Warning: This story contains spoilers from season six of The Handmaid’s Tale.
Alexis Bledel is reflecting on the horrors of Gilead.
Ahead of The Handmaid’s Tale’s season 6 finale on May 27, the actor—who portrayed Emily/Ofglen in the Hulu series for four seasons—shared her thoughts on the trauma her character went through.
“It was deeply upsetting to even imagine Emily going through something like that—being captured, powerless, with no say over her body,” Alexis, 43, told The Hollywood Reporter in a May 22 interview. “I was actually offered the role and when I read the pilot script, I immediately said yes. Somehow, Bruce just knew I had Ofglen in me.”
Indeed, her character’s time on the show, which is an adaptation of the classic Margaret Atwood novel, was incredibly bleak. In the first two seasons alone, she forcibly underwent genital mutilation and lived in the Colonies—a radioactive wasteland where prisoners are sent to die—as punishment for murder.
The horrors escalated until Emily’s final scenes in 2021, where she and a group of escaped Handmaids murdered Commander Fred Waterford (played by Joseph Fiennes) in season four. Alexis announced her exit from the series a year later, telling E! News in a May 2022 statement that “after much thought, I felt I had to step away from The Handmaid's Tale at this time.”
“I am forever grateful to [creator] Bruce Miller for writing such truthful and resonant scenes for Emily,” the Gilmore Girls alum continued, “and to Hulu, MGM, the cast and crew for their support.”
Alexis isn’t the only star viewers had to say goodbye to in recent years, as fellow OG character Nick Blaine (Max Minghella) took his final breath in the show’s May 20 episode. And while his explosive death was unexpected, Max is pleased with the end of his character’s story.
“I think it’s one of our best seasons, and that doesn’t happen all the time,” he told Elle on May 21. “I’m really happy that we got to finish up in a way we can all feel really proud of.”
While The Handmaid’s Tale nears its finale, keep reading to see more shows that have premiered this year…
90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days (TLC) - Dec. 7
This season, eight Americans, including the bold and fiery Elise, looking to settle down after stirring things up on 90 Day: Hunt for Love, are leaving everything behind to travel to international destinations like the Philippines, Belize, Turkey, Morocco, Madagascar, Nigeria, and Australia. Each is hoping to turn their long-distance connection into a lasting commitment.
These couples are stepping into the unknown, driven by love but challenged by distance, doubt, and deep cultural divides. From conflicting expectations and family pressure to hidden pasts and even surveillance-level possessiveness, the stakes have never been higher for these unconventional love stories. With hearts on the line and passports in hand, they’re betting everything on the chance their virtual romances will transform into real-world relationships.
Dance Moms: A New Era (Hulu) - Dec. 8
After Studio Bleu suddenly closes, Glo scrambles to rebuild as Project X with her daughter Kaeli coaching beside her. Tensions rise when a new mom and dancer join the team, and one mom’s personal struggle has a devastating effect on the studio.
Here Come the Irish (Peacock) - Dec. 8
Season two offers an in-depth look at the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team, exploring their lives on and off the field.
Here Come the Irish documents the legendary football team through their grit, determination and brotherhood along with exclusive behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with those closest to the program. On the field, witness the intense training regimens, strategic game preparations and the electrifying atmosphere of game days. Off the field, the series delves into the academic commitments, personal stories and the motivation to be college football’s best.
Fixer Upper: Colorado Mountain House (Magnolia Network & HGTV) - Dec. 9
In Fixer Upper: Colorado Mountain House, Chip and Joanna Gaines take on a 1960s mountain property in Colorado, tackling unique design and construction hurdles that come with high-altitude living. Together, they blend original mid-century details with European-inspired finishes, transforming the home into their own timeless family retreat nestled in the Rockies.
Percy Jackson and the Plympians (Disney+) - Dec. 10
After Camp Half-Blood’s protective border is breached, Percy Jackson embarks on an epic odyssey into the Sea of Monsters in search of his best friend Grover and the one thing that may save the camp—the Golden Fleece. With help from Annabeth, Clarisse and his newfound cyclops half-brother Tyson, Percy’s survival is crucial in the fight to stop Luke, the Titan Kronos, and their impending plan to bring down Camp Half-Blood—and ultimately, Olympus.
Simon Cowell: The Next Act (Netflix) - Dec. 10
Music mogul and record executive Simon Cowell has single handedly created some of the biggest music superstars in the world. In this brand-new Netflix docu-series, cameras follow him everywhere as he sets out to do it again, to try and create the next global boyband sensation. This is unlike any show he has made before. From raw open casting calls to the release of their debut single, this is an all-access pass for viewers to catch every moment of Simon’s next chapter. Will he strike gold once again?
Little Distasters (Paramount+) - Dec. 11
The thriller focuses on a decade-long friendship among Jess (Diane Kruger), Liz (Jo Joyner), Charlotte (Shelley Conn) and Mel (Emily Taaffe), four expectant mothers who were thrown together with little in common apart from their due dates but have been there for one another throughout motherhood. When perfect stay-at-home mother Jess takes her baby daughter to hospital with a head injury that she can’t explain, her close friend and on-duty ER doctor Liz must make the excruciating decision of whether to call social services. With one phone call, Liz sets in motion a chain of events that ripples, fractures and nearly destroys not only their families but their entire friendship group.
