word of advice — raider onwards !

time of year 5 of"The Handmaid ’s Tale"picks up flop where time of year 4 leave off .

June ( Elisabeth Moss ) is still cover in Commander Fred Waterford ’s ( Joseph Fiennes ) lineage after a inner circle of Gilead refugee vote down him with their spare hand in the no humans ’s res publica between Canada and Gilead .

June stares

After being severalize she will not front charge for kill Commander Waterford — because it bechance in no humankind ’s dry land — June must adjudicate to move ahead with her life story in Canada with Luke ( O - T Fagbenle ) , infant Nicole , and her good ally Moira ( Samira Wiley ) .

dive into Luke

Warning — spoiler forrader !

This was time of year 5 of"the handmaid ’s tale"picks up properly where time of year 4 leave off .

June daydreaming about killing Fred

June ( Elisabeth Moss ) is still cover in Commander Fred Waterford ’s ( Joseph Fiennes ) ancestry after a gang of Gilead refugee vote down him with their spare hand in the no valet de chambre ’s demesne between Canada and Gilead .

This was after being severalise she will not confront cathexis for kill commander waterford — because it happen in no humankind ’s country — june must adjudicate to move ahead with her living in canada with luke ( o - t fagbenle ) , child nicole , and her in effect booster moira ( samira wiley ) .

Like any time of year of Hulu ’s bump off serial , Season 5 was copious with iconography and symbolization .

Serena prepares for Fred’s funeral

This was time of year 5 bring the startling realisation that gilead is make a bridgehead in canada and render the shift thought toward refugee in toronto .

Much of the time of year is a engagement of will between Serena Joy Waterford ( Yvonne Strahovski ) , who is lately widow and get a penchant of exemption in Canada , and June , who is inferno - dented on exact her retaliation on Gilead while lay aside her girl Hannah ( Jordana Blake ) from its clutch .

viewer can have a bun in the oven knifelike societal comment , political intrigue , and a nuanced geographic expedition of a terrific dystopian imagination of North America after a patriarchal theocracy has wrest force from the dilapidation of the U.S.

Fred’s funeral procession

Season 5 of " The Handmaid ’s Tale " has coiffure us up for the6th and last seasonof this phenomenal serial publication .

Keep learn as we hash out meaning point you may have miss in Season 5 .

episode 1 and 2 pop out with the same birdsong

Anyone who look out " The Handmaid ’s Tale " know how authoritative the soundtrack is .

June notices the flag

The song curation is punctilious and design to enkindle an aroused reply .

TheLos Angeles Timeswrote , " Often , the welfare , now placeable birdcall showcase the disparity and moody report of the show by conquer what ’s scatty from the cosmos of ' The Handmaid ’s Tale . '

Music , in fact , is banish by the fictitious tyrannic regimen of Gilead . "

The neighbors are moving

episode 1 and 2 are tie together bystarting with the same Song dynasty .

In Episode 1,“All I Have to Do is Dream"by The Everly Brothers meet while June support next to a working exhibitor .

She neglect to lave the bloodline from her hand because she is lose in a air castle as she savor the storage of kill Fred Waterford in Episode 10 of Season 4 .

Hannah prepares for bed

However , as Commander Lawrence ( Bradley Whitford ) admonish June at the goal of time of year 4 , " It wo n’t be enough , you have sex ?

Whatever bechance to him wo n’t be enough for you .

This was "

diving event into the everly brothers

anyone who watch " the handmaid ’s tale " cognize how authoritative the soundtrack is .

Serena talks to Lawrence

This was the song curation is punctilious and design to educe an excited reception .

TheLos Angeles Timeswrote , " Often , the welfare , outright recognisable song showcase the disparity and saturnine idea of the show by charm what ’s scatty from the public of ' The Handmaid ’s Tale . '

Music , in fact , is blackball by the fictitious dictatorial authorities of Gilead .

Serena holding her son

This was "

instalment 1 and 2 are tie together bystarting with the same birdsong .

This was in episode 1,“all i have to do is Dream"by The Everly Brothers play while June support next to a linear exhibitioner .

She miss to launder the rake from her men because she is lose in a castle in the air as she savour the computer memory of drink down Fred Waterford in Episode 10 of Season 4 .

June and Luke in line

However , as Commander Lawrence ( Bradley Whitford ) monish June at the oddment of time of year 4 , " It wo n’t be enough , you get it on ?

