Warning: Contains SPOILERS for The Handmaid's Tale book and The Testaments!
Although The Handmaid's Tale may seem like it has already ed the ending of the original book, it is actually more likely after season 5. The Handmaid's Tale season 5 unveils an entirely new set of problems that June and her friends have to handle, with Canada becoming increasingly hostile toward Gilead refugees. Although there is still another season of The Handmaid's Tale left to go, season 5 may be setting up the book's original ending already.
The story of The Handmaid's Tale book is mostly covered in season 1 of the Hulu series, with the subsequent seasons of The Handmaid's Tale telling using the book as a jumping-off point to tell an original story. The Handmaid's Tale is actually pretty ambiguous, with the novel never truly confirming her fate. The book ends with June getting into one of the Eyes' vans after being told by Nick that it's safe, although she isn't sure if he's telling the truth. The van then drives away with June in it, unsure if she is safe or if she is going to her death.
Handmaid's Tale's Canada Storyline Makes The Book Ending Easier
Although the book ends with June as a prisoner of the Eyes while still in Gilead, it seemed as if the ending for Hulu's The Handmaid's Tale would be completely different. June has already escaped Gilead, so it doesn't make sense for her to somehow go back and get captured again in The Handmaid's Tale season 6. However, even though June made it out of Gilead, season 5's Canada storyline means that the book's ending could still happen.
Canada turns into a new Gilead in The Handmaid's Tale season 5, with the increasing influence of Gileadean politicians and the Canadians' reactionary views of Gileadean refugees turning the country into another fascist state. Because of this, the refugees are forced to flee Canada, with season 5 ending with June on a train headed to another seemingly safe location. The increasing danger in the world outside of Gilead shows that June isn't really safe anywhere, with the possibility of her becoming a prisoner of Gilead once again always looming. Because of this, it's possible that the book's ending could happen in Hulu's The Handmaid's Tale.
Why The Handmaid's Tale Should Still Follow The Book Ending
Although it may not be exactly the same, the The Handmaid's Tale needs to follow the conclusion of the book. With the story that The Handmaid's Tale has set up, it's almost impossible that June could win or get a truly happy ending, meaning that it only makes sense for something bad to happen to her. However, having her explicitly get killed could disappoint audiences and make it seem as if the show was all for nothing. Maintaining the book's ambiguous ending is the perfect choice, as it allows viewers to decide what happens to June, balancing hope with an inevitable loss.
On top of that, following the book's ending means that The Handmaid's Tale can still tell the story of the book's sequel, The Testaments. At the end of The Testaments, Hannah and Nichole reunite with June years after the events of the original novel, discovering that June has been under Canadian protection for years. This ending could pay off the ambiguous ending of The Handmaid's Tale, but The Testaments' mystery will only work if June's fate is left up in the air in Hulu's The Handmaid's Tale.