The Handmaid’s Tale season 4 has arrived in the UK, as viewers are transported back to Gilead to discover what became of June Osborne (Elisabeth Moss) and the rest of the Handmaids who stayed behind with her.
The Handmaid’s Tale, based on the novel of the same name by Margaret Atwood, is set in a world where the government of Gilead rules over what used to be the US.
Amid declining fertility rates, those in positions of authority force fertile women who they deem as having been sinful to become Handmaids, stationing them in the homes of high-ranking officials.
The Handmaids’ sole purpose is to become pregnant and bear children for the elite while living in a society that treats them with horrific cruelty and threatens those who step out of line with severe punishments.
June begins the show stationed at the home of Commander Fred Waterford (Joseph Fiennes) and his wife Serena Waterford (Yvonne Strahovski), after being separated from her husband Luke Bankole (O-T Fagbenle) and their daughter Hannah (Jordana Blake).
While living at the Waterfords, she meets and becomes romantically involved with their employee Nick Blaine (Max Minghella), who was a spy for Gilead (known as an Eye), but finds his allegiance questioned due to his love for June.
In season two of The Handmaid’s Tale, June gives birth to a baby girl who she conceived with Nick, who she names Nichole and gives to fellow Handmaid Emily (Alexis Bledel) to take out of Gilead into Canada.
In the opening episode of season three, Emily manages to escape into Canada with the baby and is granted asylum.
What happened at the end of The Handmaid’s Tale series 3?
Having first learnt about a resistance group called Mayday in season one, by season three, June is at the forefront of the movement.
June, who has been assigned as a Handmaid at the home of Commander Lawrence (Bradley Whitford), arranges for children to be brought to his house for an escape plan, with the help of other Handmaids and Marthas, who are servants within households.
While more children turn up than originally expected, June and the others continue with the plan, which is to have them fly out of Gilead on a plane into Canada.
As they make their way to the plane, June realises that a diversion needs to be caused to lure away security officers.
She and several other Handmaids decide to stay behind, throwing rocks as the plane carrying the children soars away.
In an altercation with a soldier, June is severely wounded from a gunshot, and the season ends with her being carried away by the other Handmaids, who are all still in Gilead.
Luke, who has been looking after Nichole in Canada with June’s best friend Moira Strand (Samira Wiley), hopes to see his and June’s daughter Hannah (Jordana Blake) among the child passengers of the plane, becoming emotional as he realises that she is still in Gilead.
The Waterfords, meanwhile, are imprisoned in Canada, having been arrested for their crimes committed in Gilead.
What will happen in The Handmaid’s Tale series 4?
Fans of The Handmaid’s Tale will be anxious to find out how June is doing at the beginning of season four, after sustaining an extremely serious injury.
Although it’s apparent from the trailer for the series that she does survive, it’s unknown what sort of condition she is in.
There will be huge repercussions when those in charge of Gilead discover the large number of children who have been taken away, with Canadian officials tasked with helping the children acclimatise to a life of freedom that many of them haven’t experienced in their recent memory.
Despite the fact that the Waterfords have been arrested, viewers will know not to underestimate their ability to exert power and fear no matter where they are.
Serena will be desperate to see more of Nichole, who she regards as her daughter and who is in Luke and Moira’s care.
Meanwhile, June will undoubtedly remain determined to have her daughter Hannah back in her life to take her out of Gilead and into safety.
The Handmaid’s Tale premieres on Sunday June 20 at 9pm on Channel 4 and will be available to watch on All4.
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