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: 5/6/2025Network: HuluStatus: Continuing
Promotion
star
7.09
459 votes

#1 - 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
Watch Now:Amazon
Heroic
star
7.26
2569 votes

#2 - 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:AmazonApple TV
Shattered
star
7.33
33 votes

#3 - Shattered

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

After a shocking revelation, June spirals. Serena plans for a prestigious future.

Watch Now:Amazon
Devotion
star
7.44
459 votes

#4 - Devotion

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

June races against time to protect her loved ones. Lawrence makes strategic moves, while Lydia's search for Janine reveals unexpected consequences.

Directors: David Lester
Watch Now:Amazon
Morning
star
7.44
1454 votes

#5 - 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:AmazonApple TV
Fairytale
star
7.44
1280 votes

#6 - 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:AmazonApple TV
Exile
star
7.45
503 votes

#7 - 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
Watch Now:Amazon
Dear Offred
star
7.50
1311 votes

#8 - 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:AmazonApple TV
Allegiance
star
7.55
1253 votes

#9 - 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:AmazonApple TV
Train
star
7.56
574 votes

#10 - 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
Watch Now:Amazon
Offred
star
7.58
7199 votes

#11 - 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:AmazonApple TV
Border
star
7.59
1315 votes

#12 - 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:AmazonApple TV
Milk
star
7.59
1719 votes

#13 - 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:AmazonApple TV
Janine
star
7.59
408 votes

#14 - Janine

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

June and Moira go undercover. Serena and Nick make consequential choices.

Directors: Natalia Leite
Writer: Ubah Mohamed
Watch Now:Amazon
Surprise
star
7.60
351 votes

#15 - Surprise

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

June hides in an unexpected place.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Vows
star
7.64
1718 votes

#16 - 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:AmazonApple TV
Pigs
star
7.64
1793 votes

#17 - 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:AmazonApple TV
Mary and Martha
star
7.65
2835 votes

#18 - 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:AmazonApple TV
Under His Eye
star
7.65
2586 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:AmazonApple TV
Other Women
star
7.65
3769 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:AmazonApple TV
Faithful
star
7.67
5240 votes

#21 - 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:AmazonApple TV
Birth Day
star
7.67
5908 votes

#22 - 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:AmazonApple TV
Jezebels
star
7.69
5094 votes

#23 - 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:AmazonApple TV
Nolite Te Bastardes Carborundorum
star
7.70
5334 votes

#24 - Nolite Te Bastardes Carborundorum

Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 5/3/2017

Punished by Serena Joy, Offred begins to unravel and reflects on her time with Moira at the Red Center. A complication during the Ceremony threatens Offred’s survival with the Commander and Serena Joy.

Directors: Mike Barker
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Useful
star
7.70
2737 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:AmazonApple TV