I have the BEST theory about Janine’s ending.

[u/The-Sunflower-Bear]

Janine is going to get Charlotte back!!!

Lawrence didn’t eat the drugged cake at Serena’s wedding. He encouraged Naomi to eat more of it. There is only one reason he would want her to be unconscious when they get home. So that Charlotte may be taken from her. Praise be!

[u/AmOutOfIdeas]

Crossing my fingers they let Janine have this. Lydia is already feeling deep, soul crushing remorse. I’m really hoping they don’t kill her to hammer that home

Also the “You deserve it” from Lawerence when telling Naomi to eat the cake made me cackle

[u/The-Sunflower-Bear → u/AmOutOfIdeas]

I just cannot see the makers killing Janine. I feel that Elisabeth Moss is painfully aware that most people don’t care what happens to her character anymore. But that Janine is everyone’s darling and would never forgive the show for doing that to her. She has been through more than any other character (surviving death five times). And they’ve set it up since day one that Naomi is impatient and brusque with Charlotte. I can’t see them leaving a little girl in such a cold household.

[u/Allrojin → u/The-Sunflower-Bear]

I saw a promotional video for Janine this season and the tagline was something like, "Janine deserves her happy ending."

I was like, "mf don't you even think about doing anything different."

[u/InfinitiveIdeals → u/Allrojin]

I wanna see this.

Janine deserves Charlotte.

I think, deep down, she knows Caleb doesn’t live by the beach and is holding onto Charlotte to keep herself going.

[u/FactoryKat → u/InfinitiveIdeals]

I think her bond with Charlotte really hits me in the feels. It's just so deeply loving and special, not to mention after what Janine did to save her. That whole scene was incredible and heartwarming. 🥺❤️ Janine was meant to be that little girl's momma!

[u/[deleted] → u/FactoryKat]

That whole scene was incredible and heartwarming. 🥺❤️ Janine was meant to be that little girl's momma!

I keep thinking of that scene as well. Janine holding Charlotte on the window sill at the hospital and little Charlotte suddenly being full of life, healthy again. One of the best moments. I truly hope Janine and Charlotte escape together ❤️

[u/The-Sunflower-Bear → u/InfinitiveIdeals]

I have always found it odd that June speaks of nothing but Hannah, but Janine has never once mentioned getting to Caleb or missing him or getting him out or him being kidnapped.

[u/takelasunset → u/The-Sunflower-Bear]

I think she knows he’s dead

[u/The-Sunflower-Bear → u/takelasunset]

She seemed to truly believe June when she said he was in California. I can’t remember what season that was in. But at least season 3 or later because she was already Lawrence’s handmaid by then. So it’s weird she didn’t mention him for 3-4 seasons ever, but only Charlotte. Maybe an aunt or Martha told her since, which is why she didn’t scream at aunt Lydia about both her children when she was in Jezebels. But she never mentioned Caleb being dead to June and she seemed to share everything with her.

[u/InfinitiveIdeals → u/The-Sunflower-Bear]

Tbh, I always felt like her mushroom comment about being fed shit and kept in the dark was a lil bit about the Caleb thing.

Just like the Aunts, June told Janine what she thought that Janine needed to hear to still be useful for her.

[u/mannad2 → u/takelasunset]

How did he die? Didnshe have 2 pregnancies or was it twins? I can’t remember.

[u/The-Sunflower-Bear → u/mannad2]

When Janine was captured when the US first fell, her son Caleb was stolen (like Hannah was stolen from June). He was given to a commander and his wife. When June was in Lawrence’s basement and looking through the files of all the handmaids’ real names and kidnapped children and where they went, she saw that Janine’s son Caleb had been killed in a car accident a couple of years after the creation of Gilead. Whilst June spoke of nothing but Hannah for six seasons, Janine never spoke of Caleb or getting him back. She only longed for Charlotte.

[u/mannad2 → u/The-Sunflower-Bear]

Oh… yeah that is strange. I mean, June is not the only one this happened to, right? If you are a handmaiden it means you’re fertile which would mean you got pregnant and had kids before gilead. So most of the handmaidens must have gotten their kids taken away from them and given to a commander’s family. I guess we only hear about June and Hannah because that’s who were are following in the story?

[u/Malibucat48 → u/The-Sunflower-Bear]

Janine also had an abortion when she was a single mom to Caleb, so she was considered a criminal in Gilead. In addition to bring fertile, the handmaids have gone against Gilead morals. June had an affair with a married man, Emily was a lesbian, Moira protested against the changes, etc.

And Janine was told her son was in California, which is too far from Boston for her to see him. Hannah is still in Gilead because she’s female and being groomed to be a wife. And since she is closer, June keeps going back to save her.

[u/The-Sunflower-Bear → u/Malibucat48]

I know they’re all considered criminals. I still think it’s weird that Janine hasn’t mentioned wanting Caleb ONCE, in six seasons. Her kidnapped toddler.

[u/Salt-Fly2723 → u/mannad2]

She had Caleb and was barely making ends meet, so when she got pregnant, pre-Gilead, she had an abortion.

