Spoilers await the fifth season premiere of The Handmaid’s Tale.
Upon its launch as a streaming service, Hulu had a few successful original shows. was the most important The Handmaid’s TaleIt is based on Margaret Atwood’s novel of the same name. Since the show’s first season in 2017, Gilmore Girls Alum Alexis Bledel was a fan favorite like Emily. She even won a Primetime Emmy in the process of Season 1, which is why fans were so disappointed to hear that Bledel won’t be returning for Season 5. To honor the character and actress, I’ve compiled Emily’s most iconic moments from the first four seasons of The Handmaid’s Tale (Opens in a new tab).
The Handmaid’s Tale Season 5 began a few weeks ago, commissioning the book in a way that Alexis Bledel’s character was written off, due to the actress’ absence. It turns out that after the violent events in the Season 4 finale, Emily returns to Gilead to track down people like Aunt Lydia. His wife Sylvia had a wonderful give-and-take with June, apparently ending Emily’s story in the process. And while we mourn the loss of that character, here are some of the most famous (and often very violent) moments that come from Bledel’s former maid.
Ofglen’s Joyride (season 1, The Handmaid’s Tale)
Season 1 of The Handmaid’s Tale It was brutal yet captivating, with each episode bringing those of us with Hulu’s involvement into the oppressive world of Gilad. While Offred/June originally didn’t trust her walking companion Ofglen, Alexis Bledel’s character is slowly revealing that there’s a lot out there for her. We watched in horror Martha’s lover Ofglen being hanged before our very eyes, before being mutilated by the aunts.
After this ordeal and getting a new station, Alexis Bledel’s character ends up being the first maid we see to truly rebel against Gilead. She introduced herself to June as Emily, before stealing one of The Eyes’ cars in front of the other maids. She eventually killed one of these guards, before she could be captured and taken away. This was really the tip of the iceberg in terms of violence (and character), but it will always have a place in narrative history, and it stands out to those who watched the first season in 2017.
Emily Kills a Wife in the Colonies (Season 2 of The Handmaid’s Tale)
After Ain’s killed, Emily is sent to live and work in the colonies, doing manual labor with radioactive waste until she dies. Back then there’s a really bleak set of episodes The Handmaid’s Tale The second season illustrates the way Gilead brutally treats and dehumanizes those he considers sinners. Alexis Beldel’s character appears as a makeshift nurse, helping to heal the wounds of other women trying to survive in this deadly environment.
Before Janine joins Emily and gives her someone to take care of, we see a wife named Mrs. Connor (played by single Marisa Tomei) join The Colonies. While Emily appears to be taking her under her wing, it soon becomes clear that she has more plans for revenge in mind. She gave Mrs. Connors a poison disguised as medicine, and left her to die alone on the bathroom floor – punishment for Mrs. Connor’s role in the maid’s rape ritual. Given how much of Emily’s story revolves around violence, it certainly gives her exit from Season 5 a bit more context.
Emily and June reunion (Season 2 of The Handmaid’s Tale)
While Emily and Janine were anticipating death in the colonies, Ofglen #2’s bombardment of the red center in season two left Gilead in need of more fertile women. As such, these two characters have been brought back and given new publications. Emily reunites with Offred and the other maids at Loaves and Fishes, where the two finally meet. John and Emily’s relationship has been a strong story all along The Handmaid’s TaleThe first four seasons, with sometimes not having to use words to communicate.
Finally, June shares her name with Emily and sets off a chain reaction in this iconic scene from Season 2. Elizabeth Moss’ character introduces herself to more maids, who follow suit and connect with their sisters for the first time in this way. It’s a beautifully shot and edited scene that all started with a scene featuring Alexis Bledel’s now-departed character.
Emily attacks Aunt Lydia (Season 2 of The Handmaid’s Tale)
season 2 of The Handmaid’s Tale He introduced some new characters, including Bradley Whitford as Lawrence’s lead. Emily is appointed to be his maid, with the mantle of Ofjoseph. She and the audience alike were relieved to see that she no longer had to put up with the ceremony, and that she was treated with some respect at home. Unfortunately, Ann Dowd’s aunt Lydia was not one of those people who treated Emily so kindly.
In the final episode of season two, “The Word,” Aunt Lydia visits Emily at Lawrence’s house and taunts her. When Alexis Bledel’s character refused to answer, Lydia said sternly “It’s like I cut your tongue,” a sinister reference to the mutilation she was subjected to in season one. Fell down the stairs. It was a rare moment of punishment for Anne Dodd’s special character, and a treacherous scene The Handmaid’s Tale Fans talk about the respite between seasons.
Escape from Gilead and Save Baby Nicole (Season 3 of The Handmaid’s Tale)
Movie premiere The Handmaid’s Tale Picked up right after the events of the cliffhanger finale. With June back in the Waterfords, Emily is tasked with escaping Gilead and making her way to Canada with baby Nicole. It’s a tense and exciting sequence, as the fan-favorite character carries the crying child through wood and water in her maid’s bright red robe.
Eventually, the refugees managed to cross the border safely, and were transported to Canada in safety and care. Emily is shown being hospitalized with Nicole still in her arms. As the medical staff provides her with care, she gets a moving round of applause from the facility’s staff. It’s an emotional sequence, one that’s hard to watch knowing that the character will eventually willingly return to Gilead.
Emily is reunited with her family in Canada (Season 3 of The Handmaid’s Tale)
Emily’s family appears many times all the time The Handmaid’s Tale Run on Hulu, starting with the flashback in season two. We watch Alexis Bledel’s character break up with his wife Sylvia (Clea Duvall) and their son Oliver as they try to flee America while Gilad takes power. So when she finally made it to Canada safely, we had an emotional reunion in the season 3 episode “God Bless Baby.”
After seeing Sylvia and Emily meet shyly, their son Oliver finally appears on screen. It’s a heart-breaking scene that shows how much time has passed since she was kidnapped and became a maid. Emily breaks Gilead’s law by reading to her son, as Clea Duvall’s character cries silently while watching. Like Emily’s escape, it’s a tragically more beautiful scene given the character’s decision to leave her family behind in search of her violent justice.
The maids (including Emily) kill Waterford
Speaking of violent justice, this is exactly where we saw Emily Alexis Bledel in the flesh. After grappling with her fury throughout Season 4 (including celebrating a former aunt’s murder of herself in Canada), she eventually reunites with other former maids in Season 4’s brutal finale.
After making a prisoner exchange, Nick hands Commander Waterford to June in No Man’s Land. There she whistles, revealing her violent crowd of refugees, mostly maids. Emily is right there, and she is at the head of the group as the women hunt Fred and brutally tear apart Fred. It’s hard to pinpoint the details of the violence because it’s so dark, but it looks like she may have held his face as if June had brutally bit her.
In the end, Fred Waterford’s death will be the last time we see Alexis Bledel as Emily The Handmaid’s Tale. The actress left the show shortly before filming began, and the writers needed to find a quick way to write it. She eventually found her exit successful despite these circumstances, thanks in large part to the scene shared between June and Sylvia. Considering the amount of violence she has endured and is activated, her fate makes sense.
The Handmaid’s Tale New episodes air every Wednesday on Hulu. In the meantime, check out our fall premiere list to plan your next movie experience.
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