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Alexis Bledel appeared in the series, The Handmaid's Tale as Dr. Emily Malek/ Ofglen. She plays a pivotal role in the series as a part of Mayday, the resistance movement dedicated to ending the horrors of the Gilead regime. However, the actress left the series before the release of its fifth season, for reasons unspecified.
Her character became a fan favorite through the four seasons she was a part of. Her storyline was a major part of The Handmaid's Tale, adding to the larger plot of the series.
Alexis' exit from the show left the cast and fans diappointed, with her tale being left incomplete due to the actress' decision to leave.
Exploring why Alexis Bledel left The Handmaid's Tale
Alexis Bledel announced her departure from the series in May 2022. The actress spoke to Entertainment Weekly and said that her exit from the show comes after a lot of deliberation. Although she did not specify the reason for taking such a step, she continued to extend her gratitude for the opportunity.
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In a statement to Entertainment Weekly, she said:
"After much thought, I felt I had to step away from ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ at this time. I am forever grateful to Bruce Miller for writing such truthful and resonant scenes for Emily, and to Hulu, MGM, the cast and crew for their support."
Alexis' character, Emily, stood as a bold and courageous character who did not fear the Gilead. Her bravery was witnessed throughout four seasons as she strongly stood for her wife and son, opposed the wrong, and never succumbed to the oppressors. From taking violent revenges to escaping to Canada, Emily's character always stood out in the series.
She was a close pal of the protagonist, June (Elisabeth Moss), and was one of the first ones to introduce her to Mayday. Her presence in the finale episode of The Handmaid's Tale season 4 left the audience waiting for what happens to her in the show ahead.
What happened to Alexis' character, Emily, in The Handmaid's Tale?
After the actress announced her departure from the show, the incomplete fate of her character, Emily, had to be addressed for the plot to make sense.
Season 5 of the series was released in September 2022. At the start of the first episode, June is seen celebrating her triumph against Commander Fred Waterford (Joseph Fiennes) as she killed him with the help of other handmaids. Emily had also helped June in this deed at the end of season 4. On realising Emily's absence in the merriment, June sets out to find her friend.
June goes to Emily's house and finds out from her wife, Sylvia (Clea DuVall), that she has returned to Gilead. Emily bid adieu to her beloved family and went back to take her revenge.
June blames herself for the situation, while Sylvia gets dejected with no hope of seeing her wife ever again. The story of Emily is brought to a close at this point, with fans left to imagine if Emily would ever return alive.
Bruce Miller commented on Alexis's exit from The Handmaid's Tale
Bruce Miller, the creator of the series, also expressed his views on the sudden exit of Alexis from the series. In a conversation with The Hollywood Reporter, the writer said that the actress herself decided to step down and shared her situation with him.
"[Alexis] made that decision completely on her own; it was a complicated time and she let me know."
While her absence made the story incomplete, the creator of the series shared that the end they showed for her later was the most befitting for her character.
"When I was watching season four — as I obsessively rewatch our show — it felt like such an inevitable ending for her. That if she was going to do something after Fred, she was not going to just sit around and wait for the next person to jump into her trap; she was going to go hunting.”, said Miller to The Hollywood Reporter.
Some speculations expected her to return in The Handmaid's Tale season 6 (ongoing) or the upcoming spinoff of the series, The Testament. No clear information on such a return has been confirmed.
Read more about The Handmaid's Tale season 6, streaming on Hulu.
