The WORST episodes of The Handmaid's Tale

Every episode of The Handmaid's Tale ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst episodes of The Handmaid's Tale!

In a dystopian near-future, the totalitarian and Christian-fundamentalist government of Gilead rules the former United States amidst an ongoing civil war and subjugates women, who are not allowed to work, control money, or even read. Widespread infertility due to environmental contamination has resulted in the conscription of young fertile women—called Handmaids, according to biblical precedent—who are assigned to the homes of the elite, where they must have ritualized sex with the men in order to become pregnant and bear children for those men and their wives.

Last Updated: 6/10/2025Network: HuluStatus: Ended
The Handmaid's Tale
star
6.91
656 votes

#1 - The Handmaid's Tale

Season 6 - Episode 10 - Aired 5/27/2025

June faces the ultimate reckoning with her past in Gilead. She must make a choice: embrace the peace she's found or continue her fight against the regime that took everything from her. Her decision will ripple through the lives of everyone she holds dear.

Directors: Elisabeth Moss
Writer: Bruce Miller
Promotion
star
7.07
717 votes

#2 - Promotion

Season 6 - Episode 4 - Aired 4/15/2025

June makes a shocking move that threatens to derail the rebellion's careful planning. Meanwhile, Commander Lawrence's influence grows as he climbs higher within Gilead's power structure.

Directors: Natalia Leite
Heroic
star
7.27
2561 votes

#3 - Heroic

Season 3 - Episode 9 - Aired 7/17/2019

Confined in a hospital, June’s sanity begins to fray. An encounter with Serena Joy forces June to reassess her recent actions.

Directors: Daina Reid
Watch Now:Apple TV
Devotion
star
7.33
714 votes

#4 - Devotion

Season 6 - Episode 3 - Aired 4/8/2025

June struggles to save her loved ones. Meanwhile, Commander Lawrence welcomes diplomats to New Bethlehem, and Aunt Lydia searches for Janine.

Directors: David Lester
Exile
star
7.37
752 votes

#5 - Exile

Season 6 - Episode 2 - Aired 4/8/2025

June embarks on a challenging journey as she attempts to forge a new life in an unfamiliar community, while Serena seeks a sanctuary.

Directors: Elisabeth Moss
Writer: J. Holtham
Morning
star
7.43
1482 votes

#6 - Morning

Season 5 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/14/2022

June confronts the consequences of killing Fred. A scared Serena makes an unexpected decision.

Directors: Elisabeth Moss
Writer: Bruce Miller
Watch Now:Apple TV
Fairytale
star
7.43
1293 votes

#7 - Fairytale

Season 5 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/5/2022

June and Luke embark on a dangerous quest. Serena gets to know her new hosts.

Directors: Eva Vives
Writer: J. Holtham
Watch Now:Apple TV
Train
star
7.47
838 votes

#8 - Train

Season 6 - Episode 1 - Aired 4/8/2025

June and Serena find themselves thrown together on a dangerous journey as refugees fleeing an increasingly hostile Toronto. Moira faces a life-changing choice that could alter the resistance forever.

Directors: Elisabeth Moss
Dear Offred
star
7.49
1330 votes

#9 - Dear Offred

Season 5 - Episode 4 - Aired 9/28/2022

June fights her need for violent revenge as Serena settles into her new role in Toronto. Rattled by Janine, Aunt Lydia makes a surprising suggestion to Lawrence.

Directors: Dana Gonzales
Watch Now:Apple TV
Surprise
star
7.52
679 votes

#10 - Surprise

Season 6 - Episode 6 - Aired 4/29/2025

When danger forces June to hide in the most unexpected of places, she must face new challenges that test her survival skills and judgment. One false move could change everything.

Directors: Natalia Leite
Writer: Aly Monroe
Watch Now:Apple TV
Janine
star
7.54
678 votes

#11 - Janine

Season 6 - Episode 5 - Aired 4/22/2025

June and Moira undertake a perilous undercover mission that tests their courage and resourcefulness. At the same time, both Serena and Nick face critical crossroads, making decisions that could have lasting consequences for everyone involved.

Directors: Natalia Leite
Writer: Ubah Mohamed
Allegiance
star
7.54
1275 votes

#12 - Allegiance

Season 5 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/2/2022

June and Luke prepare for a rescue mission. Serena tries new tactics with her oppressive hosts. Lawrence makes a surprising proposal to elevate his status.

Directors: Bradley Whitford
Writer: Eric Tuchman
Watch Now:Apple TV
Border
star
7.57
1338 votes

#13 - Border

Season 5 - Episode 3 - Aired 9/21/2022

June and Moira join a rebel outpost. As a pregnant widow, Serena tries to restore her status. Aunt Lydia questions her strict methods of dealing with Handmaids.

