June and Luke make the shocking decision to split up in The Handmaid’s Tale series finale, and here is why this happens. Throughout The Handmaid’s Tale, one of the biggest storylines is the love triangle between June, Nick, and Luke. Although it was always uncertain who June would pick, the death of Nick in The Handmaid’s Tale season 6, episode 9 made it seem as if June and Luke’s relationship was secure. However, this turned out not to be the case, with June and Luke deciding to go their separate ways at the end of the series.

The Handmaid’s Tale series finale is more of an epilogue than a climax, following June and the rest of the characters as they pick up the pieces. The United States has taken back Boston after June’s attack on Serena Joy’s wedding, which is a major victory for the country. However, they are a long way away from fully taking down Gilead or even rescuing Hannah. Thus, the climax focuses on June saying her goodbyes to the various characters in The Handmaid’s Tale, and unfortunately, Luke is included in that group.

Luke & June Have Their Own Battles To Fight

Meaning That It Is Best That They Split Up

Image via Hulu

Image via Hulu

Image via Hulu

Image via Hulu

June and Luke have an emotional conversation in The Handmaid’s Tale series finale, with them both discussing their next steps in the battle against Gilead. June’s main focus is finding Hannah, with the rest of her strategic decisions being a means to this end. Meanwhile, Luke has been working with Mayday for so long that he is more focused on saving everyone in Gilead. In the time since joining Mayday, Luke has taken on a position of leadership within the organization, and he hopes to continue fighting with them even after taking back Boston.

Because of these differences in approach, Luke and June decide that it is best that they leave each other. They recognize that they have their own battles to fight, and staying together will only lead to conflict. They still love each other, and they even recognize that they will see each other again someday. June and Luke hope that they can be together with Hannah again when Gilead is finally taken down. However, they aren’t sure how long this will take. In the meantime, however, they want to focus on reaching that goal.

The most interesting part of June and Luke splitting up has to do with how their passion for each other has fallen away as they have fought against Gilead. Originally, June’s mission was to get back to Luke, and Luke’s mission was to get June back. They achieved this goal several seasons ago, leading to them both taking on heftier goals, like bringing down Gilead. With the duo constantly putting themselves in dangerous situations, June and Luke’s love for each other became an unnecessary weakness, with them putting it on hold until the death of Gilead.

Will Luke & June Reunite In The Testaments

It Would Only Make Sense

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Although The Testaments ends with Luke and June apart, it is always possible that they could reunite in the future. Hulu has announced that it will be adapting Margaret Atwood’s 2019 sequel novel The Testaments into a series, meaning that the story of The Handmaid’s Tale will continue. Although June is not the main character in the book, she does appear at the very end, reuniting with her two daughters after over 15 years.

Luke is not mentioned in The Testaments‘ ending, meaning that he isn’t guaranteed to show up. However, it would make sense for him to appear. If The Testaments is going to give an emotional conclusion for June at the end, it needs to do the same for Luke, as they had the same goal of rescuing Hannah. Plus, having June and Luke appear together would add the emotional reveal that they ended up together again, resolving their split in The Handmaid’s Tale.