If you’re looking for The Handmaid’s Tale Season 4 Episode 11, then we have some sad news for you. Unfortunately, last week’s Episode 10 was the season finale. There won’t be any new episodes in Season 4.
This article will have major spoilers for Season 4, Episode 10.
This Season Was Shorter for Creative Purposes
Long before the pandemic even started, showrunner Bruce Miller had decided that Season 4 of The Handmaid’s Tale would only have 10 episodes rather than the 13 episodes we had been used to seeing. In January 2020, Miller told IndieWire that the storylines he had in mind simply worked better with a 10-episode season. He said that MGM and Hulu were fully supportive of his desire to have a shorter season.
“From my point of view, [the decision] was 100% creative…” Miller said. “Some storylines just seem to shake out as a 10-episode story, in my eyes…”
So no, a secret eleventh episode isn’t going to happen. The season is over.
Episode 10 Ended Fred’s Arc in the Series
Episode 10 was a great way to end the series, however. Fred Waterford finally paid his dues, when June worked with Tuello and Lawrence to arrange for a trade. Fred would be returned to Gilead in exchange for Marthas who were working for the rebels. Luke innocently believed this meant Fred would see some kind of trial. But in the end. Lawrence allowed Nick and the Eye organization to take control of Fred after the exchange was made at the border. Then Nick, in turn, handed Fred over to June.
June and a group of other Handmaids who had been tortured by Fred or Gilead killed him in a scene reminiscent of Gilead’s particicution. That word refers to a judgment set upon a man convicted of raping a Handmaid, and Handmaids must carry out the execution with their bare hands. As one Redditor put it, this was satisfying in a “chickens came home to roost” type of way.
The Series Is Renewed for a 5th Season
If you’re sad about the season ending, just know that the series has already been renewed for a fifth season. We’ll have to wait until spring or summer 2022 (yes, a full year.) But it promises to contain a lot. Miller told The Hollywood Reporter that Fred will still appear in Season 5, even though his character is dead. Moss also revealed that June will expect herself to be in trouble since she murdered Fred, even though no one likes Fred — not even Gilead — at this point.
Miller says that Serena will also be out for revenge and all of her focus will be centered on June.
Miller also revealed that he’s in no rush to end The Handmaid’s Tale, even as he works on a spinoff called The Testaments.
Want to chat about The Handmaid’s Tale? Join our Discord server here or our Handmaid’s Tale Fanatics Facebook page.
I’m so sad that the show is over. I can’t wait to see what happens in Season 4.