Major spoilers ahead for The Handmaid's Tale Season 4 Episode 5 “Chicago.”
After an excruciating wait, The Handmaid’s Tale Season 4 has finally arrived on Hulu. The season started off with a bang, as Elisabeth Moss’ protagonist June has already escaped and been captured a number of times in the last five episodes. But the most recent episode “Chicago” ended with a shocking reunion, as Moira showed up in the war zone just as June woke up from an airstrike. And now showrunner Bruce Miller has spoken about this plot twist.
The Handmaid’s Tale Season 1 was very much about June and Moira’s relationship, as they endured training at the Red Center before making an escape attempt. But they’ve been kept apart since Samira Wiley’s character escaped to Canada after breaking out of Jezebel’s. Bruce Miller opened up about their unexpected reunion in this week’s episode, saying:
Both of them have been going through a journey of recovery or moving on after sexual trauma after a refugee experience when they joined together, that’s where you get to measure them against each other. They were so simpatico beforehand and they were able to talk about anything, [including] ‘I don’t think you should marry this boy.
As previously mentioned, June and Moira’s friendship is one of the primary relationships of The Handmaid’s Tale. They were best friends before Gilead took over, and endured a ton of trauma. But their paths split, so will they still be able to connect?
Bruce Miller’s comments to TV Insider help to peel back the curtain on The Handmaid’s Tale Season 4. It’s certainly been an unprecedented run of episodes so far, as the narrative shifts away from June’s posting as a Handmaid, and has her primarily living as a rebel. And given Moira finding Elisabeth Moss’ character, smart money says she’s heading to Canada and will have even more reunions.
Throughout the past three seasons of The Handmaid’s Tale we’ve seen a number of main characters escape Gilead and settle in Canada including Moira, Emily, Rita, and of course June’s husband Luke (O.T. Fagbenle). When speaking about the June/Moira relationship, Bruce Miller also addressed the protagonist’s husband, saying:
That relationship is so strong and so vital and so important to both of them and to see how they’re going to manage that going forward gives you a good idea of how [June’s] relationships with everybody, including Luke, are going to change.
There’s so much to unpack if/when June makes her way safely to Canada. She’s killed people, been regularly sexually assaulted, and also fell in love with Nick while being trapped in Gilead. Said relationship resulted in the birth of baby Nicole, whom Nick and Moira have been raising. Even if Elisabeth Moss’ character is finally safe her life will be far from simple.
Of course, the other biggest question after last episode of The Handmaids’ Tale: the fate of Janine. She and June were together when the air strikes on Chicago began, with the two Handmaids running through the exploding streets. While June seemingly made it out unscathed, it’s unclear if Janine survived, or sustained any major injuries.
The Handmaid’s Tale airs news episodes Wednesdays on Hulu. In the meantime, check out the midseason premiere list to plan your next binge watch.
