14 Fan Theories That Predict Season 6 Of 'The Handmaid's Tale'

From Redditor u/whocares_71:

I would love to see aunt Lyda switch sides. I'm not sure what that would take. I honestly think maybe Janine getting killed would do it for her. But I think such a powerful aunt switching and joining the resistance would be pretty powerful.

Aunt Lydia has shown small glimpses of humanity throughout the series, particularly in her attachment to Janine. This theory suggests that Janine's potential death could be the tipping point that pushes Lydia to actively work against Gilead from her position of power. It would align with her character development in The Testaments, where Lydia plays a crucial role in Gilead's downfall.

From Redditor u/IAmDeadYetILive:

Mine is that the train is taking them to New Bethlehem. Serena will relish in her power there but June will work to take it down. I don't know if they'll form any kind of alliance because 1. Serena is a power hungry narcissist; and 2. the audience doesn't want her to have a redemption arc.

The Season 5 finale left June and Serena on a train to an unknown destination. This theory suggests they're headed to Commander Lawrence's new project, New Bethlehem, rather than Hawaii or Alaska. It would place June back in a Gilead-controlled area but with a different power dynamic, allowing her to potentially work with resistance forces from within while dealing with Serena's opportunistic nature.

From Redditor u/Other-Strawberry4665:

I've read The Testaments, so I won't spoil it as far as June, Nick and Hannah. But I've heard that the show runner said two major characters die: I think it may be Janine and Commander Lawrence (though, I'd like it to be Serena).

This theory focuses on just who might not survive the final season. The mention of Janine's death particularly resonates with fans who have watched her survive multiple near-death experiences throughout the series. Lawrence's death would fulfill his arc as a man seeking redemption, while many fans' preference for Serena's death reflects the deep hatred viewers feel toward her character.

From Redditor u/International-Sea561:

Hi so spoiler photos have already been released that show that June is back in Gilead along with Moira and Luke and they are current photos filming the last few episodes so she's definitely went back to Gilead. We don't know why but she's definitely there.

This theory has gained significant traction as it's based on actual production photos from the final episodes. Many fans are speculating about why June would return to Gilead after escaping - is it for Hannah, part of a resistance mission, or something more sinister? The return of not just June but also Moira and Luke suggests a coordinated effort rather than forced deportation.

From Redditor u/ZongduOfArrakis:

I think it'll be the back-half of the season. You can't really end The Handmaid's Tale properly unless you feature June back in Gilead in some way. I imagine she will go there in disguise, though. Since last we knew, the official punishment she would have gotten was the Magdalene Colonies and I even more doubt they'd give her a normal household after gestures at everything she did. I think the first half will maybe be set in New Bethlehem and that the train could be hijacked to take people there.

This detailed prediction outlines a potential structure for Season 6, with June ending up in New Bethlehem through a train hijacking. It addresses the practical issue of how June could return to Gilead without immediately being executed and suggests a two-part season structure. The mention of June going "in disguise" also opens possibilities for espionage and resistance activities.

From Redditor u/zenitram66:

I also think the final season will bring the downfall and ultimate demise of Commander Lawrence. It just seems fitting that it will happen, considering all of his own machinations throughout the series and what he has done in season 5, and for Serena to play a role is something I'm also speculating about.

Lawrence has been a complex character - an architect of Gilead who seems to regret his creation but continues to work within the system. This theory suggests his ambiguous moral stance will ultimately lead to his destruction, possibly at the hands of Serena. His fall would represent the inevitable collapse of Gilead's ideological foundation and show how even the powerful aren't safe from the monster they created.