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We know The Handmaid’s Tale Season 5 is happening, but there’s some bad news regarding one of the characters. Emily won’t return. Alexis Bledel has decided to leave the series.

It has been a long wait for The Handmaid’s Tale Season 5. However, the good news is the season is happening. It is currently being filmed in and around Toronto. Looking at some of the filming notices, there will be some horrific footage around Gilead, and there are some replica weapons, suggesting that Canada may finally go in to liberate the people of Gilead.

However, there is some bad news for fans of Emily. Alexis Bledel has announced that she will not return for the series. TVLine reported the news at the weekend, and it is Bledel’s decision.

Why isn’t Alexis Bledel returning for The Handmaid’s Tale Season 5?

This decision is a personal one. Bledel has thought hard about the show, but she can’t do it anymore. It sounds like this is based on the heaviness of the topic. After all, Emily was one of the handmaids, and she certainly went through a traumatic experience. This type of acting can weigh an actor down.

Also, Emily’s storyline could be concluded at this point. As much as we would love to see Emily and her wife reunite, we could just hear about it happening. We could also hear that Emily has just changed so much as a person that she feels her wife and son are better off without her so she has gone off to fight for the rebellion elsewhere.

Emily did change the core of who she was in the most recent season. When she came across the Martha who turned her into the Eyes when she was having a relationship in Gilead, she refused to forgive the Martha. That led to the Martha hanging herself one night, and Emily felt no remorse for that happening. In fact, she was glad. Realizing this, she could decide she needs to seek help for the trauma she experienced while in Gilead or that her trauma could help other causes.

MORE: What will June do next in The Handmaid’s Tale?

What did you hope to see for Emily in The Handmaid’s Tale? Share in the comments below.

The Handmaid’s Tale Season 5 doesn’t yet have a premiere date. Catch up on the series on Digital via Amazon. ($)