Though Gilead took pride in its holiness, its land was soaked in blood. Over the six seasons of ‘The Handmaid’s Tale‘, we witnessed countless deaths. So many that we were almost left desensitized to the cruelty.
Yet, these are the 10 characters whose deaths we can never get out of our heads. Whether it was at the hand of Gilead or by pure accident, these goodbyes were unforgettably brutal.
10. Eleanor Lawrence
The Lawrence family was one example of how Gilead’s tyranny hurt everyone, even those who were at the top. During her time at their household, June had formed a bond with Eleanor, who, unlike her husband, was a genuinely good person.
Yet, it was painfully clear that her mental health had declined into pieces. Whether it was out of mercy or fear of ruining her escape plan, when June found her on the brink of death from an overdose of medication, she had to make the decision to leave her to die.
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9. Mr. Whitford
Though appearing only briefly, Mr. Whitford had a very crucial role in June and Luke’s escape plan, and we will forever remember him for that. After helping them prepare to flee the country, he simply disappeared.
Later, we learn that he was executed by Gilead and left hanging from a street lamp. His death was one of the earliest flashbacks of Gilead’s formation, revealing the vicious nature of the regime and how far it was willing to go to maintain control.
8. Joseph Lawrence
Though he was morally dubious at best, Commander Lawrence’s last sacrifice was truly tragic. He finally met his end in a selfless act to help overthrow Gilead’s leadership. Despite knowing full well that he wouldn’t be able to leave, Lawrence decided to carry on with the plan of planting a bomb on the plane carrying the remaining high-ranking commanders.
Till the end, he deeply regretted Gilead’s atrocities and died with the hope that June would be able to create a better society.
7. Fred Waterford
Fred Waterford’s death was the polar opposite of tragic but undeniably brutal in the most satisfying way. Watching him smugly leave the detention center knowing that he would get away with everything once again, only for him to end up in Nick’s hand, was pure perfection.
Faced with June, Nick, Emily, and a slew of former Handmaids, he was beaten to death with their bare hands. June’s final act of rebellion against her tormentor was to cut off his finger and send it to his wife, Serena Joy.
6. Martha 6715-301
Though we never get to learn her name, her death will always linger in our minds. Arrested for being “gender traitors,” the scene where we get to see Emily and this Martha holding their hands together while looking into each other’s eyes, knowing what will come next, was one of the most heartbreaking scenes in the whole series.
Even though they knew their fate, nothing could have prepared Emily to watch the woman she loved be hanged right in front of her eyes.
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5. Eden
When Eden and Isaac’s tragic love story met its end, we were all brought to tears. Being forced to be a bride for Nick, Eden was clearly still just a child. Her sole comfort came from her relationship with Issac, which was also snatched away.
The two were unsuccessful in their attempt to escape and were given death sentences. Though Eden was given an opportunity to renounce her sins, the fact that she chose to die for love rather than stay alive to serve revealed the heartbreaking truth of Gilead’s future generation.
4. Alma and Brianna
Alma and Brianna’s loss was truly senseless and shocking. After being recaptured in season 4 along with June and Janine, it was evident that they would do anything to get back their freedom. And they seized that chance by overpowering Aunt Lydia.
The girls ran across the tracks, only to realize that two of their friends never made it. Alma and Brianna were hit by an oncoming train, an utterly tragic end for the characters who had to endure so much worse.
3. Beth and Sienna
Beth and Sienna were two of the bravest people in the whole show, and June’s encounter with these two Marthas was unforgettable. Determined to know the locations of other escaped Handmaids, the two were dragged to the rooftop and made to stand at the edge.
Their fate was clear—either they give over the information or die. And both chose the latter without any hesitation. But still, for all of their bravery, their death by being carelessly thrown off the side of the building was devastating.
2. Natalie
After learning that she was the one who tattled to Aunt Lydia, all the handmaids shunned and even mocked Natalie. Once she got to know that she was pregnant for the fourth time, she was left in a fragile mental state. The thought of giving up another baby finally made her snap, and she grabbed a guard’s gun, aiming it straight at June and Aunt Lydia, only to be shot through the shoulder.
Though her death was horrifying, it was the aftermath that left us completely shocked. In the following episode, we see that June is made to sit vigil with Natalie. She had been left in a coma, only long enough till they could take her baby once again.
1. Nick
Though it felt like a big betrayal for fans of the book, Nick had to meet his death in the penultimate episode, along with the last surviving high-ranking commanders of Gilead. June’s silent screams mirrored ours, as neither she nor Lawrence could prevent Nick from walking into his demise.
Throughout the series, we never got to understand where his loyalty truly lies. But, in his final moments, we got to see him for who he really was—a scared and helpless victim of his circumstances.
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