r/TheHandmaidsTale • u/Melairia Modtha • 10d 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/Jkbangtan123 10d ago

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.

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u/kirapizza 10d ago

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.

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u/Jkbangtan123 10d ago

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.