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Exile

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Exile is the second episode of the sixth season of The Handmaid's Tale. It aired on April 7, 2025.

Synopsis[]

June tries to settle in a new community. Serena seeks a sanctuary. Luke and Moira take a big risk.

Plot[]

Serena, after being pushed off the refugee train by June, is in the woods with Noah. She eventually finds a church, where a woman appears and asks if she needs help. Serena is later brought to a religious commune of refugees called Canaan that houses only women and children. When the commune's leader Abigail welcomes her, Serena introduces herself as "Rachel".

June and Nichole are reunited with Holly in Alaska. We learn that Holly, who June assumed was dead, survived the Colonies by working as a doctor who took care of the Aunts and the Guardians, until she was rescued by the U.S. military. June declines Holly's offer to remove the red ear-tag, insisting on keeping the brand until all Handmaids are liberated.

In Toronto, Mark Tuello is able to get Luke released from custody, but there will be a hearing in a few months. Luke is relieved to hear that June and Nichole are safe. Tuello mentions that Mayday is devising a plan to find and kill the commanders that shot down the planes during the failed mission to bring Hannah home and Luke agrees to join immediately. He later answers a phone call from June, and they reconnect with Holly. Moira and Rita say hello, and they speak for as long as they can until the limited phone time ends.

Nick meets with Lawrence at the commander's New Bethlehem home. Lawrence insists he had nothing to do with the attack on June in Toronto. Wharton arrives, he commends Lawrence on the early success of New Bethlehem, but he's skeptical of this new political approach. He suggests bringing Serena back to welcome returning refugees and serve as the friendly face of the reformed country. The conversation is then interrupted by Angela popping out from her hiding place under Lawrence’s desk. After Wharton leaves, Lawrence sends Nick to find Serena.

Nick meets with Mark to exchange intel, including where June fled to. Mark tries to get news about how they can attack Gilead, and Nick questions Americans’ devotion to fighting Gilead. Tuello then gives Nick a burner phone so he can reach him when needed.

Two months later, Serena is seen working in the garden of the Canaan settlement. In a brief flashback, a younger Serena is visiting her dad, who references the "dark times" the world is facing. He also looks forward to meeting her new boyfriend, "Fred." She also speaks with the other women of Canaan about her role in creating Gilead. Abigail eventually admits that she knew who Serena was the minute she showed up. She’s actually read her book and urges Serena to set things right.

In Alaska, June leaves a voicemail for Luke, but he does not answer again. She’s starting to get worried but tells him she loves him.

In New Bethlehem, Nick is having a fireside drink with Wharton. They discuss Nick's mentors over the years and whether he's made good choices with whom he followed. Wharton stresses the importance of making the right choices and leaves for bed. When Wharton is gone, Nick takes a SIM card from his phone and tosses it in the fire.

June ultimately connects with Mark, who tells her Luke and Moira have joined Mayday, and are trapped in No Man's Land. June decides she must return to Canada to help them. An embassy plane will fly her back, where she'll meet with Mayday.

Serena receives a visit in Canada from Joseph and Naomi Lawrence, who had not only located her, but want her to come home to New Bethlehem. Joseph assures Serena that things are different – women are not only allowed to read, write, and conduct business, but they can live there without being married. He wants Serena to be the face of this progress and reform. He also reminds her it's only a matter of time before the Wheelers catch up with her. At the dinner gathering, where the Lawrences break bread with Serena's new refugee friends, she announces she's leaving to return to New Bethlehem. She believes God has a plan for her to heal the world. In another flashback from the time before Gilead, Serena reveals to her father visions of helping create a "New Garden of Eden."

After some fierce arguing, June agrees to let Holly take care of Nichole while she is off helping the rebels. She reveals that Nichole is actually named "Holly" after her. We then see June riding in the back of a military truck. She arrives in a Mayday safehouse where she introduces herself to her fellow rebels.

Serena boards Lawrence's private plane and arrives in New Bethlehem.

Quotes[]

Trivia[]

Holly tells June that men from Gilead in masks took her forcefully from her apartment and tore it apart. This mirrors events during the second Trump administration when ICE agents with masks have broken into cars or houses looking for undocumented immigrants to detain.

Notes[]

Cast[]

Starring[]

Recurring[]

  • Josh Charles as Commander Gabriel Wharton
  • Cherry Jones as Holly Maddox

Guest[]

  • Naomi Snieckus as Abigail
  • Greg Ellwand as William
  • Paulyne Wei as Patti
  • Nelia Amador as Canaan Woman #1
  • Maria Halimi as Canaan Woman #2
  • Jaemoon Lee as Ken
  • Ruth Acheampong as Canaan Woman #3
  • Cydney Rusch as Canaan Woman #4
  • Liz Der as Canaan Woman #5
  • Letréal Farquharson as Mayday Rebel #1
  • Nat Patricia Manuel as Mayday Rebel #2 (as Nat Manuel)
  • Stevey Hunter as Mayday Rebel #3

Gallery[]


Music[]

Burn the Witch - performed by Radiohead== References ==

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