If you've been biting your nails since that season 5 cliffhanger, you aren't alone. Watching June and Serena end up on the same train felt like a fever dream. Now, everyone is asking the same big question: how many episodes of season 6 of handmaid's tale are we actually getting to wrap this whole thing up?
The Final Count: How Many Episodes of Season 6 of Handmaid's Tale?
Basically, Hulu decided to keep things lean and mean for the grand finale. The Handmaid's Tale Season 6 consists of exactly 10 episodes. That might feel a bit short if you remember the middle seasons (specifically 2 and 3) having 13 episodes each. But honestly? It matches the pacing of the most recent seasons. The showrunners seem to prefer the 10-episode format lately. It keeps the tension high without too much "filler" of June staring intensely into the camera—though we know we'll still get plenty of that.
The season premiered on April 8, 2025, with a three-episode drop. After that, it moved to a weekly release. If you're looking for the names of the chapters to see if they hint at the ending, here is how the final run looks:
- Episode 1: "Train" (April 8)
- Episode 2: "Exile" (April 8)
- Episode 3: "Devotion" (April 8)
- Episode 4: "Promotion" (April 15)
- Episode 5: "Janine" (April 22)
- Episode 6: "Surprise" (April 29)
- Episode 7: "Shattered" (May 6)
- Episode 8: "Exodus" (May 13)
- Episode 9: "Execution" (May 20)
- Episode 10: "The Handmaid's Tale" (May 27)
That final title is a bit of a gut punch, right? Using the show's name for the series finale usually means we're coming full circle.
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Why the 10-episode limit matters
Bruce Miller, the original showrunner who stepped back slightly to work on The Testaments spin-off, has always been pretty vocal about not wanting to overstay his welcome. Yahlin Chang and Eric Tuchman took the reins as co-showrunners for this final stretch. By sticking to 10 episodes, they’ve forced the narrative to move fast. There’s no room for subplots that go nowhere. Every minute has to count toward June’s endgame.
Elisabeth Moss, who directed the first episode "Train" (and several others this season), mentioned in interviews that this year feels "wild." When you only have 10 hours left to dismantle a totalitarian regime, things have to get messy.
What happens in these episodes?
Without giving away every single spoiler, the season picks up right in the chaos. June is headed toward Hawaii (or so she thinks) with Nichole, but Serena Joy is right there with Noah. It’s an awkward reunion, to say the least.
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Meanwhile, back in Gilead, things are falling apart. Commander Lawrence is trying to push his "New Bethlehem" plan, but the other Commanders aren't exactly known for their progressive vibes. We also see the return of Josh Charles, who plays a new character named Commander Wharton. He’s... well, he’s not a good guy.
We see a lot of focus on the "Aunts" this season too. Aunt Lydia (the legendary Ann Dowd) is finally starting to crack. After what happened to Janine in season 5, Lydia's loyalty to the system she helped build is under a microscope.
Key themes to watch for:
- The Resistance: Mayday isn't just a whisper anymore. It’s a full-on insurgency.
- Motherhood: The parallel between June and Serena is the heart of the show now. They’re both mothers trying to survive a world they both, in different ways, helped create.
- The Testaments: Because we know a sequel series is coming, keep an eye out for hints about the future. Characters like Aunt Lydia and Hannah (Agnes) are central to the next book, so their arcs here are basically a bridge to that story.
Where to watch and how to catch up
If you haven't started yet, you're lucky because you can binge the whole thing. In the US, it’s a Hulu exclusive. If you’re in the UK, Channel 4 and Prime Video are your best bets, though the release dates usually trail a few weeks behind the American schedule.
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Honestly, the best way to watch is probably one or two episodes at a time. It’s heavy stuff. Always has been. But since this is the end of June’s specific journey, seeing it play out over those 10 weeks (or 10 hours) is the closure we’ve been waiting for since 2017.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check your subscription: Ensure your Hulu or Disney+ (via the bundle) is active so you don't miss the finale "The Handmaid's Tale" on May 27.
- Re-watch the Season 5 Finale: Specifically the last 10 minutes. The dynamic on the train is crucial for understanding why Episode 1 of Season 6 starts so tensely.
- Read "The Testaments": If you want to know where the universe goes after the credits roll on Season 6, Margaret Atwood's sequel novel is basically the blueprint for what's coming next.