Warning: Contains SPOILERS for The Handmaid's Tale season 6, episode 7!

D'Arcy Carden plays a new character in The Handmaid's Tale season 6, episode 7, and here's who she plays and how she plays into the story so late in the game. There are only a few episodes left in The Handmaid's Tale's final season, with episode 7 introducing a new Mayday plan that will undoubtedly be the endgame of the Hulu series. Despite The Handmaid's Tale coming to a close, the series is still introducing new major characters, such as D'Arcy Carden's Gilead figure who seems to be playing a pivotal role in Mayday's latest plot.

The Handmaid's Tale season 6, episode 7 picks up after the shocking twist ending of The Handmaid's Tale season 6, episode 6, in which June learns that Nick has told Commander Wharton about Mayday's planned attack on Jezebel's. Episode 7 sees Wharton take steps to prevent this plan, with him closing Jezebel's down and executing the women inside of it. Thus, June and Mayday have to pivot. In their attempts to find a new way to wipe out the Commanders, June realizes that the wedding between Serena Joy and Commander Wharton may be the perfect target.

Who Does D'Arcy Carden's Aunt Phoebe Work For?

& How Did Mayday Get Her?

In The Handmaid's Tale season 6, D'Arcy Carden plays a new character named Aunt Phoebe. In the world of Gilead, Aunt Phoebe is supposedly a loyal Aunt in Gilead. Thus, she should be working for Aunt Lydia. Aunt Lydia is constantly barking commands at Aunt Phoebe throughout the episode, and while she is suspicious of the new character, she seems to believe that Phoebe is still under her control.

"Shattered" (S06E07) was rated 8.2 on IMDB.

However, this isn't the case. Aunt Phoebe is working for Mayday in The Handmaid's Tale season 6, with her using her role in Gilead to help June and Moira prepare for the attack on Serena Joy's wedding. Almost nothing is revealed about Aunt Phoebe's backstory, meaning that it isn't known if she has always been a part of Mayday, or if she was a real Aunt before Mayday turned her. Either way, Aunt Phoebe is now fully on the side of The Handmaid's Tale's protagonists, with her playing a vital role in June and Mayday's next plan.

Aunt Phoebe Is Now Crucial To The Handmaid's Tale Ending

Since She Is Helping June

Interestingly, Aunt Phoebe seems to be crucial to the ending of The Handmaid's Tale. Aunt Phoebe is clearly doing a lot of work for Mayday, with her being an essential part of June's plan. Aunt Phoebe is helping to coordinate the Handmaids' roles in Serena Joy and Commander Wharton's wedding, meaning that the attack couldn't be done without her. On top of that, Aunt Phoebe is attempting to distract Aunt Lydia, meaning that she is playing a crucial role in stopping her from mes June's plan.

It is incredibly interesting how important Aunt Phoebe has become, given how new she is to The Handmaid's Tale.

It is incredibly interesting how important Aunt Phoebe has become, given how new she is to The Handmaid's Tale. While Commander Wharton wasn't introduced until The Handmaid's Tale season 6, most of the other major players in the show's endgame have been around for years now. However, Aunt Phoebe was introduced to The Handmaid's Tale seemingly for the sole purpose of helping carry out the attack.

D'Arcy Carden's Phoebe Is A Great Counterpoint To Commander Bell

Since Both Actors Have Sitcom Backgrounds

Interestingly, D'Arcy Carden's Aunt Phoebe is a great counterpart to Timothy Simons' Commander Bell in The Handmaid's Tale's final season. Timothy Simons is well-known for playing Jonah Ryan in Veep, a character who is famous for being a jerk. Thus, it is appropriate for The Handmaid's Tale to cast him as an even bigger jerk in the form of Commander Bell.

A similar trick has been pulled with D'Arcy Carden. D'Arcy Carden is famous for her role as Janet in The Good Place, the overwhelmingly positive artificial intelligence within the titular paradise. Since D'Arcy Carden was known for her cheery attitude and helping hand in The Good Place, it makes sense for her to play Aunt Phoebe, a character who is seemingly only around to help the protagonists, in The Handmaid's Tale.