SPOILER ALERT: This story incorporates spoilers for the collection finale of “The Handmaid’s Story,” now streaming on Hulu.
Bruce Miller has identified he needed to finish “The Handmaid’s Story” since earlier than the Hulu adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s e-book debuted in 2017. And followers who tuned into watch the collection finale Tuesday will see Miller caught with that ending, and he’s acquired the receipts to show it.
“Nicely, in case you return and watch the pilot, originally of the pilot, you may hear her click on that tape recorder that she clicks on the finish of the collection to start out recording ‘The Handmaid’s Story’ within the audio — and we didn’t return and put that in, that was there,” Miller instructed Selection.
“The Handmaid’s Story” collection finale ends with June (Elisabeth Moss) returning to her bed room within the Waterfords’ now-destroyed dwelling to start recording her story, which begins with the primary voiceover monologue given by June because the handmaid Offred from the collection premiere, in preparation to jot down a e-book about her time in Gilead.
“I at all times thought it made pure sense. The very last thing you already know within the e-book about Offred is that she recorded this,” Miller stated. “And so when Lizzie and I have been speaking on the very starting of the mission, you discuss the place you’re going to go. For those who may wave a magic wand and magically go six seasons — which is unimaginable — then what would we do? And hopefully you ended the place the e-book ended, which is she’s recording this in a cabin, after which she leaves it behind. We modified it a bit of, however the sound division — who is identical sound division we’ve had all alongside, may be very excited that we’re paying off the Easter egg that they put within the very first episode.”
The ending of “The Handmaid’s Story” collection is just not the ending of the world of Gilead, which gained’t be toppled till Hulu’s adaptation of “The Testaments,” Atwood’s 2019 sequel to her seminal 1985 novel. Miller is shepherding that collection, which is at present in manufacturing, and dealing alongside a lot of the identical crew, together with Moss as a producer.
Within the interview under, Miller breaks down how “The Handmaid’s Story” finale will lead into the plot of “The Testaments,” and what modifications will likely be made to the sequel collection from its supply materials — in addition to how he determined the place to finish June’s story.
I used to be so excited to see Alexis Bledel come again as her character Emily for the finale. How did that come about?
It was at all times understood, not less than for me, that I might do something if there was ever a time that it made sense to deliver her again. We liked her, and she or he liked being on the present. It was a logistical piece on the finish, since you solely have a sure variety of weeks to shoot it and it was crucial to me that she was in that a part of the present that was shot in Gilead the place June was again. As a result of her being again within the neighborhood meant loads much less in case you didn’t discover out what occurred to Emily. So it felt like she was half and parcel of that. But it surely wasn’t a tough determination in any respect, it simply felt just like the the tumbler that wanted to fall into place, however getting it to occur, as at all times, is harder.
I didn’t even notice till the ultimate strains triggered me to return and watch the pilot that your entire scene in entrance of the ice cream store can also be a scene from the pilot. The aquarium scenes with Hannah and Luke are one other reference to the pilot.
Within the novel, this was June’s story and she or he was the viewpoint, so that you solely knew what she knew, and that’s what made it scary. That’s what made it a narrative in any respect. It wouldn’t be a narrative in case you noticed it from 30,000 toes. It’s as a result of June doesn’t know what’s going to occur immediately or tomorrow or in that van or in that room or something. So it was vital to me to maintain it in that enviornment — that the present was her expertise. It’s referred to as “The Handmaid’s Story.” So what I used to be considering is, the place shall I begin and the place shall I finish?
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How are approaching “The Testaments” TV collection based mostly on the place you concluded “The Handmaid’s Story”? That e-book facilities on the tales of June’s daughters Hannah and Nichole, in addition to Aunt Lydia, however takes place 15 years after the occasions of “The Handmaid’s Story” e-book. Is that the time soar you’ll comply with?
No, it will probably’t actually be that, as a result of it covers Hannah when she’s form of in her 14, 15, 16-year-old years. So it’s about 5 years after “The Handmaid’s Story,” in all probability extra like three or 4, relying on how we choose — there’s at all times a bit of little bit of guesswork concerned, it’s not an actual world, nevertheless it’s someplace round three or 4 years after. And the most important and the one motive it’s any completely different is as a result of none of that stuff tracks age-wise. As a result of our present takes place over a sure timeframe, and infants solely develop over a sure timeframe, and other people aren’t simply the proper ages. Nichole is just not going to highschool, and so we needed to make modifications for that. However I’ve to say, Margaret got here to talk with me about “The Testaments” being an thought, and we spoke very early on in regards to the notion of it. There was simply as a lot of her giving me hints then.