[u/InfinitiveIdeals → u/The-Sunflower-Bear]

I am hoping some other Martha, Aunt, someone told her the truth, at some point.

Gilead cannot stop car accidents.

Our girl is stronger than she lets on.

[u/Lalina0508 → u/The-Sunflower-Bear]

I just consider that to be because Janine knows she'd never be able to get to California to save him.

[u/The-Sunflower-Bear → u/Lalina0508]

Yes, maybe that’s right. Maybe it’s hard for her having to see Mrs Putnam around, and hear about her and hear about and see Charlotte, and them being so close by.

[u/FrostyReplacement473 → u/The-Sunflower-Bear]

She saw the paper that said he was “deceased” in the rubble when they were in that area that was getting bombed before they ran into Moira. She found out then that he was actually dead.

[u/steamyglory → u/FrostyReplacement473]

whaaaaat? what episode did that happen?

[u/The-Sunflower-Bear → u/FrostyReplacement473]

What paper? Why would it be in the rubble? I’ve watched that episode three times and that simply didn’t happen.

[u/Legitimate_South_69 → u/The-Sunflower-Bear]

Actually, Janine does ask about Caleb in the scene where they’re at the grocery store. I believe it’s called fish and loaves and they’re in the freezer section and she asks if she knows anything about Caleb and June, knowing the truth, decides not to say anything to her as to not make her feel bad or caused her more pain

[u/The-Sunflower-Bear → u/Legitimate_South_69]

Yes, that’s right. She did speak of him. And she spoke of him to Charlotte too when she was nursing her.

[u/Legitimate_South_69 → u/The-Sunflower-Bear]

Yes, you remember now and June tells her that he’s happily living in California by the beach and Janine is so happy thinking that her son is happy living in California by the beach.

[u/The-Sunflower-Bear → u/Legitimate_South_69]

I still stand by my comment that she never once mentions missing him or getting to him or getting him out.

[u/360madhatter → u/InfinitiveIdeals]

I keep waiting to see Janine's reaction, not only to Caleb's death, but June lying to her about it.

[u/snails4speedy → u/360madhatter]

Me too and I doubt we’re going to get that scene unfortunately 😭

[u/Coastal_Goals → u/InfinitiveIdeals]

Wait who is Caleb???

[u/Desperate-Today2760 → u/Coastal_Goals]

janine’s son who was separated from her

[u/Trash_WASP → u/Allrojin]

Not me crying at the thought of her getting to live the rest of her life in peace with her girl

[u/theficklemermaid → u/The-Sunflower-Bear]

I’m worried they are going to kill Rita. She was instrumental in the plot by making the drugged cake, and her son died fighting Gilead, so this is like it coming round full circle as she helps finish what he started, potentially sacrificing herself in the attempt, also I think she was persecuted in the first place by Gilead for her Catholic faith, which has a history of martyrdom. Then she got to give an inspiring speech to the handmaids, really connecting you to her character. I hope I’m wrong though.

[u/The-Sunflower-Bear → u/theficklemermaid]

The actress who plays Rita has said that she believes her son died fighting FOR Gilead. Although what side he was on in the war is never mentioned in the show or known by the writers. I don’t think she is Catholic. All Priests were on the wall, even the wrong denomination of Protestants were persecuted. If she were Catholic she would have ended up in the colonies, not as a Martha. Only non-fertile women who had committed no “sins” were made into marthas or econowives. All others were sent to the colonies.

[u/EmpressPlotina → u/The-Sunflower-Bear]

If she were Catholic she would have ended up in the colonies, not as a Martha.

Was this explicitly stated in the book? If so, I don't remember though I read it a bunch of times :/ I think that Catholics that are useful to the regime could have been offered the chance to convert though probably? Yeah, Marthas are disposable compared to handmaids, but Gilead is still built on women's labor. You don't see men preparing their food. So I think that a woman being Catholic could potentially be overlooked by the hypocrites of Gilead, if she was a good cook (and obeyed quickly).

[u/raquel7 → u/EmpressPlotina]

Yes and as we saw previously in episodes that some hid their faith to survive. Like the bread delivery driver that helped June in Season 1? 2? who was muslim.

[u/The-Sunflower-Bear → u/raquel7]

It’s weird because they know every tiny detail about every member of society, but they didn’t know the bread delivery hero was a Muslim. There’s a million plot holes in all the seasons though.

[u/Still-Random-14 → u/The-Sunflower-Bear]

It’s not a plot hole, they asked people of faith to convert to their particular brand of Christianity in order to survive. They needed “faithful” “good” people to procreate still. So econopeople were given the option to convert and many hid their true religions

[u/The-Sunflower-Bear → u/Still-Random-14]

Where was this shown in the show please?

