Spoilers below for episode 8, season six of 'The Handmaid's Tale'
As The Handmaid’s Tale inches edges towards the series finale, fans of the show are bracing themselves for heartbreak. Episode eight saw June and Moira deliver serious justice —wedding cake laced with revenge. But the upcoming penultimate episode looks as though there will be consequences for those actions, and potentially a number of casualties on the side of the resistance.
As for what you can expect from episode nine, well, fans are piecing all the clues available to them together to try and predict the outcomes of their favourite - and least favourite - characters. Commander Wharton’s fate remains a question mark, and so does the future of some members of the resistance. But given the series' 'no body no death' trope, Wharton might just be alive, and reignited to cast out his vengance.
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As for possible looming deaths, many fans fear that Luke, Lawrence and even possibly June may not make it in the next episode.
This speculation comes from viewers' believing that Nick may be promoted to high commander, which may ultimately lead him to setting his morals and love to the side and sending June to the Wall. However, given the speculation around June’s potential role in the series’ sequel, The Testaments, this has been one of the most disputed theories, although the twist would make for good TV and cement June’s legacy as a martyr to the cause.
As for Aunt Lydia, we’ve seen some of her ruthless behaviour begin to soften. It’s quite clear that she is often torn between her loyalty between Gilead her facing the reality of its cruelty. Previously, she has protected Esther, shielded Janine, and now, she seems to be edging closer to full-on rebellion. In episode eight, we say a guard silently watching Lydia. Hopefully, episode nine will shed light on whether this was due to Commander Lawrence monitoring her or the guard being the eyes and ears of Aunt Vidala. While it’s all up in the air, fans are certain Lydia’s wavering is soon to be discovered, and episode could be her reckoning.
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