So it looks like, now it’s important to pivot the present — however that pivoting occurred a very long time in the past, simply by discussions between me and her about, “That is the place I’m planning to go along with Aunt Lydia,” and she or he stated, “Oh, cool.” She was telling me what she needed to do, and I used to be considering of ways in which mine tracked with hers, however she was additionally asking questions in regards to the present and the place it could observe. So we had an extended, ongoing conversations. She wasn’t asking me for permission, by any means, however she was giving me perception into what I ought to do with the characters to place them in good stead naturally for “The Testaments.”
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What different characters would possibly you carry over into “The Testaments”?
Anyone who has an hour free, I might carry over, if I may handle to make it work. There are, after all, enterprise considerations, however story-wise, I believe a number of them match into “The Testaments” world. These are spectacular folks, they usually’re my buddies, they usually do their jobs fantastically, and I might be honored to have them come again and be a part of the story once more each time we are able to determine it out. They’re very related. I imply, it’s not like a sequel like another issues the place you’re simply chopping it off. The primary set of characters matter vastly to the second set of characters. So these tales are very tied collectively, and it’s very a lot a continuation of this “Handmaid’s Story” that we’ve seen. You’re simply following the daughter as an alternative of the mom.
How will June be referenced? Or Nick? In “The Testaments,” Nick has a special function inside Gilead versus how “The Handmaid’s Story” TV collection ends, so how does that have an effect on what your model will seem like?
We’ll definitely reference them, and convey it into reduction much more than it’s within the e-book, and earlier. As a result of the e-book is de facto targeted on on her life, Agnes and Lydia, and all these factors of view of their life, and solely does it come to bear on the finish. However I believe the place we’re and what we’re doing with the story, with a number of slight variations, they’re considering extra within the entrance of their minds, however characters are considering extra in regards to the specific individuals who made the modifications in the long run of the final collection. So I believe that June is way more current. And though Agnes doesn’t know within the story that that’s her mom, she’s telling a narrative on reflection in “The Testaments,” identical to “The Handmaid’s Story,” so that Agnes definitely is aware of the entire story. So her very unusual, very influential assortment of moms is an enormous a part of the story. It’s wonderful while you begin occupied with who the ladies are in her life who’ve influenced her, and, after all, she’s acquired a number of June in her, which suggests she’s large bother.
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Lots of people have had a tough time accepting Nick’s dying on the finish of Episode 9. There’s been a number of psychological gymnastics folks have made to be like, “He acquired a parachute, and he’s gonna come out of the aircraft and we’ll see him within the finale.” On high that, there’s additionally lots of people who wish to consider that he was in on that plan to explode the aircraft, that he knew about it, and he truly was a part of Mayday, like he’s within the e-book. So are you able to set the file straight on what Nick knew and didn’t and whose aspect he was on in the long run?
My sense of that is he at all times thought each aircraft he was going to get on to was going to explode. As a result of he knew, simply even when he wasn’t in with Mayday, he was an Eye, and he knew how sturdy they have been. And I believe daily, he typically thought it could be his final. I felt like Nick, when he acquired married and when his spouse acquired pregnant, he couldn’t be the person we needed him to be, that he was, that June liked, if he didn’t change his viewpoint to place his youngster first. And that’s what she tells him to do. She says, “Kids look to their fathers.” And I believe that if the selection is, actually, in all probability die combating or abandon your spouse and youngster, I can’t think about that he isn’t considering that is the safer route for shielding his household, is to remain in the established order. It’s transferring as much as be safer.
So to me, it didn’t have something to do with Mayday, actually, it simply needed to do with being an excellent man. That’s all he needed to attempt to be is an effective man. And as soon as he acquired married and put down roots in Gilead, I assumed, he actually has put in his lot. And he says very clearly, on the finish of Episode 9, “It’s good that you just be part of the winners.” He doesn’t say the proper folks. And that’s all that’s vital to him to guard his household, is that he’s on the successful aspect. As a result of June is just not together with her youngster, elevating her youngster. It’s a lot tougher. So to me, it was a pure development of the great man that he was, and in addition the great man that June form of pulled out of him, that he would by no means in one million years abandon his accountability to this son that’s coming into the world. That’s what I assumed. So he’s completely is aware of the potential for Mayday to kill him on a regular basis. And I believe he wasn’t shocked by a number of these things, that he may have stopped a ton of it, however he let all of it undergo. However I believe in the long run, I don’t assume he would’ve been shocked. He wouldn’t have been shocked if Lawrence had instructed him beforehand. And I believe he nonetheless would have gotten on the aircraft.
