How Did Alexis Bledel’s Emily Leave ‘Handmaid’s Tale’?

A tough goodbye. The Handmaid’s Tale stated goodbye to authentic forged member Alexis Bledel forward of season 5 — which was powerful for star Elisabeth Moss.

“I love Alexis. I’ve known Alexis for years, back from our Mad Men days. So, I love her very much. We were very sad that she couldn’t join us this year, but I think she’s spectacular,” the actress, 40, advised Entertainment Tonight in an interview revealed on Wednesday, September 14.

“It wasn’t the easiest thing in the world to handle, I’ll be honest with you, because she’s such a great, fantastic part of the show,” Moss added.

Bledel, 40, performed Emily, considered one of June’s (Moss) first allies within the dystopian Gilead, the place June and Emily are repeatedly raped and compelled to have youngsters. The Gilmore Girls alum gained an Emmy for her position because the tortured handmaid. However, Bledel — who lately divorced Vincent Kartheiser after eight years of marriage — introduced that she wouldn’t return for the fifth season of the Hulu hit.

“After much thought, I felt I had to step away from The Handmaid’s Tale at this time,” she advised Variety in a press release in May. “I am forever grateful to [executive producer] Bruce Miller for writing such truthful and resonant scenes for Emily, and to Hulu, MGM, the cast and crew for their support.”

Emily was written out offscreen, which Moss feels “was handled in a really good way.”

The Handmaid’s Tale season 5 premiered on Wednesday, choosing up after June, Emily and others killed Commander Fred (Joseph Fiennes). Several refugees who escaped Gilead stated they have been leaving Canada to return and search revenge. Emily was already on her approach.

Emily’s spouse, Sylvia (Clea DuVall), later tells June that Emily known as to say she was leaving her and their son. “She went back to fight I think. To find Aunt Lydia if she can. It’s what she needed to do,” Sylvia says.

Though heartbroken, she accepts that her partner “needed” to return. However, Sylvia is aware of that she’ll “never see her again.” Escaping Gilead simply as soon as was miracle.

Yet, as June realizes how a lot energy Serena (Yvonne Strahovski) nonetheless has over her, she realizes that going again could be the one approach to get revenge.

“She makes some wild choices and so I think the idea of her going back into Gilead’s very realistic,” Moss advised ET. “And it gave us the opportunity, which I really liked, to juxtapose that with June because June is constantly wrestling with whether or not to go back. And so, it gave us the opportunity to show what that looks like when you leave your family.”

The story leaves the door open for Bledel to return for the sixth and ultimate season ought to she change her thoughts.

While Moss and others equipped for The Handmaid’s Tale season 5 to hit Hulu, Bledel was dealing with her divorce. Kartheiser, 43, filed to finish his marriage to Bledel on August 10, Us Weekly solely confirmed. One week later, court docket paperwork obtained by Us confirmed there was already a submission for a proposed judgment and settlement within the divorce case. A decide finalized the break up by the tip of the month.

The former couple began courting in 2012 after assembly on the set of Mad Men one 12 months prior. They welcomed a son in 2015.