The Handmaid’s Tale’s Long-Awaited Deadly Rebellion Is Here — But How Was Taylor Swift Involved?

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The Handmaid’s Tale has finally entered its phase of rebellion — but in what way did Taylor Swift play a part?

Caution: Spoilers ahead for the latest episode of The Handmaid’s Tale:

In the second-to-last episode of the popular series on Hulu, which aired on Tuesday, May 20, June (Elisabeth Moss) and her fellow resistance members launched an assault on Gilead with Swift’s “Look What You Made Me Do” accompanying their fight for vengeance. However, the excitement around their long-anticipated attack was short-lived, as June and the group were quickly apprehended.

June, Moira (Samira Wiley), Janine (Madeline Brewer), and other revolutionaries, along with Aunt Lydia (Ann Dowd), faced the grim fate of execution in a public display — with June almost hanging to death — until Luke (O-T Fagbenle) and the Mayday team intervened. This intervention resulted in the demise of many high-ranking commanders, with Commander Wharton (Josh Charles) being one of the few who managed to flee. With Wharton, Nick (Max Minghella), and other prominent figures within Gilead still at large, June successfully persuaded Serena (Yvonne Strahovski) to disclose the gathering plans of the commanders. This set the stage for another questionable alliance between June and Commander Lawrence (Bradley Whitford), who was willing to sacrifice himself to dismantle the hierarchy of Gilead.

Lawrence boarded the plane with Wharton and the other commanders, fully aware that he would not survive the journey. In a surprising turn of events, Nick boarded the flight as well, even though he had initially intended to stay behind. June watched helplessly as her former partner entered the aircraft, knowing it would explode shortly after takeoff. The closing moment of the episode featured June gazing at the wreckage.

There is only one episode remaining before The Handmaid’s Tale concludes after six seasons on Hulu. Coshowrunners Yahlin Chang and Eric Tuchman shared some insights with Us Weekly regarding the series finale.

“I believe viewers can expect a truthful end to the narrative. We continually refer to it as honest because we strive to keep it grounded,” Tuchman remarked. “What transpires in real life — and what we hope resonates with the audience — is a sense of hopefulness and resilience that June and several other characters have shown and will continue to show in the final episodes.”

He added: “When confronted with a tyrannical regime and the erosion of your rights, the fight never ceases. You persist. We hope viewers will find a sense of optimism and feel empowered by the unfolding events.”

The Testaments, taking place 15 years later, is narrated by Aunt Lydia, drawing viewers back into the dystopian reality. Fans will witness characters like Agnes from Gilead and Daisy from Canada as they covertly assemble and smuggle vital intelligence regarding Gilead's regime out of the nation. Agnes and Daisy disguise themselves as “Pearl Girls” to infiltrate Canada, while Aunt Lydia serves as a secret informant within Gilead.

"While I was unable to proceed with Offred's narrative, I can share the experiences of three other individuals involved in these events and recount the story of the commencement of the decline, as we learn from The Handmaid’s Tale that Gilead ultimately ceases to exist," Atwood shared with reporters during a 2019 event. "It no longer exists 200 years in the future, as they are hosting a symposium about it. What led to its downfall? How do such regimes fade away? I found it intriguing to delve into that."

She added: "This book introduces some fresh costume selections. Throughout history, people have always been fond of clothing that conveys identity, such as sports teams, and so forth. Therefore, yes, we feature some new attire."

The Handmaid’s Tale is broadcast on Tuesdays, and new episodes are available for streaming on Hulu.