The Handmaid’s Tale: Where did we leave off?

The Handmaid’s Tale — “Night” — Episode 110 — Serena Joy confronts Offred and the Commander. Offred struggles with a complicated, life-changing revelation. The Handmaids face a brutal decision. Offred (Elisabeth Moss), shown. (Photo by: George Kraychyk/Hulu)

The Handmaid’s Tale officially returns on April 22, but it’s been a hot minute since we’ve seen June and the others. Where did we leave them at the end of season 1?

The Handmaid’s Tale season 2 is upon us, debuting on Hulu on April 25. For fans of both the books and the show, it’s a tense and exciting release. Season 1 covered the events of the novel by the same name, but with some unique twists and turns. Season 2 enters unknown territory. But with Atwood behind the scenes as a consulting producer and helping write the episodes, we can feel hopeful that whatever happens, the series will reflect her wishes for the characters.

Okay, maybe that’s not always going to be a “hopeful” thought.

Season 1, like the book, ends on multiple cliffhangers. Characters we love and characters we hate all face uncertain fates in the terrifying dystopia of Gilead, where civil unrest is beginning to change the landscape. We hope that’s for the better, but with 13 episodes of struggle ahead, a happy ending or anything close to it might require even more harrowing sacrifices than the first season showed.

Here’s a quick refresher on where we left most of the main cast at the end of season 1.