5 Theories About The Fate Of Baby Noah On The Handmaid's Tale

Before June took Serena to the hospital, Serena claimed June she was an avenging angel from God. She also said she believed June was sent to her to take the baby, that June and Luke will raise the child to be a better person.

At the time, June rejected this framing, saying she would save Serena’s life for the sake of her child, who deserved his mother. But with Serena imprisoned and the baby now a loose end, it might be best for June to change her mind. She and Luke could take in Noah and raise him as their own, as Serena wished.

In addition to their daughter, Hannah, who is still in need of rescue back in Gilead, Luke and June already have a baby to raise: Nichole. Nichole is being raised in a group setting, with Moira and Rita pitching in to help. They may not have the time or funds to afford to take on another baby.

But plenty of former handmaids in June’s circle lost their children and would likely jump at the chance of taking one from a former wife like Serena Joy. June could easily find someone willing to step up and adopt Noah, ensuring he would be raised right.

Serena ended the episode begging June for help and not to let her baby be taken away, but that doesn’t mean June will automatically get the child. There’s another couple who are going to be dead-set on taking this baby — a couple who has political clout and money to burn: The Wheelers.

A custody battle over Noah between the Wheelers and Serena, with June doing the fighting for the latter, would certainly be an ironic twist for the show.

The Wheelers aren’t the only ones who might swoop in and deny June a say in Noah’s fate. Should June hesitate —because Luke was the one who called immigration or because he thinks it’s justice to have Serena lose her child — Noah could easily be deep in the system by the time she acts, if she acts (let’s face it, she’s gonna eventually act).

Also, the Canadian government might not be keen to give the child to a former Gilead resident who waves handguns around in public, or to a person who is suspected of murdering the baby’s father — just to name a couple of arguments against June.

This is probably the outcome viewers want most, strange as that may seem. The experience in the barn changed Serena and June’s relationship irrevocably. (And poor Luke will feel like he was hit with whiplash when he discovers this.)

Serena isn’t wrong in seeing June as some angel, whether avenging or otherwise. She’s determined to do the right thing, and she knows Noah belongs with Serena. Her determination to show how much better she is than those in Gilead will drive her to do everything she can to reunite mother and child. After five seasons, audiences know when June decides to do something, everyone better get out of the way.