There’s a number of references made to Nick all through the episode as nicely with June wanting up over the storage and issues like that. I do know there wasn’t a ton of time to unpack her emotions surrounding his dying, however how a lot did you wish to incorporate that and the way she’s dealing and grieving by means of that?
Oh, completely. It will have been eight episodes about that, and I believe it’ll the following 25 years of her life. We did it as a lot as I assumed she can be coping with it at this stage, this near when it occurred. But it surely underlies your entire episode. It’s form of why she’s having bother deciding to inform the story or not, is there are folks like Nick, individuals who she was in love with and that is how that factor ended. A variety of her tales finish terribly, so do you inform them or not? And I believe Luke says, these individuals are wonderful, they usually can’t be misplaced to historical past, together with him. So I believe the mourning course of is simply starting. She liked each of those guys, however I believe she was in love with Nick on a extremely large degree and thru his faults and her faults, I believe they liked one another and at all times questioned what would have occurred in a special scenario. And I don’t assume that’s going to go away. I don’t assume there’s something within the episode that makes you assume June is wherever close to that. She’s about to let you know how she met him when the present ends. The subsequent factor she says is, “There was this sizzling man within the storage.”
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Going to the opposite sizzling man — Luke, and the way that ends for June. It’s left open ended, the place they plan to fulfill again up and are nonetheless working towards getting Hannah, however aren’t actively a pair. Why finish it that manner?
I believe they’ve modified it loads, and due to that, it actually did appear to be the one manner that they might finish responsibly, as a result of they’re not going to cease and get to know one another — though I believe they tried to do the brief model of that once they acquired collectively in Toronto. They’re realizing it’s going to be an extended, difficult relationship, nonetheless it finally ends up. And I like that the truth that they love one another has by no means been in query — it’s simply the very fact of whether or not their lives are going to be utterly collectively or partially collectively. He got here into his personal this season in a manner the place he felt like he wasn’t going to attempt to make another person’s life higher, he was going to do what he thought was proper and good for the world. He was actually residing his life for the folks round them and tried to maintain them glad, together with his daughter. However I believe right here he was considering, “If I’m not simply wanting round for somebody to be unhappy, what am I doing?”
Going again a number of episodes right here — this has been sitting with me since they introduced it up: Moira and June have been having a dialog about what Nick did to betray Mayday, they usually deliver up Angelina Jolie, Rihanna and Halle Berry. The place are these ladies, Bruce? If these folks exist on this universe, did they turn into Handmaids? Are they Marthas? The place’d they go? Did they get to Hawaii?
I wager all of them, all these folks, are good sufficient to get far, far-off. Completely. Rihanna would by no means be caught wherever close to this, or Angelina Jolie or Halle Berry. So I believe they completely are all in essentially the most stunning, most secure nation that they might probably discover.
Hopefully trying to avoid wasting us, nonetheless.
Hopefully trying to avoid wasting us, however I don’t assume any of these folks have been swept up within the horribleness. Thank God.
One of many brilliant spots within the finale is the alternate actuality scene June goals the place she is out with all of the Handmaids and Rita at a karaoke bar singing “Landslide.” In a packed finale, how did you determine that dream sequence ought to be included right here?
I used to be making an attempt to think about, actually, while you undergo a scenario like this, in the long run, what does June need? As a result of she doesn’t need issues again the best way they have been, as a result of then you definately don’t know Janine or Alma or Nick. So the large query right here is, what does she need? She lastly says, “I would like issues the best way they need to have been” — and ought to have been means you do know Janine, and also you do know Alma. So originally of the present within the first few seasons, June didn’t have any goals. She had reminiscences. The longer term was horrible. What would she dream about? She had reminiscences, and she or he would lay in mattress and take into consideration her daughter. Now, as we get to the very finish of the present within the final season, it’s the primary time we’ve got any goals within the present. And he or she has a dream originally of Hannah, after which she has a dream on this last episode and it was as a result of she has reached the purpose the place she’s dreaming once more, the place she has aspirations for the way the world ought to be in constructive methods, not simply bloody commanders all over the place. And in order that’s actually the tip, in some methods, this large a part of her life as a Handmaid, is when she may lastly dream once more.
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We don’t get a ton of Serena within the finale, however we do get closure for her, and we get forgiveness from June — which I really feel like may be very daring, and goes to be a controversial determination. Particularly as a result of two episodes prior, and from the start of the season, she stated, “No, I don’t forgive you. I don’t. How may I forgive you?” So why did she make that selection, and does she genuinely imply it? Or was she saying it as a result of she doesn’t assume she’s going to see Serena once more, and so let’s simply finish it this fashion?
