7 The Handmaid's Tale Season 5 Theories

Perhaps if June had left Fred's body to anonymously decompose in the appropriately named "No Man's Land," that would be the end of it. But June was never the type to go quietly. As fans saw in the season's final moments, Fred's body now hangs on the Wall, a warning to Gilead's Commanders. One theory is that his death will not be overlooked, at least not by the Canadian government or the ICC, who will see it as a new atrocity.

The question isn't whether June will be blamed for it, but when and how she responds to the charges. There's also the question of how much the guilt of what she did haunts her. Even if it was justice, that doesn't mean his death will rest well on her soul.

Fred’s death will be a significant turning point for Serena Joy as well, who has been trapped in an abusive relationship with him for years. On the one hand, this is going to be a major boon for her. She can use Fred’s actions to paint herself as a martyr and maybe even get the pardon he couldn’t swing, all without the actual nuisance of him being there.

But Fred’s manipulation of Serena hung on one emotional reality for her: She hates losing. And Fred’s death? That’s a win for June, and therefore a loss for Serena. That finger June sent her? That’s both a trophy and a taunt, since Serena lost her own finger when she stood up to Gilead. Fans are almost certain that whatever happens next season, Serena Joy will go to war against June.

Fred was spurred into action when he realized toward the end of Season 4 that Gilead didn’t give a damn about him rotting away in a Canadian prison. It wasn’t until he started singing like a canary to the American government about Gilead’s inner workings that they cared about him again, and then, it was only to shut him up permanently.

Gilead wanted Fred dead, and it seems they didn’t care how, which is why Nick had the freedom to let June and her crew take him down as they saw fit. But then they put his body on the Wall.

Fans have a feeling that’s going to be the step too far. Gilead is a country all about control — namely, the control of women. June humiliated one of their own with this act, showing women to be powerful. IDK if Gilead will allow that to stand.

Both Nick and Lawrence walked a tightrope throughout Season 4. They did not betray Gilead precisely, but their hearts weren’t with their country’s interests. Lawrence in particular had been playing a dangerous game in contacting June. He used Lydia to get back into the government’s good graces, but she knows too much about him and is willing to use it.

As for Nick, as the head of the Eyes, he is a powerful Commander. And because he runs the spy group, he’s got a leg up on those trying to dig into his choices. But Waterford turning up on that Wall is bound to raise uncomfortable questions. What fans want to know is whether Season 5 is when June’s habit of taking down those around her finally reaches these two.

Speaking of June’s abilities to alienate everyone around her, fans think next season might be the last straw for many of her supporters. When June was a prisoner of Gilead, people like Luke and Moira could support her without the pesky reality of what it is to live with a revolutionary. Now they live with a murderer. (Although, yes, she was already a murdered before she got to Canada, but this time they’re fully aware of this fact.)

Moira especially has been troubled by June’s willingness to let her anger drive her, and that her rage is reversing years of therapeutic work with other former Handmaids. In the dark, it wasn’t clear who was among those Handmaids who ripped Fred to shreds (aside from June and Emily), but it’s a good bet the others were also from the library where Moira led group therapy. With June threatening to take off again, I have a feeling it won’t be long until Moira tells Luke it’s better just to let her go, for everyone’s sake.

June is no longer directly affecting Aunt Lydia. The latter spent the better part of Season 4 trying to regain her stature lost after being sidelined due to Emily pushing her down the stairs. She, Janine, and Ester now form their own little storyline in Gilead, along with those like Aunt Ruth, who think Lydia needs to retire and get out of the way.

Although Fred’s death may have unforeseen consequences, any blowback Lawrence feels may hurt Lydia as well. Right now, the two are using each other to regain their leverage; if one goes down, so might the other.

But what fans are concerned about is how Janine and Esther fare under Lydia’s “protection.” If Lydia is taken out but those below, will they suffer too? Or will Moira and company try to rescue them, now that June has turned out to not be the perfect victim they needed?

The biggest issue come Season 5 might not be the Canadian government nor Gilead. There’s been a subplot building in the last few episodes of Fred and Serena Joy’s followers, their constituents, the true believers who want to see Gilead in Canada. As Luke noted in Episode 10 those folks include a few who are unbalanced, to the point where extra security has been sent to their house, just in case.

When those followers learn of Fred’s fate, they are likely going to respond strongly. The threats to June and those who are associated with her are going to rise. And god forbid Serena Joy turns the mob on them. If that happens, June will need to be long gone from Toronto. Moreover, Serena Joy could argue that means Nichole is safest with her.

Perhaps they should all start packing.