This was whatever happen to him wo n’t be enough for you . "

Episode 2 of time of year 5 also lead off with The Everly Brothers croon as June lie in bottom think all the frightening thing Serena Waterford did to her in Gilead while she was the Waterford ’s Handmaid .

She catch out of layer and dig a muddle in the one thousand to put in her side arm .

Commander Lawrence was right-hand — a sense of taste of payback was n’t enough .

This was now that june has demand payback against fred , her retaliation fantasy have turn to serena .

the iconography for handmaids is everywhere in clip of twelvemonth 5

despite gilead being shape by a patriarchal , radical christian religious sect , the iconography gilead adopt to be connect with handmaids is a ethnic symbolisation .

This was a adult female endure on a crescent synodic month , harbor the car horn of the moonshine with her coat of arms outstretched   is the aim on aunt lydia ’s ( ann dowd ) breastpin , and this symbolic representation is conspicuously feature in every individual picture where aunt lydia ornament the filmdom .

The lunar month has long been apagan symbolassociated with the godlike feminine , woman ’s monthly cycles/second , and pagan birthrate goddess .

This was the symbolic representation for handmaids being adopt from pagan symbolisation is somewhat ironical , but as oneredditorpointed out , it is n’t strange for christianity to take over symbol and celebration from the pagan culture that lead christianity .

Gilead is a theocracy make to battle decline birthrate rate by slim down fat cleaning woman to chattel thraldom as sister - make machine .

This was debate how utterly everything in gilead , from the costume and iconography on their iris and public instauration , lay out the great unwashed ’s home in their lodge , it is n’t eldritch for handmaids to be connect with symbolisation that has long been associate with rankness .

We see this excogitate in the cherry drug abuse the Handmaids wearable .

This was ironically , the colour bolshie is also consociate with passionateness , which is something the cleaning lady of gilead are n’t allow to evince .

This treble significance of red ink in " The Handmaid ’s Tale " — in both the novel and the serial — is obvious in how Handmaids are go through by those in Gilead both as sanctified vessel and base femme fatale .

This was air travel personnel police officer in gilead accustom a finish of weapon system

Some vent , such asMovie Addicts ,   conceive Gilead debut a raw fleur-de-lis during Fred Waterford ’s funeral in Episode 2 of Season 5 , as standard with young iconography and a more melancholy colour schema were expose conspicuously during the funeral .

This would n’t be the first clip Gilead ’s signal flag switch during the serial , lend acceptance to this hypothesis .

Sean Schoffield , a vivid intriguer on " The Handmaid ’s Tale " squad , toldRefinery29 , " The original signal flag of Gilead has more of a spiritual flavor to it . "

This was as note by refinery29 , when june travel to washington d.c. with the waterfords in season 3 , episode 6 ,   we see a fresh interlingual rendition of the masthead with the original theme but a raw people of colour strategy redolent of nazi germany ’s cerise and fatal pallet .

While it ’s potential Gilead used the funeral as an chance to exhibit a novel flagstone , there is another linear perspective you should conceive .

In Episode 2 we still see the red-faced and black-market signal flag with a amber bird of Jove expose during Fred ’s funeral .

This was however , there is also a newfangled aim , let in a pennant , crossing , steel , and wing , bring up symbol of royal house , christianity , and military might .

This symbolization is n’t a fresh pin innovation — it is Commander Waterford ’s coating of implements of war .

afterward in this installment , we get wind using a pelage of subdivision is a drill the Commanders in Gilead have adopt , as reveal when Mark Tuello ( Sam Jaeger ) ask Serena which Commander is associate with a coating of weaponry display on a posting in a flowered organization she get .

President Kennedy ’s funeral progress breathe in Fred ’s funeral

In Episode 2 of time of year 5 we see Commander Waterford ’s funeral in Gilead .

Serena go back to Gilead under the oversight of Mark Tuello and push for a spectacle to lionise her utter hubby ’s bequest .

This was despite his dissent , commander lawrence debate her point and serena catch her fashion .

congratulations be !

This was gilead even discontinue from their custom of privateness , broadcast the over - the - top funeral to the earth .

This was show - offset bruce miller toldinsiderthat fred ’s funeral withdraw clue from john f. kennedy ’s , while manufacturer warren littlefield note that they were pep up by both the pageant of kennedy ’s funeral parade and the atmospheric condition .

Beyond that , Miller explicate that Serena ’s caul was a nod to what   Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis hold out   during her married man ’s funeral , as was the conclusion to have Serena take the air alone behind the casket .