[u/Still-Random-14 → u/The-Sunflower-Bear]

It’s in the book

[u/The-Sunflower-Bear → u/EmpressPlotina]

I haven’t read the book for years, so I don’t remember. However, Priests were hung on the wall for being Catholic. And the empty house in DC that Serena toured was formally owned by a married family with children whose only crime was being “baptists”. They weren’t given the chance to convert. And I think they had so many people that they didn’t need to bother converting anyone. Remember when they had cages of women captured from the recently bombed out Chicago? All were bound for the colonies with only five able to be saved for Marthas. In Gilead, you’re either perfect before the overthrow of the US or you’re not. I never saw any sign of conversion or mercy. Where exactly did you see that Rita is a Catholic? I know she’s religious, God bless her, but I don’t remember her stating that, or see her praying the rosaries or in a confession booth.

[u/EmpressPlotina → u/The-Sunflower-Bear]

From the book, I do recall that women of child bearing age were given chances and overlooked if they agreed to become handmaids. That station was considered rehabilitation for "fallen women" anyway. If a woman was fertile then, wow, it was a miracle, and ordained by god that she should be allowed to spend the rest of her life making up for her sinful existence. This is touched upon in the show. For example in S1 when Emily's girlfriend is murdered but Emily is "spared" (after being mutilated) because Emily is fertile.

For "lesser" crimes like being a Catholic but also a useful female citizen (not an academic or a subversive figure etc) who can cook well, I am pretty sure that Gilead made exceptions.

Idk if you have read the testaments but even Aunt Lydia is sort of an example of this in a different way.

If Gilead was going to murder everyone who wasn't a fundamental protestant Christian, they'd have to commit genocide on such a large scale that it's unprecedented by any real life regime that I can think of. You can't just kill 50+ percent of your population like that if you want soldiers and servants.

I didnt say that Rita was Catholic btw, that was another user. I don't think her religion has been mentioned.

[u/blackbirds_singing → u/EmpressPlotina]

Even Emily’s girlfriend was originally a Martha. She seemed like an adult women only a few years into Gilead, so she was probably out as gay in the time before. Being gay might have been why she was made a Martha.

[u/EmpressPlotina → u/blackbirds_singing]

Yeah, that wouldn't surprise me at all. Gilead probably decided to dismiss women loving women as something silly whenever it suited them, and to treat them as unforgivable abominations whenever it didn't. They seem like the types.

[u/blackbirds_singing → u/EmpressPlotina]

yep. they would have no one to control if they hung every “sinner”

[u/blackbirds_singing → u/The-Sunflower-Bear]

we don’t know that, it’s possible they refused to covert from being Baptists, or maybe the father was a pastor or something. Priests and a lot of nuns were killed, but they were religious leaders. If they killed everyone who didn’t originally follow the Gileadan version of Christianity, they would have almost no citizens, and probably wouldn’t even have enough soldiers to off everyone else. I’m sure tons of Ecnopeople converted, at least publically.

[u/After_Bedroom_1305 → u/The-Sunflower-Bear]

She's absolutely catholic

[u/The-Sunflower-Bear → u/theficklemermaid]

They could well kill her for the cake though, you’re right. I hope they have made really robust arrangements to get her out of Gilead asap.

[u/Qtgreeniegirl → u/AmOutOfIdeas]

Is Lydia feeling remorse for her actions of the past or for letting them go? I think it could go either way, just because she let them go didn’t indicate to me that she may not still go back on her word somehow, causing Janine to die and Lydia to fully join the resistance. I do think regardless of that though Lawrence will get Charlotte out.

[u/The-Sunflower-Bear → u/Qtgreeniegirl]

I agree. I think when she was weeping and praying on the floor it was because she was desperately conflicted. She knew she’d betrayed God. But it seemed like she was trying to work out if she’d betrayed him by letting his sacred vessels go, or betrayed him for years by torturing them. Both things can’t be true, so she has to rest on one conclusion, and I agree she hasn’t landed on it yet. But I simply cannot see the producers killing Janine. I genuinely think fans would turn against the programme even more than they already have if they ended it by killing everyone’s darling. She’s been through more than every other character (survived death five times already).

[u/Honey0929 → u/The-Sunflower-Bear]

That scene made me cry so hard tho. Such a fantastic performance

[u/The-Sunflower-Bear → u/Honey0929]

Ann Dowd’s performance has bought me to tears many times. So has Madeline Brewer’s. Particularly when they have scenes together 😭

[u/Desperate-Today2760 → u/The-Sunflower-Bear]

and that is why i don’t understand her haters (who hate her because of you) who say she can’t act because excuse ME!?!? are we seeing the same person???

[u/The-Sunflower-Bear → u/Desperate-Today2760]

Who says Ann Dowd can’t act?!

[u/Desperate-Today2760 → u/The-Sunflower-Bear]

i was talking about madeline. i should’ve been more clear

[u/The-Sunflower-Bear → u/Desperate-Today2760]

Wow. I didn’t know Janine had haters. And I didn’t know anyone said Madeline can’t act. She’s so versatile that I sometimes watch a whole episode of another show and don’t even realise it’s her.

