Serena Joy Waterford’s fate in The Handmaid’s Tale Season 6 was a major talking point among fans. The character, played by Yvonne Strahovski, faced near-death moments but ultimately survived the series finale. Here’s a detailed look at her journey and how the showrunners decided her ending.
Serena Joy, one of The Handmaid’s Tale’s most complex characters, almost met a tragic end in Season 6. Creator Bruce Miller initially planned to kill her off early in the final season. He believed her death would be a fitting punishment for her actions in Gilead.
“I wanted to kill her because I think she was such a horrible person and being dead on the side of the road completely anonymously would have been a fitting end.”
However, co-showrunners Eric Tuchman and Yahlin Chang pushed back. They argued Serena’s story wasn’t over and that losing Strahovski’s performance would be a mistake. After months of debate, the team agreed to keep her alive.
In the finale, Serena becomes a refugee once again. Stripped of her citizenship, she and her son Noah are sent to a temporary refugee camp. The scene mirrors June’s early days in Gilead, with Serena told she has “a chair, table, and a bed, all you need I guess.”
June later visits the Waterford house, echoing Serena’s words in a full-circle moment. This parallel highlights how far both characters have come. While June moves forward, Serena is left with nothing but her child.
Elisabeth Moss, who directed the finale, praised Strahovski’s performance. She called Serena’s ending her favorite, noting how the character finds peace in motherhood.
“You see this peace on her face where she realizes Noah is all she needs. That’s all Serena ever wanted: Having a baby. It’s so perfect.”
Strahovski herself felt Serena’s survival was the right choice. She believed the character’s ending offered hope while remaining heartbreaking.
“Where we actually end up is in a space that holds a lot more hope and maybe inspiration while also being really thoughtful and meaningful.”
Serena’s final moments show her cradling Noah, accepting her reduced circumstances. She whispers to him, realizing he is all she has left. This bittersweet conclusion contrasts with June’s unresolved quest to reunite with Hannah.
The decision to spare Serena also tied into The Testaments, the upcoming sequel series. With Hannah still in Gilead, the show needed to align with Margaret Atwood’s sequel. Serena’s survival leaves room for her potential return in the spin-off.
Fans had mixed reactions. Some felt Serena deserved harsher punishment, while others appreciated the nuanced ending. Her journey from Gilead’s architect to a powerless refugee was a key theme in the final season.
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Credits: Sources include The Hollywood Reporter, TVLine, and Cosmopolitan.
