The Handmaid’s Tale Season 6 Needs To Give Closure To The Show’s Biggest Missing Character
Emily, the quietly defiant Handmaid brought to life by Alexis Bledel in The Handmaid’s Tale TV series, is a character who resonates deeply with audiences. Unlike her book counterpart, the nameless Ofglen, the show granted her a distinct identity, making her a pivotal figure in the resistance. Her journey, marked by both resilience and heartbreak, culminated in a seemingly triumphant escape to Canada.
However, Emily’s sudden disappearance in season 5 left a gaping hole in the narrative. While the show hints at her return to Gilead to continue the fight, this sudden departure feels unsatisfying for a character who has endured so much. The series is one of the biggest TV shows returning to screens in 2025 and expectations are high. Now The Handmaid’s Tale Season 6 holds the potential to rectify this by providing Emily with a more fulfilling conclusion, one that honors her strength and the profound impact she has had on the resistance.
What Happened To Emily In The Handmaid’s Tale?
Emily’s character is one of many differences between The Handmaid’s Tale TV show versus the book. This is because she is never named in Margaret Atwood’s haunting novel, but is only known as Ofglen. This was a conscious choice by the TV show to give the women more agency and set up both Offred/June (Elisabeth Moss) and Ofglen/Emily as rebellious figures. Emily is a vital character in the new narrative, as she is both June’s and the viewers’ first introduction to the underground resistance group “Mayday.”
However, by season 5, Emily has disappeared, and June discovers she has returned to Gilead. This seems like a strange turn for Emily, who had finally gotten back to her family. Emily’s wife, Sylvia (Clea DuVall), explains that she thinks Emily has returned to fight. It has been speculated that Bledel had to step back from the show for personal reasons, and showrunner Bruce Miller confirmed that she let them know as early as possible (per Newsweek). However, the way she is written out leaves things open for a possible return.
Emily Deserves A Real Ending In The Handmaid’s Tale
Emily is such a force in the show and very well acted by Bledel, with Emily being perhaps the most critically acclaimed role of her career. Her quietness paired with her understandable anger and the way her sexuality is punished by Aunt Lydia (Ann Dowd) make her one of the most compelling, sympathetic characters in the series. Although it is suggested she went back to Gilead to fight, which is in character for Emily, it is still a slightly disappointing way to write her off after her long-awaited reunion with her family.
She deserves a more satisfying conclusion to her story.
Emily’s arc is one of the things The Handmaid’s Tale season 6 must get right. She deserves a more satisfying conclusion to her story, whether it is getting a peaceful ending or going out in a blaze of glory. Her entry into Canada to claim asylum was one of the most cathartic moments in The Handmaid’s Tale. Because of this, throwing her back into Gilead, although she has the motivation to fight, deserves further exploration. Season 6 would benefit from bringing Emily back and making her journey back to Gilead worth it by having her help June fight back.