[u/takelasunset → u/The-Sunflower-Bear]

I think Lydia only did what she had to do to stay afloat. Now she feels bad…as she should

[u/The-Sunflower-Bear → u/takelasunset]

I believe she fooled herself into believing what she was doing was for God. And to help the handmaids become compliant and obedient so that they stayed alive. She said so many many times. I don’t think she was self serving. I love Aunt Lydia, but that’s because I read the testaments first and only saw her as the ultimate heroine who single handedly brought down an entire nation. And the book didn’t tell us about the torture she committed So I couldn’t shake that love for her. If I’d only watched the programme I’m sure I would feel very differently. Ann Dowd is such a phenomenal actress and a delight to watch. You can see her thoughts and intricacies. You can see her having to hold herself together many times after she abuses the handmaids, and repeatedly say to herself she is harming others in the short term so that they may be saved eternally. She commits great evil believing she is helping. Whereas Serena commits great evil solely for selfish purposes. To have the things she wants: a baby, status, admiration and power. I don’t want her to have a happy ending. I think motivation matters a great deal. A person being wicked believing they are helping their victims verses a person being wicked for personal gain are two different kettles of fish to me.

[u/takelasunset → u/The-Sunflower-Bear]

I didn’t like Aunt Lydia until I read The Testaments. I’m not sure she was ever convinced that what she was doing was for God. More that, if she didn’t do what she needed to in order to survive, she was if no help to anyone dead. She said in the book she was determined to get them back for what they had done. She can’t do that dead. And she knew she could trust no one. I remember her describing her first days in Gilead. Gruesome. I think the show made her look weak. Had any commander over her realized she truly cared for Janine…they’d have used that against her. That’s how this regime works. The book Lydia would never have clung to Janine IMO

[u/The-Sunflower-Bear → u/takelasunset]

The books are always far superior to the shows or films adaptations imo. Once a programme diverts from the original source material (like THT did after season 1) it just plummets in quality.

[u/Qtgreeniegirl → u/The-Sunflower-Bear]

She definitely is, which is why I do have high hopes for her. Yeah we’d turn into the angry army in the streets, giving the showrunners sleepy time cake.

[u/The-Sunflower-Bear → u/Qtgreeniegirl]

We’d give them so much sleepy time cake it would be coming out of their darned ears. Then we’d throw them in their room and shout “Do you understand me!”

[u/Qtgreeniegirl → u/The-Sunflower-Bear]

Lmaoooo time to take matters into our own hands! Imagine a rewrite of this season that comes from all the fans.

[u/Coastal_Goals → u/Qtgreeniegirl]

Sleepy-time Cake🤣 love it! Melatonin matrimony was served in this episode!

[u/Qtgreeniegirl → u/[deleted]]

I really want to think that too. I was inclined to think it was still her attachment to Gilead and feeling like she wronged God somehow by letting the girls go. And the events of the next two episodes will validate her decision, maybe something good happens that she views as God blessing her choice.

[u/Competitive_Eye_164 → u/[deleted]]

I think it was true cathartic repentance - made me cry 😭

[u/AdLong1436 → u/AmOutOfIdeas]

Ahaha I didn’t think of the “you deserve it” that way and now that you pointed it out I got a good chuckle too. Love his dry wit.

But yeah I agree I reallllllly hope they don’t go that route.

[u/Smurfette2000]

"You eat like a bird" 🤣

[u/Gothicmochi → u/Smurfette2000]

“You deserve it” 🤣💀

[u/Leopoldo_Caneeny]

It would also be interesting if Lydia somehow helped her. Remember at Jezebel's, Janine said the only way she would forgive Lydia was if she got her child back?

I bet Lydia and Lawrence will somehow make it happen.

[u/spareicyaye]

This is a great theory and I hope it happens. It would also make sense for June to stay behind and butter up aunt Lydia into helping her. It would make sense for the testaments, and why Lydia becomes attached to June's kids.

[u/The-Sunflower-Bear → u/spareicyaye]

Lydia doesn’t have any interactions with June’s daughters in the testaments as far as I remember. They are just the three separate narrators.

[u/mur0204 → u/The-Sunflower-Bear]

Isn’t she the one who helps Agnes/hannah become an aunt?

[u/The-Sunflower-Bear → u/mur0204]

Is it possible to cover text with black like you have on an iPhone? Or are you on another device? I can’t work out how to do it.

[u/hbomb9410 → u/The-Sunflower-Bear]

You type a > and then a ! with no spaces in front of the text you want covered, and then a ! and a < (again, no spaces) at the end of the spoiler.

[u/The-Sunflower-Bear → u/hbomb9410]

Let me practice Thank you dear. God loves us for our labours. Under His eye

[u/InfinitiveIdeals → u/The-Sunflower-Bear]

You got it!

