As The Testaments premiered on Hulu, it quickly became clear that the series would not strictly follow Margaret Atwood’s novel. Set only four years after The Handmaid’s Tale, the show’s timeline makes it impossible for Daisy to be Baby Nichole, signaling one of several major changes from the book. Another significant departure involves Becka, whose storyline has been rewritten in a way that dramatically reshapes the direction of the series and sets up new possibilities for Season 2, which has already been confirmed.
The Season 1 finale delivers a tense and emotional ending for Becka. Weston arrives to help her, giving others a chance to figure out how to save her from execution after the murder of her father. Garth still goes through with marrying her, while Becka’s mother takes the blame and is later executed on Becka’s wedding day. Before the wedding, Becka is drugged by Aunt Estee, and she remains impaired when Garth brings her home. The episode ends with Garth locking the bedroom door, a moment that may surprise viewers given his supposed connection to Mayday.
This version of Becka’s story differs sharply from the novel. In Atwood’s book, Becka does not marry anyone. Her arc is much darker, especially in the way Dr. Grove is portrayed, with the story revealing abuse and sexual assault within her own family. Rather than being prepared for life as a wife, Becka seeks help from Aunt Lydia and trains to become an Aunt instead. She does kill her father in the book, but the event carries less of the elaborate consequence and dramatic buildup seen in the series.
In the novel’s ending, Becka, later known as Aunt Immortelle, plays a crucial role in helping Mayday. She sacrifices her life so Agnes and Daisy can escape Gilead and reunite with their mother. That remains one of the most emotionally powerful parts of the source material, but the television adaptation appears to be taking a different path. Still, some pieces of Becka’s arc could carry over into Season 2. Her marriage to Garth could allow her to learn more about Mayday and become involved with the resistance. Her feelings for Agnes may also continue to shape her choices, possibly leading her toward another act of sacrifice.
With the show already diverging so strongly from the book, The Testaments is creating new suspense for viewers and book fans alike. Instead of knowing exactly what will happen next, audiences now have room to speculate about how Becka’s story, Garth’s loyalty, and Mayday’s plans will unfold in Season 2. That uncertainty may end up being one of the biggest strengths of the series, giving the adaptation a life of its own while still drawing on the core emotional beats of Atwood’s novel.
