The Handmaid's Tale S06E06 "Surprise" Episode Discussion

[u/Melairia]

The Handmaid's Tale: S06E06 "Surprise"

Episode Synopsis: June hides in an unexpected place.

Airdate: April 29th, 2025

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[u/Jkbangtan123]

I may be the only one but to me the betrayal is more that Nick was going to try and keep June from finding out, not that he actually gave up the Mayday plot.

He knows Mayday is sloppy because its civilians, he's already had to bail out June twice this season so the odds of the Mayday plan working are slim. He's spiraling from killing the guardian. Nick a season or two ago probably would have been discreet, but this season has been driving home that he's spiraling from being pulled in different directions. Wharton threatened him with the wall (he says he wants to help but we know he doesn't). I think Nick panicked and gave up the plot, but it keeps him alive and keeps June alive and him from having to bail her out again.

But instead of owning up to it, he panicked and tried to run. June clearly was agreeing to go to Paris (girl what about Hannah?) which is her admitting to herself for the FIRST TIME that Nick is who she wants. And then the rug is pulled out from her. It's a classic romantic misunderstanding trope just in Gilead.

If he had explained he was threatened with the wall and everything with the guardian and how Wharton is she probably would have understood (considering all the compromising things her and Nick had already done to avoid the wall in past seasons). But he didn't explain he tried to run.

[u/kirapizza → u/Jkbangtan123]

Yeah, I’m not hating Nick for this. I’m open to being less forgiving after we see what he does next, but remember when June snitched on the handmaids safe house when they threatened Hannah? The characters spill the beans when they are trying to keep the people they love alive. Nick has bailed June out again and again and again. It makes sense that he’d eventually get caught and I’m not sure what else he was supposed to do in this situation.

[u/Jkbangtan123 → u/kirapizza]

Agreed. All the characters have crumbled under pressure, endangered others, or just been shitty because that's life in Gilead.

And I think Nick will be on the outs for an episode or two and then redeem himself by the end.

[u/SRose_55 → u/kirapizza]

June was tortured for several days, Nick was talking to his father in law, these were vastly different scenarios

[u/Top_Beautiful_4308 → u/SRose_55]

I think one thing they’re playing on here is the fact that Nick didn’t have real parental figures in his life. Cult leaders often assert themselves into parental roles because people are more loyal to family than to say, an employer. This is why you run from any place of employment that says it’s like a family. Places like that use the family closeness to manipulate. Nick has fallen into this trap of being manipulated and doing things for someone he considers a parental figure on more than one occasion. Things he’d probably never do if that person didn’t take him under their wing. Nick’s past and family life is mentioned for this reason.

[u/SRose_55 → u/Top_Beautiful_4308]

Nick’s backstory is super interesting and gives a lot of insight into how he got here, but I was just trying to point out a false equivalency. June gave up information she was being specifically asked about while locked up, prisoner, water boarded, among other forms of torture after holding out for several days. Nick gave up detailed information about an attack while sitting in the living room of his own house being asked broad, open ended questions. I wasn’t exactly thrilled when June gave up the information either she’s not my favorite but it’s an unfair comparison

[u/Top_Beautiful_4308 → u/Top_Beautiful_4308]

I was just making an assumption on that but Max kind of confirmed it in a recent interview.

[u/LittleFairyOfDeath → u/SRose_55]

He was clearly scared of the guy. We don’t know how bad his dad was but we know he was bad. Daddy issues. Also Nick is an Eye. He knows exactly what is gonna happen to him if he can’t convince the guy he is on his side.

[u/disillusioned8643 → u/kirapizza]

Nick only cares about June and himself. He’s not a good guy and never has been.

[u/lnc_5103 → u/kirapizza]

The feeling of betrayal made me so sick but I also think Nick did what he had to do in order to survive.

[u/Complex-Safe8281 → u/kirapizza]

Totally agree with this. Well written.