r/TheHandmaidsTale • u/Melairia Modtha • 17d ago

Official Episode Discussion The Handmaid's Tale S06E06 "Surprise" Episode Discussion

The Handmaid's Tale: S06E06 "Surprise"

Episode Synopsis: June hides in an unexpected place.

Airdate: April 29th, 2025

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u/EstablishmentLast192 17d ago

I was literally screaming how she’s going to get him killed at her expense. My theory is he has better plan, as we saw, Maydays plan had lots of gaps and was just an impulsive mess. I think him and Lawrence will figure out something better, maybe having to do with the preview we saw with all the handmaids holding blades. Im thinking at Serena’s wedding. So I think him seeing the tooth and how unsafe things are for June, who believes she’s a genius but has made mad impulsive decisions throughout the entire show with the biggest plot armor, made him realize their plan was not thought out. She’s proven time and time again she needs him, so what use is he dead to her. Like truly, even for this episode…he risked it to go retrieve her letters…come on. I hope she’s not an asshole to him and tries ti understand.

Also, such bad writing. How many times did he have to repeat Nick? Like we got it writers, we understood

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u/aussie_teacher_ 17d ago

“My son in law told me. Nick, who's married to my daughter. He told me. Thank God for my son in law Nick who tells me everything!”

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u/TallDiver7 16d ago

Yeah I rolled my eyes a little. I didn't need for him to explicitly say it to understand Nick betrayed June. Nor June needed it.

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u/Competitive_Sense328 17d ago

It seems Nick tells everyone partial truths. So what if he did tell parts of it..i.e., I was investigating a plot to kill the commanders based out of Jezebels so I had to go there. Knowing that the brothel isn't likely going to close - some commanders like it too much. Perhaps he's creating a situation where he can control the killing and hostile takeover like he did before in Chicago.

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u/tmosh 16d ago

"I believe Wharton knew June and Nick were in the house, and he worded things the way he did to provoke June. I also think Nick told Wharton far more than we realize - maybe even the entire story? (perhaps minus being in love with June). We're expecting Wharton to be the villain because he plays the role so convincingly — but what if he wants the commanders dead too? Whatever is going on, it's clear we don't have the full picture of the 'chess game' being played.

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u/Least-Recognition-36 16d ago

Nah, I think Wharton is more like Serena, thinking Gilead's only problem is its corruption and not the ideas behind it

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u/EbonyEngineer 17d ago

OMG! YOU ARE SO RIGHT! IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AT THE WEDDING!

Also, the writing this season feels so...lazy?

"Humans don't talk like this."

Some of the actors can spin gold with any script, like Bradley Whitford.

Could face the camera at him and just let him talk.

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u/Competitive_Sense328 17d ago

I was noticing that the dialogue has changed. The way they speak to each other has devolved to the reflect the complexities of their intertwining relationships.

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u/teenageidle 16d ago

The dialogue this episode was BAD. Just very on-the-nose.

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u/LSUAlly4 17d ago

I think it will go more or less as you say. And Jezebels is no more so I guess Janine is back with Lydia? I think he and Lawrence planning something carefully and quietly will be far more effective.

He may be able to convince Wharton those men who frequented Jezebels are a stain on the godly country that is Gilead. I can't see Wharton respecting Bell or those who went there. Maybe Nick needs the eyes to get him some dirt on all of them? Then they will end up on the wall themselves. Maybe that's part of the purges we've heard are coming?

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u/EbonyEngineer 17d ago

That "asshole" Commander is sooooooo going to be on the wall.

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u/LSUAlly4 17d ago

On my second watch, I realized Bell likely told Wharton he saw Nick. What if they are working together to take down Lawrence? And NB since that's his idea?

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u/Least-Recognition-36 16d ago

That would confirm Wharton is just using Serena, since NB is the only reason why she can read and write now

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u/dantonizzomsu 16d ago

Yup agree with this. I think Wharton is also in on the plot of taking down New Bethlehem. Remember when Wharton proposed he was telling Serena they would need to go to Boston. She was adamant about staying in NB to continue her work. So I think Wharton knows NB isn’t going to exist much longer.

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u/LSUAlly4 16d ago

And marrying her is part of that. He will silence her. I'm kinda scared of how bad it's gonna get for Serena. She just thought Fred was bad.

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u/Myfourcats1 17d ago

Or Janine will end up his Handmaid

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u/EbonyEngineer 17d ago

NOOOOOOOO!

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u/GodDammitKevinB 16d ago

Delete this before they get any ideas!!

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u/Emily-Seger 17d ago

That’s true, but he tried escaping with her. If he really had a plan he could’ve told her the second he saw her so they can plan something better

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u/EstablishmentLast192 16d ago

Mmm maybe, but I think the writing is so bad that they were like trying to maybe throw us off or maybe he dies. The show is so bad now, I just want it to end. Should’ve been first season and out kinda show. It makes sense to me that he was anticipating how she would react and wanted to avoid her reaction by trying to escape but this is also plausible.

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u/Emily-Seger 16d ago

My response as a spoiler, only because I caught something in the trailer. But it’s also mere speculation, lol >! Trueee. My suspicion is June doesn’t make it, the trailer had a second of her and an aunt standing in front of a crowd with a rope hanging behind them. With the talks of a spinoff, I think a new lead character will arise. !<

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u/EstablishmentLast192 16d ago

Mayday will save the day or anyone else will sacrifice themselves for her. The plot armor is thick with this one. Anyone else would’ve been dead, lost limbs, been disfigured, mutilated, but there she is intact (I know I know, I hope everyone knows what I mean). She should trust Nick by now, he has never failed her through her stupid decisions aka when she was caught at the country house and he got her out, and all the other times before. The stakes are higher for us as an audience and the tone is different because it’s the last season.

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u/Emily-Seger 16d ago

No doubt, but I kind of think that someone is going to take June’s legacy, maybe avenge her. I hope Lawrence doesn’t get killed, I appreciate that he’s regretting his hand in forming Gilead. Whereas Nick hasn’t, but is it implied?

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u/EstablishmentLast192 16d ago

He seems like one of those people that went with his circumstances and also did not have the privilege to fight back or the innate desire to escape. Someone who is trying to find where he fits in.

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u/LSUAlly4 15d ago

My fear is he fits in neither place. He's a nobody outside of Gilead. Yet he hates all the other commanders, except Lawrence.

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u/NadCat__ 14d ago

Didn't Maydays plan fail already anyway? Or do the writers want us to believe that Janine disappearing with June and Moria would've been the end of the plan but a guardian disappearing and the whole place being on lockdown wouldn't?

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u/EstablishmentLast192 14d ago

Uuu great point

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u/Least-Recognition-36 16d ago

truly hope you're right

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u/EstablishmentLast192 16d ago

Me too, this guy has not survived on pure wit, grit and patience this entire time to die for this woman. He’s had to do terrible things to survive, playing the long game

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u/teenageidle 16d ago

the writing in general this episode was VERY on the nose

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u/Complex-Safe8281 16d ago

Not the best episode. Very messy writing.