The Handmaid’s Tale’s lead star Elisabeth Moss has opened up about the series finale and specifically the chilling final scene ever of the show.
The last scene sees June Osborne (played by Moss) back in the Waterfords’ home, mirroring the closing shot of the series premiere.
June starts recording her story, which serves as a testimony of the true horrors of Gilead unknown to the rest of the world.
The very last line of the show is: “My name is Offred”, contrasting with her last line in the first episode: “My name is June.”
Much like the series opener, in the last scene June again looked down the lens of the camera and smiled.
Breaking down the line, Moss told Gold Derby: “Her mom points out she needs to tell it for her daughters. … She has to go back to the beginning, and she has to tell the whole story, and it started as Offred.”
June Osborne reclaimed her name Offred in The Handmaid’s Tale series finale(Image: HULU)
Essentially, June had to reclaim her handmaid’s name in order to tell her tale authentically.
Giving some behind-the-scene insight into the moment, Moss said she wanted to do the last line in the same cadence as she had in season one, using the original voiceover.
However, in a twist of fate, Moss – who was also directing the series finale – only remembered this key detail 10 minutes before they were due to shoot the scene.
The Mad Men and Top of the Lake star frantically paid and downloaded the Hulu app onto her phone, before going back to the scene.
She listened over and over to the sequence and memorised the cadence, saying “it worked” and was “incredible” in her final scene performance.
The Handmaid’s Tale final scene mirrored the closing moment of the series premiere(Image: HULU)
Reflecting on June being back in the Waterfords’ home, Moss revealed she “didn’t have to think too much” about it because she “felt all the things” her character was feeling.
“There had been so much that had happened in that room, and I was so happy to be back in a better place, and in a place where I was ready to bring this story to a close, at the same time that June is starting to tell it,” Moss explained.
The Handmaid’s Tale might be over now but a new chapter of Gilead is in the works with The Testaments in production and former showrunner Bruce Miller leading the upcoming drama.
Elisabeth Moss as June Osborne in The Handmaid’s Tale (Image: HULU)
Moss will be involved behind-the-scene as an executive producer but it’s unclear right now if June will be returning.
The Testaments is a very different beast to the parent series with more of a youthful focus on teenagers within the framework of Gilead and trying to live under the regime even if you’re at the top.
Ann Dowd reprises her role as Aunt Lydia with The Handmaid’s Tale showing she had undergone a change amid the Boston rebellion.
The cast will be mainly led by newcomers including Chase Inifinti and Lucy Halliday, who portrays Agnes/Hannah and Daisy/Nicole respectively.
