Handmaid’s Tale Fans Share Divergent Views on Season 6 Romance
The latest season of The Handmaid’s Tale has taken the opportunity to introduce a new romance — yet not all viewers are pleased with this development.
In the episode aired on Tuesday, April 15, Serena (Yvonne Strahovski) and Rose’s (Carey Cox) father, Commander Wharton (Josh Charles), bumped into each other again. Their dinner together led to a late-night walk, and before they parted ways, Wharton attempted to charm Serena by inviting her to dance in the middle of the street, only to be interrupted by Aunt Lydia (Ann Dowd).
Some fans were disappointed that Serena and Wharton’s moment was cut short — while others were enthusiastically supportive of it.
“They are really pushing a Serena love story in this state of the world,” remarked one viewer on X, while another shared, “IDK how she does it, but Serena always attracts someone.”
Others speculated whether Serena was “being played” by Charles’ enigmatic new character. Regardless of Wharton’s motives, viewers were intrigued by Serena’s ability to “find herself a man” again following the death of her husband, Commander Waterford (Joseph Fiennes).
For those needing a refresher, Serena’s husband was killed in the season 4 finale by June (Elisabeth Moss) and other former Handmaids in No Man’s Land. Following this loss, Serena faced challenges in Gilead, leading her to become Canada’s global ambassador and reunite with June.
Now a mother, Serena was on her way to Hawaii to seek asylum with baby Noah on a train that happened to be carrying her former handmaid. The only hitch? The other refugees aboard discovered Serena’s true identity, prompting June to push her off the train (sparing her from what was likely to be a brutal death akin to her husband’s). Serena managed to find refuge in a safe house for women and children and crafted a false identity. However, her escape from Gilead was short-lived, as Commander Lawrence (Bradley Whitford) found her and appointed her as the spokesperson for New Bethlehem.
As of episode four, Serena seems to be enjoying life in New Bethlehem with a new partner and a role she believes is intended for her by God — but could this signify the start of her happily ever after?
“The ultimate question with this character this season is, will she or won’t she redeem herself, and is it going to be that black and white? It never is,” Strahovski, 42, mentioned to IndieWire earlier this month regarding Serena’s forthcoming journey. “It’s really exciting to be part of something that is more than just entertainment — it serves as a point of discussion for many people for various reasons.”
She further added: “It’s been challenging to set aside your empathy for the other characters, particularly June, and try to embrace a non-judgmental perspective regarding Serena and discover where her heart lies, free of judgment.”
The Handmaid’s Tale airs on Tuesdays, with new episodes available for streaming on Hulu.
