After a season marked by a drastic story shift with June’s long-awaited escape from Gilead, the closing episode delivers perhaps the show’s most monumental finale.
Now, all that stands in his way is an official plea deal approval by an international court based in Geneva.
Initially, Fred claims not to know her or the establishment well, but eventually, he admits Martina reportedly died in an “accident” involving a Commander.
Noting Fred’s helpfulness, she makes demands, including a nice home for her family, and for the decision on Fred to be expedited so their son can be born free.
Fred visits her before heading to Geneva and says he’ll return a free man, a husband, and a father.
In a voiceover, June says handmaids must act like they love and want their Commanders.
In the present, June gives one more statement before Fred’s deal is approved, but to her chagrin, it’s taped instead of in person, and Mark practically admits it’s inconsequential.
June mentions the Old Testament, and, in blatant foreshadowing, Emily quotes a line: “The righteous will rejoice in vengeance and wash their feet in the blood of the wicked.” June then tearfully tells Emily she wants to let go of Fred and focus on her family, but she can’t.
Soon Fred says he doesn’t hold ill will toward her about her testimony and implies that June edited the truth for the court and Luke, calling her suffering at his hands “discomforts.” He claims they shared a relationship they both needed to survive – it wasn’t love, but there was something there.
They have a drink, and when Fred says he misses Offred, June toasts to her former identity.
June insists that the women are some of the lives Mark thinks Fred’s intel will save, and Fred alone isn’t worth more than all 22 women.
Rita thinks there will be some justice in the form of a trial, and Moira is happy that he’ll be out of their lives.
Just before Fred departs for Geneva, he’s apprehended aggressively and told he’s been deemed unfit for leniency.
Mark says Gilead promised to try Fred under their justice system – a system Fred helped build – to which a panicked Fred retorts that God will judge Mark for sinful coveting .
June blows a whistle and out from the shadows steps a horde of other Gilead refugee women.
And, on a wall in No Man’s Land, a body hangs over a spray-painted Gilead resistance slogan: Don’t let the bastards grind you down.
But what does the unsanctioned execution mean for international relations with Gilead? Will June finally be able to move on? How can she if Luke doesn’t forgive her for Fred’s murder? Will June be prosecuted? Will Serena use freedom from Fred to turn over a new leaf, or make him a martyr to thrust herself into power? We’re left with many questions, but at least we got a momentous ending in Fred Waterford’s demise – equal parts deserved, brutal, inevitable, and shocking.