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‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ Finale: Is [Spoiler] Dead Or Returning For Season 3?

Ann Dowd
Courtesy of Hulu
The Handmaid's Tale -- "Household" - Episode 306 -- June accompanies the Waterfords to Washington D.C., where a powerful family offers a glimpse of the future of Gilead. June makes an important connection as she attempts to protect Nichole. June (Elisabeth Moss), shown. (Photo by: Sophie Giraud/Hulu)
The Handmaid's Tale -- "Household" - Episode 306 -- June accompanies the Waterfords to Washington D.C., where a powerful family offers a glimpse of the future of Gilead. June makes an important connection as she attempts to protect Nichole. Nick (Max Minghella) and June (Elisabeth Moss), shown. (Photo by: Jasper Savage/Hulu)
The Handmaid's Tale -- "God Bless the Child" - Episode 304 -- June negotiates a truce in the Waterfords’ fractured relationship. Janine oversteps with the Putnam family, and a still-healing Aunt Lydia offers a brutal public punishment. Moira (Samira Wiley) and Luke (O-T Fagbenle), shown. (Photo by: Elly Dassas/Hulu)
The Handmaid's Tale -- "Unfit" - Episode 308 -- June and the rest of the Handmaids shun Ofmatthew, and both are pushed to their limit at the hands of Aunt Lydia. Aunt Lydia reflects on her life and relationships before the rise of Gilead. Brianna (Bahia Watson) and June (Elisabeth Moss), shown. (Photo by: Sophie Giraud/Hulu) View Gallery View Gallery 21 Photos.
Entertainment Director

‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ season 2 was filled with a number of shocking twists, and one moment left a major character’s life in jeopardy. Could this character be dead and gone? Here’s what went down and what we know about season 3 so far. SPOILERS AHEAD!

Buckle up, Handmaid’s fans. The season 2 finale ended with the intention of having your jaw on the floor. While June’s journey to save her daughter’s future takes center stage, the episode spends a good amount of time following Emily (Alexis Bledel) as she adjusts to being a handmaid for a mysterious new Gilead man named Commander Joseph Lawrence (Bradley Whitford). On the night of the Ceremony, she presents herself to him, ready to be ritualistically raped. However, Lawrence isn’t interested in that and tells her to go back to her room. 

The next day, Aunt Lydia stops by to check that Emily has done her duty as a handmaid. To Emily’s surprise, Lawrence lies to Aunt Lydia, telling her the ceremony went off without a hitch. It seems like Emily’s home-free… until things get dicey, literally. Since Aunt Lydia can’t leave well enough alone, she starts to antagonize Emily about being a “good girl,” which sends Emily over the edge. She pulls out a knife she’s been hiding for protection and begins mercilessly stabbing Aunt Lydia over and over again, before finally throwing her down the stairs. The last we see of Aunt Lydia, she’s lying stone-faced and bloodied on the floor. It doesn’t look good for the amazing Ann Dowd. But rest assured, she will be back.

While the moment is both gruesome and oddly satisfying, Aunt Lydia isn’t going anywhere. When asked about season 3 during a SiriusXM interview on Sandra Bernhard’s show Sandyland in April 2018, Ann wouldn’t divulge anything except that third season is happening. She said filming would “begin in September.” However, showrunner Bruce Miller has confirmed that Aunt Lydia is not dead, according to EW. Praise be? The wait for The Handmaid’s Tale season 3 is going to be long, but it’s going to be so worth it.