How does Daisy differ between The Testaments series and book?
The biggest change involves the age difference between Daisy and Agnes, which significantly affects the story’s dynamics. In the book, Agnes is ten years older than Daisy and works as an Aunt named Victoria, while Daisy remains younger. In the series, however, Agnes and Daisy are presented as roughly the same age.
Why does this matter? In Atwood’s novel, Daisy is revealed to be Baby Nichole, June’s daughter smuggled out of Gilead at the end of The Handmaid’s Tale. She becomes a symbol of hope, the only child safely removed from Gilead, and hides in Canada under a new identity. Agnes, meanwhile, is actually Hannah — June and Luke’s daughter from before Gilead, kidnapped and adopted by a Commander and his wife.
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In the show, Daisy cannot be Baby Nichole because she would need to be several years younger than her half-sister. Hannah was about six when kidnapped, and Nichole was born roughly a year later, creating a seven-year age gap. By presenting Daisy and Agnes as equals, the series shifts their relationship from sisters to potential friends and collaborators, fundamentally changing the story’s emotional core.
While the book starts 15 years after the main events depicted within Atwood’s first Handmaid’s book, this show only jumps four years ahead following the final season of The Handmaid’s Tale. This also explains the age differences, as the show creators must have prioritised the Agnes reveal over Daisy.
Additionally, at the end of episode three, it’s revealed that June (Elizabeth Moss) is in contact with Daisy throughout her mission. It seems highly unlikely she would knowingly send her own daughter into Gilead, further confirming this departure from the source material.
This adjustment changes the central narrative, which in the book focused on the sisters and Agnes’ ignorance of her true family connection. Now, the story has more room to explore new dynamics, and we’re curious to see where it takes these characters instead.
It also proves the show creators aren’t afraid to go off-script, meaning anything can happen from this point onwards.
Watch The Testaments on Disney+.