Curious what happens to Serena in The Handmaid’s Tale books? As season 6 moves toward its dramatic finale, many fans are looking for answers about Serena’s fate. With significant deviations from Margaret Atwood’s original Handmaid’s Tale book, the television series has taken Serena Joy Waterford’s character in unexpected directions. From her rigid, oppressive role in Gilead to a more nuanced, conflicted figure, her arc has captivated viewers.
Here’s everything you need to know about Serena, both in the books and the show.
What happens to Serena in The Handmaid’s Tale books?
In The Handmaid’s Tale book, Serena’s role remains mostly peripheral. The novel, which ends with Offred’s ambiguous escape from Gilead, offers no clear closure on Serena’s fate.
While Commander Waterford is implied to have been executed in a violent public punishment known as a particicution, Serena simply disappears from the narrative.
Without definitive details about Serena’s future, the book leaves her fate open-ended. This gave the showrunners creative liberty in expanding her character arc in The Handmaid’s Tale season 6 and beyond.
How Serena’s fate is different in The Handmaid’s Tale show
The TV adaptation greatly expands on Serena Joy’s journey. Throughout six seasons, Serena has evolved from a strict enforcer of Gilead’s rules to a deeply complex and morally conflicted character. Viewers have watched her face imprisonment, the loss of her husband Commander Fred Waterford, and the challenges of unexpected motherhood.
In season 6 of The Handmaid’s Tale, Serena raises her son Noah in New Bethlehem, a refuge for former Gilead citizens. Recent episodes have suggested a potential alliance or romantic tension between Serena and Commander Wharton. This adds uncertainty to Serena’s future. This also opens up new possibilities for Yvonne Strahovski’s character.
Unlike her limited role in The Handmaid’s Tale book, the show presents Serena as someone constantly forced to navigate between power and vulnerability. While her ultimate fate in the show remains unknown, it’s clear that the series intends to give her story a more defined and perhaps redemptive conclusion.
The Handmaid’s Tale Season 6 finale will air on May 27, 2025, on Hulu.