I believe it was aspirational, like, “I hope I can imply this,” as a result of proper afterwards, she says, “It’s a must to begin someplace.” So I believe the concept is she’s probably not dedicated to embracing something about this girl, however she is prepared to let go of what ties them collectively, if she will be able to. And I believe that’s what it was about. It wasn’t extra about, “I’m not going to see you once more,” it’s, “I’m not going to have you ever as my horrible factor anymore. You’re going to go away. And I’ve numerous different issues to consider. I’ve a busy life. I’m accomplished with you, and so I’ve to forgive you, to allow you to go.” And it needs to be introduced up a number of occasions the place she’s considering, “I truly don’t fucking forgive you,” earlier within the season. And right here, occupied with it, it’s not, “You probably did one thing that was OK,” it’s, “I’m forgiving you.” Within the e-book, that’s one thing Margaret Atwood stated, is that’s what actual energy is — who will get to forgive who. In order that went again to “The Handmaid’s Story.”
Janine is alive. Janine is free. And Janine has Charlotte. And that’s all most individuals have been hoping for at a sure level by the tip of the collection. What motivated you to offer that one large glad ending to a personality who has been constantly overwhelmed down?
That was wonderful, and I believe we’ve been working in the direction of it for the entire season, by way of the puzzle items slowly coming collectively to let that factor that ought to have occurred so way back lastly, lastly occur. Lydia has been going by means of a really attention-grabbing arc that Ann Dowd has been taking part in for 2 or three seasons of reforming, at first to see Janine as a human, after which to see all her women, as she calls them, as people. I believe that that is the fruit that that every one bears, is lastly, on this season, Lydia places her cash the place her mouth is a number of occasions — and that is certainly one of them. And what I needed to indicate was that Lydia and, in a sure sense, Naomi [Ever Carradine], wasn’t going to let her die in there. When she acquired taken by the Eyes, they usually have been going to do one thing to her, Lydia was not going to let that occur. It’s such an emotional middle of the present, these two ladies.
But additionally Naomi has come a good distance by way of how a lot she believes within the Handmaid system, but in addition how a lot she believes within the stability of Gilead as a future for her daughter. And you’ll’t be a girl in Gilead and never take into consideration your daughter’s future, when you have a daughter. However I believe that Naomi specifically was at all times considering, “My daughter goes to finish up being on the high echelon of society,” like somebody like Agnes in “The Testaments,” and so she gained’t have very many worries. As that begins falling aside round her, she realizes that this youngster will likely be safer with Janine, and that Janine will do completely all the things to maintain this youngster and would lay down her life. So it felt like this pure development for the opposite characters, moreover Janine, in order that when Janine lastly actually wants assist, she’s laid this groundwork from Lydia, from the primary friggin episode of the tv present, that pays dividend to that second. And he or she plucks her out of there, and she or he does precisely what Janine instructed her to not do: “Depart me alone. Don’t trouble. Don’t butt in anymore. I’m high quality with out you. You simply fuck issues up. Don’t do something.” After which she did, and she or he acquired her out.
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The usage of “Look What You Made Me Do” (Taylor’s Model) in Episode 9 had Swifties going loopy. Followers have inspected a few of that scene and observed a personality shot solely from behind that’s strolling in such a manner they assume it’s Taylor Swift herself. Was that her? Did Taylor have a cameo?
I can’t say something. I’m not allowed to say something.
“Not allowed to say something”? Nicely, that makes the hypothesis worse!
All proper, I’m good at making issues worse — that’s how I make all of my cash.
How lengthy will or not it’s till we get to see “The Testaments”?
We’re nicely on our manner in the direction of making it. And we’re in the midst of manufacturing, and it’s such a pleasure. We introduced over so many individuals from “The Handmaid’s Story” that we may: the crew, and Elisabeth Moss and I are working collectively once more, and Warren [Littlefield] and Steve Stark, and Lauren [Thorpe] and all these folks all again collectively. It’s a pleasure to be doing that, and the standard of the work continues to be so wonderful that each time I’m blown away. So it’s coming a lot earlier than I believe the following season of “Handmaid’s” would have come, however we’re nicely into it, and it’s coming alongside simply splendidly. I believe it’ll be a number of — in the best way my present is a number of enjoyable, I believe it’ll be a number of enjoyable.
This interview has been edited and condensed.