Directors: Dana Gonzales
Writer: Aly Monroe
Watch Now:Apple TV
Shattered
star
7.57
661 votes

#14 - Shattered

Season 6 - Episode 7 - Aired 5/6/2025

In this emotional episode, June's world is turned upside down by a stunning discovery, pushing her to the brink as she grapples with its devastating implications.

Directors: Daina Reid
Offred
star
7.58
7160 votes

#15 - Offred

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 4/26/2017

Offred, one the few fertile women known as Handmaids in the oppressive Republic of Gilead, struggles to survive as a reproductive surrogate for a powerful Commander and his resentful wife.

Directors: Reed Morano
Writer: Bruce Miller
Watch Now:Apple TV
Milk
star
7.59
1728 votes

#16 - Milk

Season 4 - Episode 4 - Aired 5/5/2021

June takes a harrowing journey with Janine, trying to escape Gilead, as Janine remembers a stressful experience in her past. In Toronto, Serena tries to manipulate Rita, who seeks advice from Moira.

Directors: Christina Choe
Watch Now:Apple TV
Vows
star
7.63
1731 votes

#17 - Vows

Season 4 - Episode 6 - Aired 5/19/2021

After a shocking reunion with a dear friend, June contemplates the possibility of freedom, and confronts the unfulfilled promises she’s made to herself and to Luke.

Directors: Richard Shepard
Watch Now:Apple TV
Pigs
star
7.64
1807 votes

#18 - Pigs

Season 4 - Episode 1 - Aired 4/27/2021

On the run, an injured June and the fugitive Handmaids find refuge at a farm, where the 14-year-old Wife nurses June back to health. June restores her role as the women’s leader. In Gilead, an imprisoned Lawrence tries to avoid a death sentence, and Aunt Lydia reels from the loss of 86 children on Angels’ Flight. The combative Waterfords, in custody in Toronto, learn of June’s feat.

Directors: Colin Watkinson
Writer: Bruce Miller
Watch Now:Apple TV
Under His Eye
star
7.65
2589 votes

#19 - Under His Eye

Season 3 - Episode 7 - Aired 7/3/2019

June escalates her risky efforts to find Hannah. Emily must face her past crimes as the ongoing international diplomatic crisis becomes more complicated. Serena and Fred contemplate their future in Washington.

Directors: Mike Barker
Watch Now:Apple TV
Other Women
star
7.65
3752 votes

#20 - Other Women

Season 2 - Episode 4 - Aired 5/9/2018

A baby shower provokes a troubling shift in Offred’s relationship with Serena Joy. Offred reckons with the choice she made that led her to become a Handmaid.

Directors: Kari Skogland
Writer: Bruce Miller
Watch Now:Apple TV
Mary and Martha
star
7.65
2833 votes

#21 - Mary and Martha

Season 3 - Episode 2 - Aired 6/5/2019

June helps Marthas with a dangerous task while navigating a relationship with her pious and untrustworthy new walking partner. Emily and Luke struggle with their altered circumstances.

Directors: Mike Barker
Writer: Kira Snyder
Watch Now:Apple TV
Faithful
star
7.66
5210 votes

#22 - Faithful

Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 5/10/2017

Serena Joy makes Offred a surprising proposition. Offred remembers the unconventional beginnings of her relationship with her husband.

Directors: Mike Barker
Watch Now:Apple TV
Birth Day
star
7.67
5877 votes

#23 - Birth Day

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 4/26/2017

Offred and her fellow Handmaids assist with the delivery of Janine’s baby, prompting Offred to recall her own daughter’s birth. Offred draws closer to Ofglen while dreading a secret meeting with the Commander.

Directors: Reed Morano
Writer: Bruce Miller
Watch Now:Apple TV
Jezebels
star
7.68
5067 votes

#24 - Jezebels

Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 5/31/2017

The Commander surprises Offred with a secret adventure in Gilead. Nick’s troubled past leads to his recruitment by the Sons of Jacob.

Directors: Kate Dennis
Writer: Kira Snyder
Watch Now:Apple TV
Useful
star
7.69
2734 votes

#25 - Useful

Season 3 - Episode 3 - Aired 6/5/2019

June navigates a meeting where she must face both Commander Waterford and Nick. Serena Joy attempts to recuperate at her mother’s home. Lawrence teaches June a hard lesson about the difficult decisions he makes as a Commander.

Directors: Amma Asante
Writer: Yahlin Chang
Watch Now:Apple TV