TMDb/The Testaments TV Discover Aunt Lydia's return and the fates of June's daughters in The Testaments, the explosive sequel series to The Handmaid's Tale. April 9, 2026 AceShowbiz - The Testaments unfolds approximately four years after the conclusion of The Handmaid's Tale, yet it features appearances by some familiar characters that bridge the two stories. One of the most pivotal returning characters is Aunt Lydia, portrayed by Ann Dowd, who remains in Gilead and now oversees a preparatory school attended by the Plums before they are married off to Commanders.