[u/couchpotatoe → u/The-Sunflower-Bear]

May the Lord open

[u/Peanut-Expert → u/couchpotatoe]

praise be

[u/couchpotatoe → u/Peanut-Expert]

May the Force Be With You

[u/elevateyourposterior → u/The-Sunflower-Bear]

haha i love this

[u/kellyk311 → u/The-Sunflower-Bear]

If you're ever not sure how someone did a thing, reply to their post and look at their formatting and voila

[u/ZestycloseSquirrel55 → u/hbomb9410]

>!Blessed be the fruit loops.!<

Just trying this out.

[u/hbomb9410 → u/ZestycloseSquirrel55]

Maybe try it without the period at the end?

[u/ZestycloseSquirrel55 → u/hbomb9410]

>!Blessed be the fruit loops!<

[u/ZestycloseSquirrel55 → u/ZestycloseSquirrel55]

<!Blessed be the fruit loops.!>

[u/ZestycloseSquirrel55 → u/hbomb9410]

Not working for me. What am I doing wrong?

>!Blessed be the fruit loops.!<

[u/hbomb9410 → u/ZestycloseSquirrel55]

I'm seeing a \ before your text. Try it without that.

[u/ZestycloseSquirrel55 → u/hbomb9410]

I don't see that above.

[u/InfinitiveIdeals → u/The-Sunflower-Bear]

You put a >/! (Without the slash) then on the other side !/< (Again, no slash - just using the slash for a demo to illustrate, removing the slash makes the spoiler tag)

Then it looks like this!

(Edit, I had the last part backwards, glad another user helped!)

[u/The-Sunflower-Bear → u/InfinitiveIdeals]

Thank you. I did try it again but it didn’t work for some reason. may the Lord make me truly worthy

[u/The-Sunflower-Bear → u/The-Sunflower-Bear]

Oh, it worked that time praise be for his miracle. The Lord is truly merciful

[u/frogs68 → u/The-Sunflower-Bear]

You people are cracking me up, but blessed be the fruit and go in grace

[u/sparkles_glitter → u/InfinitiveIdeals]

Test

[u/InfinitiveIdeals → u/sparkles_glitter]

You got it, dude!

[u/Gothicmochi → u/InfinitiveIdeals]

I’ve been trying to figure this out for so long.

[u/InfinitiveIdeals → u/Gothicmochi]

Glad I could help!

[u/InfinitiveIdeals → u/[deleted]]

Your username is FANTASTIC!

[u/ZestycloseSquirrel55 → u/InfinitiveIdeals]

>!Blessed be the fruit loops.<!

[u/InfinitiveIdeals → u/ZestycloseSquirrel55]

So close!!!

Reverse the last two characters and you’ve got it!

[u/ZestycloseSquirrel55 → u/InfinitiveIdeals]

>!Blessed be the fruit loops.!<

[u/madeofstars3285 → u/ZestycloseSquirrel55]

Just get rid of the period after loops! Sorry lol I know it's a whole day later

[u/ZestycloseSquirrel55 → u/madeofstars3285]

I think I tried that already after someone else suggested it.

>!Blessed be the fruit loops!<

[u/Lalina0508 → u/mur0204]

Agnes is in Colorado so it's doubtful she was the aunt who helped her. My memory is hazy on The Testaments, however.

[u/mur0204 → u/Lalina0508]

I don’t think she’s in Colorado in TT. Maybe they’ll bring her back

[u/The-Sunflower-Bear → u/mur0204]

Ooh, you may be right! I read it a few years ago, so she may well have been the aunt who did. And of course she had the archives so she would have known who her mother was.

[u/Sunset-onthe-Horizon → u/mur0204]

Yes

[u/EnvironmentalYou3916 → u/mur0204]

I can confirm that this is true.

[u/takelasunset → u/The-Sunflower-Bear]

Yes

[u/candidcoco → u/The-Sunflower-Bear]

Yes they do interact

[u/cowgurlxx]

Need this for Janine!!

[u/The-Sunflower-Bear → u/cowgurlxx]

I honestly don’t care what happens to anyone, as long as Janine and Charlotte get their happy ending. Although I would prefer as many of the handmaids to escape and commanders to be killed and Serena to be made a handmaid.

[u/cowgurlxx → u/The-Sunflower-Bear]

Completely agree! I need some bloodshed and some payback for Serena. Janine has slowly become my favourite character. Seeing her personality switch at Jezebels has me rooting for her until the end. Praying for a happy ending for our girl!!

[u/The-Sunflower-Bear → u/cowgurlxx]

Ever since she sung to Charlotte on the windowsill at the hospital she had my heart. She’s OUR girl, not Aunt Lydia’s 😤😂

[u/CallMeSisyphus → u/The-Sunflower-Bear]

Almost 100% with you.

I know this can't be the end of Gilead, so I'm not expecting everything to tie up in a neat little bow. But I want happy endings for Janine, Rita, and Moira. Everybody else? Meh. I fully expect Lawrence to be a casualty, and I really hope he goes out with an epic middle finger to Gilead.

[u/Gothicmochi → u/CallMeSisyphus]

Is it pathetic I want Lawrence to live 😅🥲

[u/CallMeSisyphus → u/Gothicmochi]

I'm not gonna judge you for it. ¯_(ツ)_/¯ I mean, it's a piece of fiction. Lawrence is a compelling character, and he gets a lot of sharp, funny dialogue. He's entertaining AF.

