We shouldn’t underestimate “The Handmaid’s Tale” in this upcoming Emmy awards season, as its sixth and final season returns on April 8th on Hulu. With 76 Emmy nominations across its previous five seasons and 15 wins, “The Handmaid’s Tale” has proven itself to be an awards magnet, even when people felt the show’s time for recognition was over. There is a possibility that the show will receive another sweep of awards. Having been a part of the early streaming emergence days, the series could receive one last hurrah and be given its flowers once more.
The rebellion, culminating in a three-episode debut on April 8th, is eligible for the upcoming Emmys race. This season has been teased as a “full-scale rebellion” by showrunner Yahlin Chang in TVinsider’s preview article for the final season. It’s been building toward a satisfying conclusion for many of the characters we’ve followed on their journeys over the years. We should be looking at Samira Wiley and Madeline Brewer, who portray Moira and Janine, respectively, for awards nominations this season, as the latest trailer highlights their upcoming stories in dramatic fashion. Samira Wiley managed to win the 2018 award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for “The Handmaid’s Tale” and received further nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 2017, 2020, and 2021.
However, Elizabeth Moss (June Osborn) has always been the standout when it comes to the Emmy Awards, whether as a lead actress or as an executive producer for the award-winning series. In 2023, with the delay between seasons, while many felt the show would be ignored entirely, she still received a nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, the only Primetime Emmy award nomination for that season. She has remained a consistent presence for the series, having received eight nominations for the series in total and winning twice for the show’s first season. It is highly likely her name will be announced as a nominee once again, but could she also bookend herself with another win?
The final season will also serve as an excellent platform for Yvonne Strahovski, who plays the role of Serena Joy Waterford. She’s been nominated twice for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 2018 and 2021 and is more likely than not going to be pushed to the forefront during the final season’s awards campaign. Strahovski is heavily featured throughout the final season’s trailer and has been a part of the show since its beginning, so expect a dramatic payoff for her character in the final season.
Bradley Whitford, who portrays Commander Joseph Lawrence, has been nominated three times for his role and secured a win for his first nomination for the show for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. It’ll be no surprise if he’s in contention once more during the upcoming awards race. Along the same note, there’s O-T Fagbenle, who portrays Luke, and Max Minghella, who portrays Commander Nick Blaine, who has been a part of June Osborn’s story since the beginning and has shaped not only June’s romantic journeys but also her personal growth throughout her character arc. Both Fagbenle and Minghella managed to nab their first acting nominations in season four of the series, so they will be on deck to possibly return as well.
Additionally, season four was the strongest for the series, securing a total of 21 Emmy nominations in 2021. However, it did not convert any of those nominations into wins and ended up breaking a record for most Emmy losses in a single season for a series. Should that count out “The Handmaid’s Tale” for its final season? Not at all. Season four set an outstanding baseline for its actors and displayed the series’ strengths at the highest level. Lastly, if new showrunners Eric Tuchman and Yahlin Chang nail the ending and send the series off on a high note, expect the show to return for a final nomination for Outstanding Drama Series, which would give it five nominations out of six for the series as a whole. With “The Crown” having wrapped its series in 2023 and new favorite “Shogun” out of competition in this upcoming awards race, the field is clear for “The Handmaid’s Tale” to return.
We’ll see how it all unfolds, with the conclusion of its final season starting April 8th. Typically, each season leaves us with unanswered questions. However, we know this season will not be the end for Gilead. A spinoff show will extend this universe with “The Last Testament,” and we’ll see how that will fare down the road with its award chances.
Are you excited for the sixth and final season of “The Handmaid’s Tale?” Do you think the show will have a robust Emmy Awards season showing like the fourth season? Or do you think the show’s best days are behind it? Who are you predicting will receive Emmy nominations for season six? Please let us know in the comments section below or over on our X account, and be sure to check out our latest Emmy predictions which will be arriving later this week. Please also be sure to subscribe to the Next Best Series Podcast where we will be conducting a number of interviews with Emmy contenders throughout the awards season and discussing the race over the next couple of months.