The Secrets We Bury (Investigation Discovery) - Dec. 16
The new deocumentary is an empathetic account of a Long Island family unwinding a decades old mystery around their father’s disappearance.
In the early 1960s, George Carroll walked out on his family, leaving his wife, Dorothy, and their four children behind. Decades later, the Carroll siblings are still left haunted by what happened to their father. Seeking much-needed closure for himself and his family, The Secrets We Bury follows Mike Carroll as he unravels the mystery of his father’s disappearance and uncovers a story much darker and more complex than his family could have imagined.
Fallout (Prime Video) - Dec. 17
The new season will pick up in the aftermath of season one’s epic finale and take audiences along for a journey through the wasteland of the Mojave to the post-apocalyptic city of New Vegas. Season two will premiere exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.
Emily in Paris (Netflix) - Dec. 18
Now the head of Agence Grateau Rome, Emily faces professional and romantic challenges as she adapts to life in a new city. But just as everything falls into place, a work idea backfires, and the fallout cascades into heartbreak and career setbacks. Seeking stability, Emily leans into her French lifestyle, until a big secret threatens one of her closest relationships. Tackling conflict with honesty, Emily emerges with deeper connections, renewed clarity, and a readiness to embrace new possibilities.
Kumail Nanjiani: Night Thoughts (Hulu) - Dec. 19
With this all new one-hour special, Kumail Nanjiani makes his return to stand-up after nearly a decade with Night Thoughts.
Born to Be Wild (Apple TV+) - Dec. 19
Filmed over several years across three continents, the six-part documentary series follows six endangered young animals as they grow up in our world but are destined to return to theirs. From their earliest days through their journey to life in the wild, the series highlights the challenges, triumphs, and resilience that define their survival, both for the animals and the extraordinary people working to raise and protect them.
The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball (Hulu) - Dec. 22
The Watterson family is back to prove that reality is just a suggestion in their wonderfully weird world. Gumball, Darwin, and the town of Elmore are more chaotic, hilarious, and bizarre than ever before, navigating a fresh wave of absurdity. This season tackles a promposal involving Penny faking her own death, outright pandemonium with wild animals invading the suburbs, and a witchy student cult attempting a yearbook séance. The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball is pure satire and hijinks, offering plenty of laughs for kids and adults alike, culminating in the long-awaited return of the franchise’s biggest foe: Rob and The Void.
Fixer Upper: Fireplace (Magnolia Network) - Dec. 24
This season, sit down and relax by the fire blazing in the hearths at The Gaines' Family Farm and Mountain House. This series transports you to a Magnolia fireplace decorated for the winter/holidays with twinkling lights and fresh garland. The natural sounds of crackling wood paired with soft holiday music create the perfect backdrop for a cozy holiday gathering.
Made in Korea (Hulu) - Dec. 24
Set in 1970s Korea, season one follows Baek Kitae, an ambitious KCIA agent who’s living a double life. Driven by his thirst for power, Kitae works as an agent by day and a smuggler by night. Smart, suave, cunning and capable, Kitae rapidly moves up the ranks after using his smuggling operation to consolidate power, protect his brother, and generate vast sums of money for the agency. Seemingly unstoppable, only one thing stands in his way—a tenacious prosecutor who can't be reasoned with, bought or bribed. With everything at stake for both men, the series will follow the duo as they look to take each other down.
Stranger Things Season 5, Volume 2 (Netflix) - Dec. 25
The final season continues Christmas Day.
Junk or Jackpot? (HGTV) - Dec. 26
The new series follows collectors as they discover the true monetary value of their massive and unusual collections. From an overwhelming stash of superhero figurines to cramped spaces stuffed with rare puppets and dolls and miniature sets that leave no room for actual, life-size furniture – these homes are begging for professional help, and the collectors must decide whether they are willing to sell some of their items to pay for the much-needed renovation. With a combination of humor, compassion and a celebration of the passionate collector in all of us, Bobby Berk will support the homeowners through the process of sorting through, appraising and letting go of their stockpile, discovering the ‘found money’ along the way to achieving their dream makeover.
The Copenhagen Test (Peacock) - Dec. 27
This espionage thriller series follows first-generation Chinese-American intelligence analyst Alexander Hale (Simu Liu) who realizes his brain has been hacked, giving the perpetrators access to everything he sees and hears. Caught between his shadowy agency and the unknown hackers, he must maintain a performance 24/7 to flush out who’s responsible and prove where his allegiance lies.
Animal Control (Fox) - Dec. 28
Get ready to go wild with the comedy's season four premiere.
Celebrity IOU (HGTV) - Dec. 28
The star-studded series will highlight the A-listers who share heartwarming personal stories of gratitude with HGTV stars and series’ executive producers Drew and Jonathan Scott and then put their deep thanks into action for special friends by surprising them with life-changing home transformations. The celebrities’ gusto to wield tools and rip apart dated rooms combined with the Scott Brothers’ renovation and design expertise will lead to personalized dream spaces for extraordinary people.
Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest 2026 (ABC) - Dec. 31
Diana Ross will step onto the world’s most iconic stage to celebrate with millions and welcome a new year with style, magic, and unforgettable music in what will be a defining moment in the show’s history. Her headline performance promises a spectacular blend of glamour and a timeless medley of hits