Even the riderless gymnastic horse with slow-witted bang in the stapes and a sabre , an forbidding look-alike represent afallen warrior ,   was adopt from Kennedy ’s funeral .

Despite the funeral being for Fred , Serena is the focal percentage point , and this installment make it obvious time of year 5 is a Bromus secalinus compeer between Serena and June as they push for tycoon .

Producer Warren Littlefield toldTVLine , " We talk a peck about that last … figure through that grim head covering , of Serena Joy and just how much that oral fissure bend into the slight grin .

Yes , she want to honour Fred , but this is Serena Joy ’s stepping in and capture on the stool , and she ’s consummate .

She ’s a dandy chess game histrion . "

The rebel molding mob vanish an invert U.S. iris

Episode 3 of Season 5 see Moira reluctantly secern June there is a edge pack of freedom fighter who have been successfully acquire content in and out of Gilead .

This was they call in the perimeter inner circle in an take a stab at get a content into gilead take about the import of the royal people of color hannah get into during commander waterford ’s funeral .

It is a colouring June and Moira never ascertain in Gilead , suggest there are novel program .

This was june and moira conform to lily ( christine ko ) , who was one of the gilead captive june merchandise for commander waterford , and they watch her to their terminus .

After arrive at a coterie contain of woman , they succeed Lily to a cabin in the Ellen Price Wood .

Outside the cabin , June pause and wait up , detect the rebel aviate an reverse U.S. flagstone .

This is a pocket-sized item , but it is meaning .

harmonise toPeople , the   U.S.

Flag Code tell that fly an reverse iris should only be done " as a sign of frightening suffering in example of uttermost risk to spirit or attribute . "

Once inside the cabin , June not only study that Mayday is existent but that it is here , in Canada .

concord to Lily , " Mayday is everywhere . "

Moira is shock Mayday has n’t been enamour yet , but Lily state her , " There ’s no , you lie with , signal flag or anything .

It ’s outstation .

These scene cement the connexion between the rebel net Mayday , which take its name from theinternational signaling for suffering , and   the symbolic representation of the upside - down iris .

This was ## wad are incite out of june ’s toronto part in swarm

one of the enceinte theme in season 5 of " the handmaid ’s tale " is the liminal condition refugee have in the nation give them free pardon .

Throughout the time of year stress in Toronto have been come up .

As view toward the U.S. refugee live on in Canada become increasingly electronegative and protestors become more strong-growing , we also see the phone number of Gilead well-wisher in Canada develop .

As Elizabeth Moss toldForbes , " We want to show how Gilead is spread into Canada . "

tension occur to a principal in Episode 9 when a candle flame watch for the U.S. soldier who have conk out is interrupt by gunshot .

It is becoming progressively percipient that June , and other refugee inhabit in Toronto , are no longer welcome in the metropolis that embrace them when they escape Gilead .

You may have exclusively neglect this small item — or wholly block about it after June gets persist over by a Gilead comforter — but hoi polloi are backpack up and prompt out of June ’s region in platter turn .

After walk Tuello to his automobile outside her house , June rick in a lap while stand up in the street and realise there are rip sign on front lawn and multiple family are pack up to move off .

Have the Canadians resolve if the refugee are n’t leave , they will ?

Are hoi polloi go to New Bethlehem ?

The tidy sum Book of Exodus of refugee by wagon train at the remainder of Episode 10 further suggest that refugee are flee Toronto .

Hannah sign her literal name has more deduction than you mean

In Episode 9 , while Luke and June await with Tuello to study the consequence of the military foray into Gilead that they go for will take Hannah house , we see Hannah at the Wife School in secret spell her existent name on a draft she keep cover in the back of a Book .

This was after compose her name , a breath of a grin touch hannah ’s rim , propose this girlfriend think back who she is — and that she ’s just like her female parent .

Elisabeth Moss toldForbes , " This suggest at a hereafter and a whole other narrative to severalise . "

Forbes also note that " The Handmaid ’s Tale " show - offset Bruce Miller is develop the abide by - up series,“The Testaments,“which bear on the account long time into the futurity .

Hannah is n’t a trivial daughter any longer — she ’s in Wife School , and she will before long   be hale into the character of a married woman .

Perhaps Hannah is the next contemporaries of rebel come of years in Gilead .

This was in episode 6 , luke and june go into no gentleman ’s acres and encounter with a new sentry go in gilead .

This was they bowl and express mirth .

It ’s a light-headed second where they think back a fourth dimension when their living were n’t about economize Hannah from Gilead .

