AceShowbiz - The Testaments has introduced major alterations from Margaret Atwood’s original novel, particularly concerning the character Daisy and her parentage. Hulu’s sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale picks up about four years after the TV series ended its first run, which culminated in the liberation of Boston through the efforts of June Osborne and other Handmaids. The show shifts focus to a younger generation, spotlighting Agnes, a girl raised in Gilead to become a Commander’s wife, and Daisy, a Canadian newcomer seeking a better life. This article contains SPOILERS for the first three episodes of The Testaments as well as the book.

The storyline gradually reveals that Daisy’s true purpose in Gilead is far from being a Pearl Girl; she is actually working as an informant for Mayday, the resistance movement. It comes to light that Daisy was born in Gilead but was smuggled out as a baby by her birth parents. She was subsequently raised by Neil and Melanie, who treated her as their own child until Gilead raided their shop and killed them both. After June explains the truth to Daisy—delivered with a cameo appearance by Elisabeth Moss—Daisy sets out on a path of revenge. However, the mystery of her biological parents remains unsolved so far.

One of the most significant departures from the novel is the fact that June and Nick are not Daisy’s parents in the Hulu adaptation, meaning Daisy is not the same character as Baby Nichole from the book. In Atwood’s The Testaments novel, Daisy is indeed the daughter of June (Offred) and Nick, possessing a backstory and narrative role similar to the show’s Daisy. Nevertheless, the book places Daisy’s arrival several years later than Agnes and sets the story 15 years after the events of The Handmaid’s Tale novel, which ends where Season 1 of the TV series concludes.

Showrunner Bruce Miller confirmed in an interview with Deadline that Daisy is not Nichole (also known as Holly) in the Hulu series. The timeline and age differences already suggested this. For context, Hannah was approximately eight years old during Season 1 of The Handmaid’s Tale, before Holly/Nichole was conceived. The show’s timeline has never been entirely clear, especially since Hannah seems to age faster than Nichole in later seasons. Still, the age gap between Hannah and Nichole is about nine to ten years, and Nichole remains a toddler by the end of the show, making it impossible for her to be a teenager now.

Despite not being her daughter, there is still a connection between June and Daisy. June appears to have known about Daisy for a long time, was acquainted with Neil and Melanie, and is aware of Daisy’s past. This suggests a deeper link, though not a parental one. The timeline adjustment helps the show maintain consistency, yet the casting adds an ironic twist: Lucy Halliday’s portrayal of Daisy closely resembles what one might expect June’s teenage daughter to look like, even sharing many of the same facial expressions. This change also alters the dynamic between Daisy and Agnes, as they no longer share a maternal bond, removing a key emotional element from their relationship.

The question then arises: If Daisy is not June’s daughter, whose child could she be? This remains a challenging puzzle since none of the alternatives fit perfectly. One popular fan theory is that Daisy is Charlotte (also known as Angela), who is the daughter of Janine, another Handmaid. Janine’s daughter was taken and raised by the Putnams. However, this theory conflicts with Daisy’s age, as Charlotte would only be about a year older than Nichole, and it doesn’t align with the story of Daisy being smuggled out of Gilead as a baby.

Another possibility is that Daisy comes from Angel’s Flight, an event depicted in Season 3 where 86 children were rescued from Gilead and flown to Canada. While most of these children were reunited with relatives, some may have been adopted by others. This idea would create a meaningful connection back to the show and June’s storyline. Still, it clashes with Daisy’s backstory of being a baby when she was taken out, since Angel’s Flight occurred relatively recently in the timeline.

It is likely that Daisy might be revealed as the daughter of another Handmaid, possibly one who did not appear on the show. This would still connect her to June’s world without causing as many timeline conflicts. The show’s current setup suggests a major reveal is forthcoming, indicating she may be related to a known character. However, this risks further complicating the timeline established by The Handmaid’s Tale and The Testaments.

New episodes of The Testaments are expected to release on Hulu every Wednesday.

What are your thoughts on these changes to Daisy’s character and the show’s timeline? Feel free to leave a comment below and join the discussion in the ComicBook Forum.