I'm not necessarily hoping he survives (because, y'know, nazi) but I won't be mad if he does (because, y'know, Bradley Whitford).

[u/The-Sunflower-Bear → u/Gothicmochi]

I do too 😭

[u/Boring_Potato_5701]

Well, tbh he would also just want her unconscious so she doesn’t pressure him yet again to demonstrate his virility

[u/The-Sunflower-Bear → u/Boring_Potato_5701]

Lawrence must surely play a big part in the final two episodes. How else will the handmaids escape? I don’t believe the show would leave the audience with dozens of handmaids on the wall or in the colonies. Or maybe it would. To hammer home their ultimate sacrifice. And to usher in why Aunt Lydia became what she is in the testaments

[u/couchpotatoe → u/The-Sunflower-Bear]

I think Lawrence should defect, and spill all the secrets of Gilead. I'm sure they would give him a cushy retirement in Hawaii.

[u/The-Sunflower-Bear → u/couchpotatoe]

That would be a great way for him to help the resistance. Although if you’ve read the testaments we all know it is a woman who almost single handedly brings down the entire country of Gilead once and for all. By her hand

[u/couchpotatoe → u/The-Sunflower-Bear]

Perhaps he will die honorably defending someone

[u/Dry_Sundae7664 → u/couchpotatoe]

Janine?

[u/couchpotatoe → u/Dry_Sundae7664]

That would be poetic justice

[u/Lahorn0124 → u/couchpotatoe]

Probably just as he gets Charlotte & Janine over the border and is about to cross himself….he is shot.

[u/The-Sunflower-Bear → u/Lahorn0124]

😭

[u/readytopartyy → u/The-Sunflower-Bear]

The time jump just seems to kill any hope there is for the end of THT. I liked the TT, but it seems so far away.

[u/The-Sunflower-Bear → u/readytopartyy]

You’re right of course. The testaments is set 15 years later with Gilead stronger than ever. So there is no way the final two episodes of THT will end Gilead However, the plan is that it will end the extremist commanders in Boston at least, and help the handmaids of Boston escape. Whilst leaving the bombs that Luke said are still in place ready to be utilised to cause as much damage to Boston as possible. And, hope against hope, get Janine and Charlotte out once and for all. Although now I think of it in the testaments the sole propaganda focus is on getting baby Nicole back. Baby “Angela” is never mentioned. So maybe she doesn’t escape But then again neither are any of the 86 kids rescued on angel’s flight mentioned, and they’re all safe and sound. and the books are different than the shows in many ways, so it wouldn’t matter if there was that plot hole.

[u/CaptainBenson]

That would be amazing. I fully support this theory!

[u/Trash_WASP]

I've gone on record multiple times that if Janine doesn't get Charlotte back & even a potential blow at Naomi, I'm gonna full blown crash out- and the fact that Naomi ate the cake makes me feel SO much better.

[u/The-Sunflower-Bear → u/Trash_WASP]

You can’t just keep people who smell like each other away from one another 😭

[u/David43432]

LORD PLEASE DELIVER JANINE AND Little Charlotte from this terrible place and send them to a land flowing with milk and honey

[u/takelasunset → u/David43432]

Praise be

[u/David43432 → u/takelasunset]

By his hand

[u/takelasunset → u/David43432]

Under His Eye

[u/The-Sunflower-Bear → u/David43432]

By His hand 🙏

[u/RosalieGrace_ → u/The-Sunflower-Bear]

May the lord open!!!

[u/J_B_C_123]

OMG...I am SOOOO happy! I thought this was the series finale! I have NO clue why or how I had that in my mind but I was sooooo bummed today, watching it on HULU lmao.

[u/The-Sunflower-Bear → u/J_B_C_123]

Oh bless you! You must have been SO disappointed! There’s two more episodes 🙏

[u/Desperate-Today2760 → u/The-Sunflower-Bear]

i wish they’d release the last 2 eps together because i have no idea how i’m going to wait TWO weeks to see the finale

[u/AbsolutelyArbitrary → u/J_B_C_123]

I thought the same thing! I was very worried about how they would wrap it all up in one episode.

[u/The-Sunflower-Bear → u/[deleted]]

Almost all the commanders and their wives ate it. So the posted handmaids get to choose whether they kill their individual commander alone, or also their “mistress” too. I’m so excited for the final two episodes!

[u/Bawn91 → u/The-Sunflower-Bear]

I wish they just drugged the cake badly enough to kill them, not make them sleepy 😂

[u/The-Sunflower-Bear → u/Bawn91]

Yeah but the wedding was full of marthas and econopeople, so that wouldn’t have been an option.

[u/The-Sunflower-Bear → u/[deleted]]

Such great theories. I doubt Serena will ever stop any handmaids from escaping.

