Emily, Sylvia declines and goes back into her house.