We Solved The Whole Misogyny Fascism Thing

Bradley Whitford, who portrays Commander Lawrence in The Handmaid’s Tale, recently offered a humorous tease on the hit Hulu series’ upcoming sixth and final season. Based on Margaret Atwood’s novel, Whitford’s Commander Lawrence is a founding member of Gilead, but he’s frequently undermined the totalitarian regime by working with June Osborne (Elisabeth Moss). At the end of season 5, Lawrence introduced a plan to reopen the country’s borders, particularly to banished traitors and runaway handmaidens. The Handmaid’s Tale season 6, set to premiere on April 8, will mark the end of June’s battle against the oppressive theocracy.

In an interview with ScreenRant‘s Liam Crowley at SXSW for his film For Worse, Whitford shared that the finale of The Handmaid’s Tale has “solved the whole misogyny fascism thing” as the series wraps up production. His character’s true intentions for Gilead remain elusive, but as June is once again separated from Luke Bankole (O-T Fangbenle), Commander Lawrence could be a powerful ally in her takedown of Gilead. Read what he had to say below:

I won’t say the ending, but we just wrapped up. Obviously, it’s a dark show, but it was such a joyous, weirdly sweet set, and a really wonderfully creative, interactive experience. It’s a show I’m really proud of. I love that part, and it was really hard to say goodbye to everybody. But we solved the whole misogyny fascism thing. Our work was done.

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It’s unclear whether The Handmaid’s Tale will really find an easy solution to the whole “misogyny fascism thing.” Given that its sequel series, The Testaments, continues to follow several of the Handmaid’s Tale characters and their takedown of the weakened regime a few decades into the future, it’s unlikely that June is successful in bringing the regime down for good. Although it remains a fascist state, Canada has turned into a potential ally for Gilead, thanks to a successful propaganda campaign by Serena Joy Waterford.

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While Lawrence has worked to reshape Gilead’s image on the world stage—through initiatives like New Bethlehem, a supposed sanctuary for exiled refugees and presumed enemies of the state—his real motivations remain murky. Lawrence’s New Bethlehem plan could further this PR push, leading to greater numbers of Canadians sympathizing with Gilead’s ideology and making June’s fight even more urgent. Nonetheless, she may have no choice but to align herself with the morally complex Commander to dismantle Gilead from within.

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The Handmaiden’s Message Lives On

Elisabeth Moss as June looking distressed in The Handmaids Tale Season 5

With The Handmaid’s Tale concluding, the show’s impact on pop culture and political discourse remains undeniable. Its powerful portrayal of women-led resistance as well as the subjugation and oppression of their bodies has resonated deeply with audiences, especially as the United States faces a second term of the Trump administration. While Whitford’s joke about solving fascism is tongue-in-cheek, the series’ lasting influence proves that its themes remain more relevant than ever. Whether June is successful in her fight against totalitarianism, The Handmaid’s Tale will leave a lasting mark on television history.