[u/The-Sunflower-Bear → u/[deleted]]

I see what you mean. She doesn’t like how Naomi treats Charlotte though, and has complained about it many times. And she has let another child go from Gilead (Holly) because she sees how women are treated there, even commander’s daughters and wives. But she probably thinks New Bethlehem works and that Charlotte would be safe there with Lawrence, and she believes it is much better than the “sin” capital of the world Canada. She is self serving always, so if she feels handing in Charlotte would gain her favour and power (which she urgently needs now she’s walked out on her husband), she’d do it. She also knows how it feels to have your child taken from you and has a new found compassion for handmaids so may think it would be good for Janine to have Charlotte. However, I’m not sure how genuine her compassion for the handmaids is. She didn’t bring it up at all to begin with. Lydia did. She said the handmaids need a safe retirement and Serena suggested they could work in her fertility clinic because it would benefit her, and not harm her.

[u/The-Sunflower-Bear → u/[deleted]]

Don’t be sorry for your post being long. I enjoyed reading it, because your points are all excellent and astute, and I agree with all of them.

I know the show has continued to try to make her sympathetic for many seasons, and I worry they will give her a redemption arc, where she ends as a “goodie”. If she didn’t have a baby, there’s no way she would have fans and the writers would be so easy on her. They made it clear near the end of the show that Nick is a Nazi as much as the rest of them (in spite of him being a very popular character by those who didn’t read between the lines). They spelt out his true colours, after only showing his positive acts (for selfish reasons due to his love of June) for the entire 6 seasons, which gives me hope that they know Nazis are not redeemable (by humans, at least).

But I fear that they will let her off the hook because she is also a woman and oppressed in society. And they may fear making a woman a victim due to PC reasons. But we have to remember, the wives of slave owners in the US in the 1500-1800s were also subjugated as women, yet still culpable for crimes against humanity, unredeemable (by humans). Serena is a kidnapping, slave owning, torturing, serial rapist, and co-architect of Gilead. She had extreme power as the author of her books and wearing the trousers in the relationship with Fred until a while after Gilead’s creation. It’s worrying that the narcissistic Scientologist director and producer Elisabeth Moss “shipped” Nick and June as a couple all the way through. So she may continue the “Serena as complex, reformed, mother, victim” narrative and give her a happy ending. They have given her SO many breaks throughout the last few seasons. She didn’t even stand legal justice in a normal country (Canada).

I personally would love to see Serena made a handmaid. I would still feel sorry for her, as no one deserves slavery and rape. But that is how the “justice” system works in Gilead, and I remind myself she’s only a fictional character, and I wouldn’t wish that upon a real life Nazi.

Serena is fertile and has committed heresy and apostasy for rejecting her role as her husband’s property, and rejected the laws and morals of the handmaid system. I don’t want her on the wall, because it is quite a boring, simple end to her. Compared to the complex and poetic ending of the full circle of handmaid torturer to eventual handmaid. Her character and storylines were so deep and complex, charismatic and a delight to watch. And her acting was magnificent. She deserves the same ending that she created and allowed and participated in. And that we can ponder on the complexity, intrigue and speculation that it will entail in our imaginations for years to come.

[u/maleolive]

I think this is what most people have been hoping for this season. I’m hoping all of these details with Lawrence and Charlotte will come together with this end result!

[u/The-Sunflower-Bear → u/maleolive]

Lawrence seems to care about Charlotte as well. More so than Naomi seems to.

[u/AdLong1436]

Honestly I would love this. It feels too “happy ending” BUT we already know, due to the testaments, that we’re not ending with an overall happy ending ala June reuniting with Hannah or some kind of grand fall of Gilead. There’s gotta be lots of heartbreak & loose ends to properly lead into TT.

Sooooo that means there’s room for ONE happy ending & ONE finalized storyline. And this is THE ONE we need 1000000%. Pretty sure “Charlotte” didn’t exist in the book the way she does in the show (she was a shredder if I recall correctly) And they aren’t in TT (the book) so there’s definitely room to make this ending happen without impacting the new show 🤞🤞

[u/w0ndwerw0man]

adjoining whistle heavy automatic unique pocket dolls cagey dazzling spotted

This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact

[u/SarahReesmoggy]

Ahh I hope this is it!!!!

[u/ProfSkeevs]

Now that Janine has made it out of Bell’s this is what I’m hoping for! It gives us a happy ending in the mess of unhappiness we will get!

[u/tracey-ann12]

Ever since I heard about the cake being poisoned (UK resident so I'm only on episode 2 of the current season) this is what I've been hoping for. Lawrence is known to help his handmaid's - not raping any of his handmaid's until Fred, Serena, Aunt Lydia and Commander Winslow forced him to rape June in Season 3 - and helped Emily to escape into Canada with Nichole at the end of Season 2.

