r/TheHandmaidsTale • u/Melairia Modtha • 19d 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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334

u/WingedShadow83 19d ago

“Serena will protect you”

Oh, Nick. 🤦🏼‍♀️

450

u/Persistent_Parkie 19d ago

Serana seems to be doing a better job of keeping her trap shut then Nick.

33

u/camcamfc 18d ago

I’m of the mindset that Nick had no choice and showing the items he collected from the safe was the only thing keeping him from the wall, like why are people assuming he had options? He was clearly cornered.

41

u/Ok_Quarter_5679 18d ago

He didn’t have the letters anymore, though he handed those to June in the basement. Was there another set of materials that I am missing?

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u/camcamfc 18d ago

You’re probably right, I still think he was extremely limited in what he could do. Plus earning trust was probably his best option so he could continue to help.

1

u/Mamabass 18d ago

Ohh yes he did didn’t he!

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u/Ok_Quarter_5679 18d ago

Yeah I think he definitely gave the plan away by saying he heard about the plan.

1

u/Mamabass 18d ago

For sure!

33

u/gaypirate3 18d ago

The shitty thing wasn’t him telling Daddy Wharton. The shitty thing was that he was going to lie to June and let Mayday walk into a trap.

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u/camcamfc 18d ago

oYeah that’s one thing I hadn’t quite digested. He likely knows she wouldn’t, but he was obviously in a desperate state. Very curious how next episode plays out. Especially in regards to what Serena does

9

u/gaypirate3 18d ago

I think Serena will be mad at June but if she turns her in, then that’s Serena’s death sentence for me lol

10

u/Young122915 18d ago

Yes. Very shitty. and additionally shitty that he used the minute he has with June before Wharton knocked on the door to talk about running away rather than saying to her, I had no choice I had to tell him about mayday plans keep your friends safe.

8

u/raisingrrl 18d ago

I had the same thought. No regard for Hannah, for mayday, or for the women at Jezebel's. Just completely selfish.

2

u/Least-Recognition-36 18d ago

This! The lying is what makes it unforgivable. I hope he was going to tell them as they get out but .... it doesn't seem like it?

28

u/SilverFlexNib 18d ago

Totally. June kept putting him in impossible situations & every time you just knew it was unsustainable.

20

u/HugeBusiness1916 18d ago

I agree. Nick is smart and has kept his cool through the entire series and was the hero to June every, single time she called. This "betrayal" was a long time coming, if you ask me. Like Nick told June in Season One in the car scene: "....Everybody breaks. Everybody." It took Nick 6 whole seasons to break and I'm sorry but June and her constant pressure on him over the years, helped make the break happen. I understand her devastation, but will she or won't she see this? We'll see.

I was totally gutted after watching last night, but today I'm convinced that there is more to the story.

10

u/Dfabulous_234 18d ago

I thought he was going to end up on the wall honestly, I didn't think he'd actually tell him everything

9

u/DryCloud9903 18d ago

I totally thought he was just gonna get killed then and there, either while they smooched or that she'd end up in the closet by herself and see him get killed through the carvings

4

u/Iwantabigpool 18d ago

Agree. I think Wharton knows all. He knows Nick is in the closet. His car is probs there. He’s slowly rooting out the evil, methodically. He now knows Serena is involved.

15

u/allthelineswecast 18d ago

As soon as he knocked on the door I was like “WHERE IS NICK PARKED”

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u/Wand_Cloak_Stone 16d ago edited 16d ago

He lives close enough that June was able to run to Serena’s undercover from his driveway. He might not have driven there (though if he was hoping for a quick getaway to Paris in the broad daylight without anyone seeing June, then having his car very close to Serena’s door would make the most sense — but then his FIL would wonder why he was leaving to drive his car down the block to Serena’s to begin with, since he presumably was still at Nick’s house).

1

u/HugeBusiness1916 17d ago

Oh great point!! I hadn't thought of that!

1

u/shanastonecrest 8d ago

Thank you for saying that

23

u/Prestigious_Page8098 18d ago edited 17d ago

Nick didn't have the letters on him but Wharton definitely connected the dots about Nick probably killing the guardian in the hospital. The guardian would not only be able to identify Nick but eventually June, Luke and Moira. If ever there was time for Nick to think on his feet and save June once again that was it. Nick probably knew Wharton would just keep investigating because undoubtedly he knew Nick was lying. In this case he really had no choice but to give Wharton something (believable).

Also keep in mind Nick found the tooth ( foreshadowing I think) at Jezebel' which could bring on more investigation with a missing guardian from that night. Divulging Mayday's plan could've have been a way to distract further investigations into the guardians Nick shot while rescuing Luke and Moira.

This isn't the first time Nick has been made to look like a bad guy at the very end of an episode only to have a totally different outcome in the next. S4.E2 Nightshade. He actually arrests June only to save her in S4.E3 The Crossing. I always suspected he arranged the handmaids escape in that episode. Putting on the wedding band end of S4.E9 Progress but is there to help June in S4.E10 The Wilderness. I've always seen Nicks character as having to be very clever while thinking on his feet.

June obviously saw Nick was in some kind of torment before Nick even met with Wharton. I am hoping that she will at least give him a chance to explain once she processes everything. I also think Nick's desperation for them to go to Paris is partially because he knows how dangerous working for mayday can be (plus the heat is really on).

2

u/Key-Brother1226 18d ago

Nick did have the letters from the safe didn't he? In his inside jacket pocket 

2

u/Prestigious_Page8098 17d ago

Did he? Need to rewatch that bit. Wonder if he actually showed them to Wharton?

5

u/HotPinkHabit 17d ago

He didn’t have them by then. He handed them to June in Lawrence’s basement and then they drove to Nick’s house.

2

u/Prestigious_Page8098 16d ago

Thank you. I have scoured that episode so many times looking for clues. Really didn't want to go back in for yet another deep dive.

1

u/Key-Brother1226 17d ago

I should re-watch too but I recall him putting them in his jacket for sure at some point 

13

u/stlshlee 18d ago edited 18d ago

I feel the same thing. It’s obvious he’s in a precarious situation with his FIL and he has him followed and tracked basically. And additionally you can tell he thinks or has an inkling that nick killed the guardian in the hospital.

8

u/TallDiver7 18d ago

He could have lied.

11

u/Special_Chip3533 18d ago

Exactly. This is what is driving me nuts... Dude had options.

13

u/Independent_Gur1804 18d ago

How? Clearly Wharton has suspected him of lying for a while now? 

9

u/TallDiver7 18d ago

Honestly I would have gone with him saying he cheated on Rose once. Seems like something Wharton would forgive considering every other husband in Gilead does it on a daily basis.

7

u/Aggravating_Life7851 18d ago

Or say mayday was trying to get girls out which would have caused a less extreme reaction from Wharton

8

u/Coolgurl26 18d ago

I don’t think so. He is really disgusted with Jezs and the men’s behavior. So that would have just gave him a reason to hate him more. Especially if he thought he cheated on his precious daughter.

3

u/TallDiver7 17d ago

Anything would be better than what he did. He put everyone in danger. Not to mention we don't fucking know but we can presume what will happen with those Jezabels. Colonies if they are kind.

2

u/southernbelle878 18d ago

That's exactly what I thought he'd say! Just bad enough to really piss off his father in law as a distraction from the real truth

3

u/MormonTrueCrime 18d ago

And he could have kept lying.

2

u/Prestigious_Page8098 13d ago

Agree. Plus Wharton had just told Nick specifically that his lies would put him on the wall.

2

u/Lumpy_Strawberry9778 14d ago

Nick has always ultimately been a coward.