As viewers immerse themselves in the gripping narrative of The Handmaid’s Tale, an intriguing question inevitably arises: what led to the establishment of such a harsh and authoritarian regime as Gilead? Throughout six riveting seasons, audiences have gradually uncovered the origin story of Gilead through expertly woven flashbacks that enhance the central storyline—an unsettling tale that resonates profoundly for American audiences in 2025. The Hulu series has skillfully filled in the gaps regarding its primary characters, providing a more nuanced understanding of their motivations and histories. In a particularly striking recent episode, we were granted a new perspective on one character’s life prior to the Gilead transformation.

Serena Joy Waterford, portrayed with remarkable depth by Yvonne Strahovski, has long captivated our attention. She is a complex figure who initially championed Gilead’s right-wing Christian agenda and married Fred Waterford, who ascended to the influential role of Commander Waterford during the United States’ drastic societal overhaul. Once a celebrated author and persuasive political speaker, Serena willingly sacrificed her career ambitions to embrace the role of a devoted wife—at least for a time, before her convictions were challenged.

As The Handmaid’s Tale has unfolded, viewers have discovered that Serena is far from a simplistic zealot. While her intense desire for motherhood has driven some of her most troubling actions, she ultimately demonstrated a capacity for self-reflection and personal growth. This evolution reveals a profound sense of remorse regarding her contributions to the societal upheaval, showcasing her internal struggles and the complexity of her character.

In the second episode titled “Exile,” we witness the introduction of Serena’s father for the first time, providing fresh insights into her background. (Her mother, who made a negative impression during her brief appearance in season three, remains absent from the narrative.) The episode features two poignant flashbacks that occur in the wake of Serena’s decision to return to Gilead—specifically to the reformed New Bethlehem region, where she believes she can alleviate her guilt and align herself with the divine purpose she envisions.

Her connection with her father, a pastor, is a crucial element of the Serena narrative that the show has been eager to explore. According to The Handmaid’s Tale creator Bruce Miller, this relationship sheds light on Serena’s character development. In an interview with the Wrap, he remarked, “We’ve learned about her, but this is really interesting, because it’s not about a relationship she chose, like with Fred … Here, you’re like, how did you become the woman you are? I think that’s the really interesting question now, because you’ve plumbed the depths of Serena to know what’s there, you know the woman that’s there. So when you get to season six, you’re asking the question of, what was her father like? And I don’t think you are at the beginning because I think she has a million relationships in her life, but that one gets much more interesting when you realize how much steel she has.”

The two scenes featuring Serena’s father occur several years apart; in the first glimpse, she has just met Fred, and her father is congratulating her on her successful book tour. In the subsequent flashback, her father appears older and frailer as he listens intently while she excitedly proclaims, “We’re about to change the country!”

At this moment, Serena believes she is fulfilling her father’s earlier encouragement to serve as a guiding light for the movement. However, we, as the audience, are aware that her marriage to Fred will be fraught with turmoil, and the “changes” she helped facilitate will lead to unimaginable horror and tragedy, rather than the idyllic “new Garden of Eden” she envisions. Perhaps she harbors hopes that New Bethlehem could embody that ideal instead? Serena’s unpredictable nature makes her actions difficult to foresee, but she possesses an uncanny ability to navigate her circumstances with resilience.

New episodes of The Handmaid’s Tale are available for streaming every Tuesday on Hulu, offering fans a chance to delve deeper into this captivating world.

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