Handmaid’s Tale The consequences of the Handmaid’s Tale’s season 4 climax have made the future of Serena Waterford unsettled.
The possibility of what could happen to Serena Joy Waterford in The Handmaid’s Tale, as Commander Fred Waterford is dead now, is a big mystery. In the penultimate episode of season 4 “Progress”, Fred decides to betray Gilead in exchange for his freedom. But it doesn’t go as expected because June Osborne with her influence on both sides of the border sets a trap for Fred, which eventually got Fred to be killed by June, Emily, and other Handmaids. The question of what will happen to Serena and her unborn son as Fred is dead now is still lingering among the fans.
Even though Serena would be welcomed as a hero back in Gilead, she can’t return to Gilead without Fred despite Naomi Putman’s assurance. She was pretty sure that without Fred’s protection, her son would be taken away and she maybe end in colonies or even be forced to become a Handmaid.
Strahovski’s conversation with Elle about her character as Serena has revealed that her character faces many threats, especially from June. “The knowledge that June was the one who ripped [Fred] apart, that’s the scary part for Serena. That’s the biggest threat. And if she goes out into the real world and gets released, especially if she gets to keep her baby, that’s the part that will constantly have her living in fear.”
Handmaid’s Tale: What is the price Serena has to pay for the death of Fred?
Without the defense of Fred, Serena could be brought to trial and her freedom may look far from guaranteed. Nevertheless, if Serena agrees to voice out all the Gilead’s dirty laundry, from the ‘wife of Commander’ perception, she can still prove herself as an asset. Serena has also accumulated some supporters in Canada through her effective public relations campaign who wants to see Serena free. Serena, even more, grows as a sympathetic figure among her patrons as she is a widow now. However, trouble-free life is not a course of the path for Serena.
Serena becoming a Handmaid is the most suitable ending for that character, Strahovski told Elle, despite the fact it would be the most expected outcome. June now can create something worse like separating Serena from her child, by either the legal ways or even by the vigilante method as she has done before.
As the fans want Serena to suffer, the most suitable way is to do that through her child. Serena was once a daunting adversary, she would be even more daunting when it comes to her child. Serena is now plotting for June as much as June plotting for Serena in Handmaid’s Tale season 5 and their relationship may become even more complex, tells the showrunner, Bruce Miller.
“There’s that absolute toe-to-toe, woman-to-woman venom, but also, what is the relationship between two women where one killed the other’s abuser?” Miller asked. Season 5 finally comes to a point where one questions what price Serena is willing to pay for her Motherhood?