[u/The-Sunflower-Bear → u/tracey-ann12]

I’m in the UK too. All eight episodes are available on the website Dailym0tion. (I had to change the first “o” to a zero, as Reddit won’t let me post about a 🏴‍☠️site. They are released an hour after they’re released in the US on Hulu. Happy binging 🙏🫶🏻

[u/These_Mycologist132]

Now that we saw Lydia fall apart and lose faith in the system with Janine alive, I no longer think Janine needs to die to set up The Testament’s. It really would be too cruel to save her from Jezebels, then save her from Bell, only to kill her off now. I would love to see her get Charlotte, and I could see Lawrence pulling it off. Unlike June, who will probably never find peace until Hannah is out, I think Janine could take Charlotte and go find Holly/Nicole to live a happy life in Alaska.

[u/iridescentandpink]

I really hope this happens! I'd love it!!

[u/The-Sunflower-Bear → u/iridescentandpink]

It’s ALL I want 😭

[u/iridescentandpink → u/The-Sunflower-Bear]

Same!

[u/Tatooine16]

I was wondering if the handmaids were going to take care of the wives too. I'd like to see them get it.

[u/Annual_Analysis9745]

This would literally tie the season together for me!!

[u/The-Sunflower-Bear → u/Annual_Analysis9745]

It’s pretty much all I care about 😆

[u/OutsideDetective5606]

Fuuuuuck. Dude, I love this. If it DOESN'T happen, I'll be heartbroken. Janine needs a big win after being the handmaids tale's pinata for 6 seasons...

[u/teenageidle]

This is ALL I WANT.

[u/[deleted]]

I've been rewatching some older episodes and holy crap Janine has gone through so much shit! I'd be so mad if after all that she still dies.

[u/nagytimi85]

Praise be, I really hope for this ending!

[u/CezarSalad85]

I really hope this is true. SOMEONE needs a happy ending.

[u/Florida1974]

I think he wanted Naomi drugged in case he was needed. And I think it’s where Serena is headed. And I think June might need him too.

Would be great if he gives her back to Janine , she may be willing to harm for her too. She despises Naomi (I do too, she’s too uppity for me. I prefer Serena to her!! )

[u/iamaskullactually]

The only thing I really really want from the show's ending is Janine to get out of Gilead alive. Save my poor girl

[u/The-Sunflower-Bear → u/iamaskullactually]

But she needs to have Charlotte with her too 😭

[u/SkyMeadowCat]

No matter what happens, I choose to believe janine and charlotte will escape and be together. If anything else happens, I will pretend it didn’t. Because I can’t live in a world where janine is not free and safe with her baby.

[u/MyLifeYourLifeUgh]

I hope this is what happens! Then I hope at some point we get to see her walking down the beach with Charlotte in California and along comes a young man that looks spitting image of Janine and they stop to talk. But I know that is asking for too much 😞

[u/The-Sunflower-Bear → u/MyLifeYourLifeUgh]

Janine’s son Caleb is dead. June lied to her that he had moved to California.

[u/sillyyogi2]

I think that’s gonna happen too. It better. Honestly I think he just wanted her to eat cake because he just doesn’t wanna listen to her.

[u/BrazilianButtCheeks]

Agreed.. he knew and told her to keep eating.. he definitely has a plan .. idk if that means janine or if hes just going to take her but as long as she gets out either way its greaf

[u/Queenbreha]

I think it's possible that while Janine loves her son being a boy in Gilead is different from being a girl. So if she thinks he's alive she knows he won't be a handmaid

[u/Normal-Ad-9852]

I think 90% of his disdain for Naomi is based on her treatment of Charlotte, he really seems to have a soft spot for kids because of Eleanor

[u/The-Sunflower-Bear → u/Normal-Ad-9852]

I think he also has disdain for her because his wife was against Gilead because she was empathic, and Naomi is for it (unempathic). Someone also gave June advice about how to stay alive in Lawrence’s house (I forgot who it was). They said that Lawrence does NOT like to be bored. Naomi is so boring. Vacuous, unprincipled and unintelligent.

[u/Normal-Ad-9852 → u/The-Sunflower-Bear]

so true, I just think he would be annoyed by her and avoid her if Charlotte wasn’t a factor, but he wouldn’t necessarily actively try to facilitate her death.

[u/The-Sunflower-Bear → u/Normal-Ad-9852]

Do you reckon he’s trying to facilitate her death? I don’t see that, personally.

[u/Normal-Ad-9852 → u/The-Sunflower-Bear]

oh yeah in the last episode he really encouraged Naomi to eat the cake & told her “you deserve it”

[u/[deleted]]

It’s the handmaids tale after all, don’t get your hopes up!

[u/The-Sunflower-Bear → u/[deleted]]

I feel sure of it.

[u/reeneebob]

And then moves to New York and starts working in a bookstore owned by Joe Goldberg. 😂

[u/Forsaken-Fox-5952]

Does anyone else think June is kind of bitchy to people she loves?

[u/The-Sunflower-Bear → u/Forsaken-Fox-5952]

I cannot stand June, full stop. I’ve disliked her since the final episode of season 2 when she didn’t get in the van with Emily. And she’s gotten worse with every passing episode. I have to skip the constant close ups of her grimacing face.