‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ Series Finale Brings Back OG Character After [Spoiler]’s Surprise Exit

The Handmaid’s Tale series finale pulled out all the stops — including a surprise appearance from Alexis Bledel‘s character, Emily.

During the Tuesday, May 27, conclusion to the hit Hulu series, June (Elisabeth Moss) reunited with Emily after the rebellion in Gilead. The finale featured a parallel to the show’s first episode where June and Emily walked along the water. Instead of them seeing bodies hanging in the area, June and Emily now saw effigies of dead commanders and freedom graffiti.

Based on Margaret Atwood’s novel of the same name, The Handmaid’s Tale took place in a dystopian future where low fertility rates have resulted in women being forcefully assigned to men for the sole purpose of bearing children. In addition to Bledel, 43, and Moss, 42, Yvonne Strahovski, Madeline Brewer, Ann Dowd, O-T Fagbenle, Max Minghella and Amanda Brugel have led the cast since the show’s premiere.

Emily’s return comes as a welcome twist after Bledel previously left ahead of season 5.

“After much thought, I felt I had to step away from The Handmaid’s Tale at this time,” she told Variety in a 2022 statement. “I am forever grateful to [executive producer] Bruce Miller for writing such truthful and resonant scenes for Emily, and to Hulu, MGM, the cast and crew for their support.”

Before the final season premiered on Hulu, Us Weekly asked creator Bruce Miller if there was a chance Bledel would reprise the role of Emily in the sixth and final season, to which he said, “There are so many people who I wish came back. We’ve had such good luck with our guest stars just as people and how wonderful they are. But I don’t want to blow anything.”

Miller expertly dodged a direct question about Bledel’s character Emily, joking, “I don’t know who that is. … I’m just kidding.”

According to Miller, there is still The Handmaid’s Tale‘s sequel series The Testaments to look forward to as well.

“There are people who return and the same thing in the Testaments. We’re gonna bring characters from The Handmaid’s Tale to that world as well,” he teased. “So there are people who show up — but to tell you who they are will take away all the fun.”

Bledel’s cameo marks a return to our TV screens after the actress took a break from Hollywood. Earlier this month, Bledel signed on to narrate the audiobook for the 50th anniversary edition of Natalie Babbit‘s novel Tuck Everlasting.

“It has been an amazing experience to revisit this world,” Bledel said in a statement. “Tuck Everlasting holds a special place in my heart, having played Winnie Foster in the film many years ago. Narrating this beloved story for its 50th anniversary edition is a wonderful journey back into a tale that challenges us to think about what it truly means to live a meaningful life.”

The Handmaid’s Tale is streaming on Hulu.