5 heartfelt moments from The Handmaid's Tale

The Handmaid
The Handmaid's Tale (Image via YouTube/@hulu)

Margaret Atwood's highly acclaimed 1985 novel, The Handmaid's Tale, has been adapted for Hulu. April 26th, 2017, was its launch date. At that point, it became one of the most popular dystopian dramas on television right away.

June Osborne (Elisabeth Moss), a woman who becomes a Handmaid, is at the center of the program. June's journey from victim to leader is dotted with personal grief, furious rebellion, and rare moments of love amid cruelty.

The Handmaid's Tale is renowned for its harsh world-building and political resonance. Its emotional impact is just as strong. They portray the characters' unadulterated sadness, fortitude, and humanity.

Here are 5 heartfelt moments from The Handmaid's Tale:


5 heartfelt moments from The Handmaid's Tale

June’s Reunion with her daughter

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The scene in The Handmaid's Tale where June (Elisabeth Moss) finally gets to meet her daughter Hannah (Jordana Blake) in person is among the most poignant. June encounters Hannah in the arms of a different family, and they are subject to Gilead's authority. After years of being apart because of Gilead's harsh rule, her desperate struggle to get her daughter back comes to a head.

For June and the viewers who have been following her journey from the beginning, this scene is an emotional rollercoaster. Viewers can relate to her agony. This was because she was able to see her child, but was able to comfort her. June's continuous fight against a system that seeks to deny her everything is highlighted in this intense sequence.


The Death of Offred's Child

The Handmaid's Tale's plot is significantly altered in Season 1 by June's miscarriage, and as per the storyline, June loses the baby while trying to flee Gilead's grasp, after going through the ordeal of having to bear a child for the Waterford family.

The experience of the incident is extremely poignant because it symbolizes the momentary loss of hope she had for a future. The control over her own body was taken away by the miscarriage.

The show's major themes of resistance and bodily autonomy are further emphasized by this tragedy. It illustrates how Gilead's heinous patriarchy aims to subjugate women on all fronts, including their ability to procreate. June's response to the loss—a silent, agonized period of mourning—is incredibly real and gives her journey even more emotional weight.

It is a pivotal moment that impacts not only June but also the audience's comprehension of the tremendous cost of resistance in Gilead.


The Betrayal of Moira

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As per the storyline, Moira (Samira Wiley) was compelled to work as a prostitute. She was June's best friend and fellow Handmaid and found her breaking point emotionally in Season 1.

Moira's character has been characterized as strong-willed and rebellious, and she feels unhappy and betrayed after being forced to comply.

The unadulterated vulnerability Moira feels as she accepts her helplessness is what makes this scene so tragic. It serves as a harsh reminder and this is of the lengths Gilead will go to suppress opposition and enslave its people.


Serena’s Ultimate Sacrifice

Serena Joy Waterford (Yvonne Strahovski), a crucial figure who has assisted Gilead's repressive government, experiences an unanticipated and terrible emotional crisis in Season 3.

Serena starts to personally witness the repercussions of her actions after years of condoning the regime's cruel policies, particularly with the birth of her daughter Nicole.

When Serena agrees to assist June in escaping to Canada, she comes to understand the cost of her cooperation and the extent of her sacrifice, which leads to the emotional climax of her story.

Serena is currently on an unexpected emotional trip. Once embodying Gilead's strict and punitive beliefs, the heroine starts to see the humanity of the women she once tried to dominate.

Her sacrifice is potent because it brings attention to her inner conflict and the potential for atonement, even for those who have contributed to the continuation of violence. At this point, she is both empathetic and bitterly aware of the results of her decisions.


The Final Scene with Commander Waterford

One of the most intensely heartbreaking situations in The Handmaid's Tale is when Commander Waterford (played by Joseph Fiennes) is dying. When June and the other women of Gilead take matters into their own hands following his detention and subsequent collapse, Waterford surprisingly encounters justice.

This scene from The Handmaid's Tale has a complex emotional impact. On the one hand, it is a cathartic moment for June, who has endured unimaginable suffering at Waterford's hands. However, it poses challenging queries regarding justice and retaliation, prompting the audience to ask whether such actions can bring about healing.

Edited by Abhimanyu Sharma