Season 2 of The Handmaid’s Tale contains 13 episodes. The season aired on Hulu in 2018 and continued June Osborne’s struggle after the events of the first season, expanding the story beyond the central household and into the wider structures of Gilead.
The second season begins with the consequences of June’s attempted escape and explores new locations, including the Colonies. It also develops the experiences of Emily and Janine, showing different forms of punishment, survival, resistance, and psychological damage under Gilead’s rule. The season’s 13-episode format allowed the series to follow several storylines at once.
A frequent mistake is to remember the total number of episodes from another season. The series’ seasons do not all contain the same number: Season 1 has 10 episodes, while Season 2 has 13. Later seasons also use different episode counts.
Season 2 includes episodes such as “Unwomen,” “Women’s Work,” “The Last Ceremony,” and “The Word.” Its finale, “The Word,” aired in July 2018 and sets up major developments for the next season.