Who is the real villain in The Handmaid's Tale?

The "real" villain in The Handmaid's Tale is debated, with primary contenders being the systemic creators and enforcers: Serena Joy Waterford for her foundational role in designing Gilead's patriarchal structure, Aunt Lydia for her brutal indoctrination and torture of Handmaids, and Fred Waterford for embodying the misogynistic, power-hungry ideology of the regime.
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Who is the biggest villain in The Handmaid's Tale?

Commander Frederick Ronald "Fred" Waterford is one of the two main antagonists (alongside Serena Waterford) of the Hulu TV series The Handmaid's Tale, based on the 1985 novel of the same name.
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Did Nick really betray June?

Yes, in The Handmaid’s Tale Season 6, Episode 6 ("Surprise"), Nick betrays June by revealing the resistance's plan for a massacre of Commanders to Gilead leadership, as detailed in this YouTube video. While arguably done for survival and to protect his standing, this action shatters their trust, with Pajiba noting it effectively ends their romantic connection and acts as a "metaphorical" death for their relationship.
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Why did Nick turn bad?

But he became very disillusioned after witnessing Waterford's first Handmaid commit suicide, so much so that he joins the Eyes deceitfully as the only way to use Gilead's system against its own. Prior to Gilead, Nick appeared to be an outwardly emotional person.
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Who actually runs Gilead?

In The Handmaid's Tale, Gilead is ruled by a totalitarian, patriarchal council known as The Committee, composed of high-ranking Commanders of the Faithful. There is no single president or dictator; rather, it is a militaristic oligarchy or junta formed by the Sons of Jacob, with key leaders like Commander Lawrence or High Commander Winslow appearing influential at different times.
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The Handmaid’s Tale and Its Most Complicated Character

What commander is obsessed with Janine?

Commander Bell and Janine. His obsession with her is very disturbing, and I highly doubt he's just gonna be like "Oh well, that was fun while it lasted" just because Jezebel's got shut down.
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Is Rose Blaine pregnant?

After Nick reveals Rose's pregnancy to June, Rose is seen gathering with other wives while holding her belly and discussing her pregnancy.
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Who is the most powerful commander in The Handmaid's Tale?

Although Commander Winslow is brutal, and is generally depicted as being one of the most powerful Commanders, (in terms of both his title and his position in Washington, which is depicted as being much more tightly under the Sons of Jacob's control than other areas) his motivations are less complex or interesting than ...
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What disability does Nick's wife have?

She has a mobility disorder in real life known as Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. Nick Johnson affect. Effect is the noun. Not trying to be grammar police, but it's one that people often confuse.
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Who gets custody of Serena's baby?

Eventually, Noah gets put into foster care with Ryan Wheeler and Alanis Wheeler. The Wheelers watch and take care of Noah while Serena nurses and sends milk.
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What did they do to Moira's feet?

The Aunts tortured Moira by beating her feet with steel cables, the punishment for a first offense. The punishment for a second offense was beating the hands. Aunt Lydia reminded the women that hands and feet did not matter for their purpose.
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Who does Nick marry in Gilead?

Nick leaned into his role as a Gilead commander after that rejection out of a lack of any other safe path forward. He also had a son on the way with wife Rose (Carey Cox), the daughter of Commander Wharton.
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What happens to Serena's baby?

Serena Waterford’s baby, Noah, is born in a barn in Season 5 with June's help. He is temporarily separated from Serena when she is detained, placed in the care of the Wheelers, and later reunited with her. In the Season 5 finale, Serena and Noah escape and are last seen together on a train with June and her daughter Nichole.
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Who betrays June in the handmaid's Tale?

The writers of The Handmaid's Tale likely decided to have June's husband, Luke, remain a significant character while Nick, June's lover, betray due to the narrative's focus on complex moralities and the consequences of June's actions in Gilead. "He loved Gilead more.
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How did Serena know June killed Fred?

Serena Joy knew June killed Fred because June sent her a package containing Fred’s severed ring finger and his wedding ring, acting as a personal warning. This act confirmed June's involvement to Serena directly following Fred's death in the Season 4 finale "The Wilderness".
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Which commander is obsessed with Janine?

Watching this season, I thought to myself multiple times that these people who are obsessed with Janine, a.k.a. Aunt Lydia and Commander Bell, and make her their “special girl,” need to leave her the hell alone.
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Why do wives in Gilead wear green?

In The Handmaid's Tale, Wives typically wear shades of teal or blue (symbolizing the Virgin Mary) rather than green. Marthas (domestic servants) wear the olive-green uniforms, representing nurturing and domestic duties. The Wives' teal, however, can appear greener depending on the lighting, the shade of the fabric, or the, as discussed in this Reddit thread, varying "power" level of the wife.
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Are the Waterfords the leaders of Gilead?

Commander Fred Waterford was one of Gilead's first leaders and a high-ranking official. Married to Serena Joy Waterford, Fred is the head of the household and the Commander who will try to impregnate June.
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What disability does Rose Blaine have?

Rose Blaine (played by Carey Cox) in The Handmaid's Tale Season 5 is portrayed as having congenital hip dysplasia, which causes a noticeable limp and requires her to use a cane. As the daughter of a high-ranking Commander, she represents a rare instance of a visibly disabled person holding high status within Gilead.
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Is Nicole actually Nick's daughter?

Holly Osborne, temporarily named Nichole Waterford, and Nichole Holly Osborne, is the biological daughter of Nick Blaine and June Osborne.
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Who impregnated Janine?

It is rumoured that the real father of Janine's baby is not Commander Warren, but her doctor, due to Warren's infertility, and Warren's Wife secretly arranged this to get a child. Janine goes into labour and Offred, Ofglen and several other Handmaids attend the birth to support her.
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Why do they say blessed be the fruit?

In The Handmaid's Tale, "Blessed be the fruit" is a compulsory greeting used by Handmaids in Gilead to enforce religious subservience and reinforce their sole purpose: producing children. It acts as a polite, mandated reminder to focus on fertility—the "fruit" of the womb—and is usually met with the response: “May the Lord open”.
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How many years does Gilead exist?

In The Handmaid's Tale universe, the Republic of Gilead is estimated to have lasted approximately 20 to 22 years before its collapse. While the TV show highlights its initial, brutal years, the book's epilogue and The Testaments suggest a roughly two-decade lifespan ending with a return to a restored United States.
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What diseases does Gilead treat?

We helped transform HIV from a fatal disease to one that can be well managed, and we've helped cure millions of people with hepatitis C around the world. Our decades of research in emerging viruses allowed us to deliver the first approved treatment for COVID-19.
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