Handmaid’s Tale star teases darker season 6 ahead of series finale

Madeline Brewer has opened up about her character Janine’s evolution as The Handmaid’s Tale approaches its final episodes. In interviews with The Hollywood Reporter and CBR, Brewer said Season 6 takes a noticeably darker turn, especially as Janine is forced into a brothel in Gilead.

“We turned it a bit darker this season,” Brewer told THR, referencing the series’ depiction of life in a Jezebel setting. Despite the grim context, she noted an unexpected shift: “Ironically, I think it’s some of the most freedom Janine has had within the walls of Gilead.”

Janine, who has endured trauma since Season 1—including physical punishment and emotional loss—remains a symbol of survival. Brewer pointed to Janine’s protective instincts and her clinging to a drawing from her daughter as signs of her enduring spirit. “You can make a life out of that, in Janine's eyes,” she said.

In her conversation with CBR, Brewer reflected on Janine’s full arc, calling it “a 360 from where we first meet her in Season 1.” She explained that Janine’s strong spirit never disappeared—it simply took a different form.

The Handmaid’s Tale, which debuted in 2017, concludes this month on Hulu. A sequel series based on Margaret Atwood’s The Testaments is currently in development.