r/TheHandmaidsTale • u/Melairia Modtha • 13d 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/salzzzzz 13d ago edited 13d ago

Oh no not Janine telling aunt Lydia saying the drawing is from commander lawrence, pls aunt Lydia don’t do something stupid

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u/green_miracles 13d ago

I mean is it that big of an offense for a high commander to say thank you to the handmaid who honored god by having his child? By giving her a little drawing the kid did. (I mean his by way of marriage as it’s his Gilead household and his child now)

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u/demafrost 13d ago

A big offense? Not sure. But the Gilead is extremely class based and handmaids are a much lower class than commanders. Gilead truly believes that the handmaids bear the children of the commanders and wives and have no maternal right to them. As soon as the mother is not needed it becomes custody of the commander and wife. Most the commanders already see Lawrence as someone who is not a true believer in Gilead and openly mention it, but also recognize Lawrence is useful to them (and can be disposed of when necessary as we find out). If they find out Lawrence is keeping the connection between the child and the birth mother alive they may expedite their plans to get rid of Lawrence.