With filming delays since 2020, The Handmaid’s Tale has been on an irregular schedule, with two years between Seasons 3 and 4 and 18 months between Seasons 4 and 5. Let’s recap what happened in The Handmaid’s Tale Season 4 to jog everyone’s memories.

June

June began at the Keyes' farm, where she radicalized teen Wife, Esther. Recaptured by Lydia, she escaped to Chicago before fleeing to Canada. There, she testified against the Waterfords, but they cut a deal. In revenge, she slaughtered Fred, aided by ex-Handmaids.

Janine

Janine, Alma, Brianna, and Dolores were captured at the Keyes’ farm. While fleeing, all but Janine were hit by a train. In Chicago, she shacked up with Resistance leader Steve for protection. When Chicago fell, she became Lydia's pet and broke Esther into Handmaid service.

Moira

On a mercy mission to provide aid to Chicago with her new girlfriend Oona, Moira ran into June and smuggled her to Canada. It cost Moira her relationship, but she supported June through the trial. But when June called for revenge in group therapy, Moira was horrified.

Luke & Nichole

Reunited with June, Luke discovered himself married to a radicalized weapon against oppression. He tried to stand by and understand June’s relationship with Nick as Nichole’s bio-dad. But her revenge against Fred Waterford may be the last straw.

Emily

Struggling with her new life, Emily is confronted by Aunt Irene, who initially reported Emily and her Martha lover. Irene begged for forgiveness. Emily followed June’s revenge lead and refused, only to learn Irene hung herself in despair. Emily will not return this season.

Rita

The Martha charged with getting June’s bounty of kids to Canada, Rita was unsure what to do with her newfound freedom. Her religious devotion didn’t fit. Then again, neither did the kids she returned to parents they don’t remember in a world they do not recognize.

Aunt Lydia

Lydia managed to capture June, only to lose her again. More importantly, Lydia discovered she was no longer in charge, with more ambitious Aunts coming up behind her. She made a pact with Lawrence to get herself back in power, only to land Janine as her prisoner.

Nick

After telling her he was being sent to Chicago, Nick conquered the territory and returned to Gilead’s capital. Having risen in the ranks, he used his newfound power to sway the other Commanders to make choices that would secretly help June bring Gilead down.

Joseph

Joseph spent most of the season secretly helping June, working with Nick to throw Fred under the bus and make choices to work with June’s plan. He even got Lydia to help in exchange for solving her problems and set Fred up for June’s revenge.

Mark

The American diplomat tried to work with June, but his practical nature did not fit with her iconoclasm. Trying his best to handle Fred’s plea deal, he took Joseph’s offer to exchange Fred for 22 handmaids’ freedom, never knowing he was sending Waterford to be murdered.

Serena Joy

Serena Joy spent most of the season being serenely pregnant at Fred’s side, knowing full well she was letting him use and abuse her but unable to give up the power being his wife gave her. Fred’s passing will free her and set her and June up for a showdown.

Fred

Fred’s dead, baby.

Fred’s dead.

The Handmaid’s Tale Season 5 arrives with two episodes on Sept. 14, 2022. It will then run on a weekly release schedule with one new episode streaming every Wednesday on Hulu.