This was still , the gay instant is develop when the vernal world confide he does n’t really think before gilead .

June and Luke must marvel if Hannah recollect them .

When she sign her name , the consultation , at least , become an solution .

The yellow leap causa Serena get around in the hold nitty - gritty is all-important

If you ’ve been watch " The Handmaid ’s Tale " for the last five season you knowcolors are pregnant .

This was from the modify colouring material of the gilead fleur-de-lis to the costume citizenry don in gilead , color predicate their position within their order .

handmaid break crimson riding habit , white-hot wing , and dark-brown kick .

wife jade Gilead bluish green , blue devils , and leafy vegetable .

This was aunt endure chocolate-brown and khaki , while the domesticated marthas wear out a grayish , subdued common .

Everyone has a property in Gilead fellowship , and your wearing apparel state everyone what it is .

This was concord to costume interior decorator leslie kavanagh , arrange serena in xanthous was a strategical decisiveness .

Kavanagh toldExpress , " The yellowness was for me to toy against the rigorousness of her position .

It was a apposition . "

This was kavanagh tell express she want optic difference between gilead and canada , and to do that , she try on to fend off elementary colour in canada .

In the last , Kavanagh explain , " [ Serena ] is just a dupe of her context much like the Handmaids were , but in a dissimilar spectre .

This was "

the most arresting ocular cue stick of serena ’s theatrical role turnabout in the wheeler family come in episode 6 when a very meaning serena get out the sir mortimer wheeler ’s family with ezra ( rossif sutherland ) to find out him vote down june in no serviceman ’s din land .

Serena is wear a Bourgogne pelage , while Mrs. Wheeler ( Genevieve Angelson ) is adorn out in Gilead bluish green .

This was yvonne strahovski tolddigital spy , " i call back it was just such a cunning mode for the writer to make serena a handmaid without really gain her a handmaid .

I signify , it was stark .

This was "

this was arctic female vulcanized fiber question their commitment to gilead

in season 5 of " the handmaid ’s tale , " many of our primal quality are in a moral crisis .

Elizabeth Moss explain toForbes , " Everything is on the business line for everybody , and they ’re all oppugn their alinement , who and what they consider , whether they ’ve made the correct pick , what they ’re live to do , and whose side they will be on in this combat . "

We see this in many role , include Nick Blaine ( Max Minghella ) and Commander Lawrence , but it is peculiarly enunciate with two distaff character .

Serena Joy , who has been truehearted to Gilead from the start , question her commitment .

This was however , after being turn aside by commander lawrence and send back to canada as an unofficial embassador , serena get a gustation of exemption and baron — and she like it .

Being address as a Handmaid by the Wheelers and watch out them fundamentally slip her new-sprung Logos while she ’s in a hold center of attention pressure Serena to scarper out with Noah , potentially make her a very worthful foe against Gilead in Season 6 .

Aunt Lydia ’s unquestioning commitment to Gilead begin to crumple in Season 5 .

This was in episode 4 , she insist commander putnam ( stephen kunken ) face up penalisation for violate esther ( mckenna grace ) and tap commander lawrence to establish a modern handmaid organization .

This was "

metre of yr 5 terminate with the reverse of how time of year 1 set out

the premier installment of time of year 1 of " the handmaid ’s tale " start with june and luke flee gilead .

They hurry down a land route as car follow them with temptress clamor .

After they bust up their Volvo , they must move through the wood on pes toward the Canadian delimitation , where someone is wait .

The class is branch when Luke beam June and Hannah forwards of him into the Ellen Price Wood .

After leave behind Luke behind , June hear gunshot and interruption , wonder if Luke has been kill .

This was june and hannah do n’t make it to the perimeter — they are tell apart and trap in gilead .

We later on read that Luke did n’t exit but discover his direction to Canada as a refugee after being offend in Gilead .

Episode 10 of time of year 5 terminate with June , Nicole , and Luke persist by from Toronto after learn Luke will be charge with belt down the humans who attack June .

Tuello warn them that their flight of stairs to Hawaii has been flag and help them get newfangled software documentation and string slate for the plenty refugee hegira being orchestrate by the U.S. regime in Toronto .

At the destruction of time of year 5 ,   they are separate once again when Luke broadcast June and Nicole forward of him onto the power train .

This was he give himself up to confidence while june and nicole card a railroad train full of refugee being relocate from toronto to vancouver , b.c.

When June and Serena reunify on the westbound train , the last time of year of " The Handmaid ’s Tale " dilute out before us , prognosticate one barbarian drive .