The Handmaid’s Tale Stars React To Season 6, Episode 6’s Shocking Nick Twist

Warning: SPOILERS ahead for The Handmaid’s Tale season 6, episode 6!The Handmaid’s Tale stars Elisabeth Moss and Max Minghella react to season 6, episode 6’s shocking Nick twist, and what it means for him and June. During the latest episode of The Handmaid’s Tale season 6, Nick (Minghella) and June (Moss) hide in a closet in the home of Serena (Yvonne Strahovski) and High Commander Wharton (Josh Charles). While concealed, they hear a conversation wherein Wharton reveals he knows about Mayday’s plans to shut down Jezebel’s, stating Nick was his source. June had previously told him about the plan, the revelation confirming he betrayed her.

Speaking with TVLine, Minghella unpacked Nick’s decision to tell Wharton Mayday’s plan to shut down Jezebel’s in The Handmaid’s Tale season 6, episode 6. The actor explained how his decision emphasizes the complexity of his character, acknowledging the decision likely wouldn’t be beloved by all. However, he says it “feels very organic” to showcase this other side to the young Commander. See what Minghella had to say below:

You know, I don’t think any of us expected to be doing this show for six seasons, and I don’t know if I’ll ever get to play a character again for this long. The privilege of it is, you get to explore so many facets of the character, and I think that that’s kind of an amazing thing. I’ve really gotten to dig into who Nick is. Nick’s been put through so many different circumstances, and I’ve gotten to experience all of that stuff with him. I don’t have an investment, really, in him being heroic. I have an investment in him being interesting and complex. So, I thought that the season is full of complexity for the character.

[Laughs] Well, I think to that point, I’m conscious of the fact that it’s probably gonna be pretty divisive. And I was impressed that Hulu stood by the writers, clearly, and supported them making certain creative decisions this season that I recognize may not be popular. Once again, I think the show investigates a lot of different parts of the human condition in a way that is pretty special and unique to the show. And I like that about it. This feels very organic to that.

In addition, Moss explained June’s perspective on what happened, and what it means for her future with Nick. She admits that, while June does love him, and he loves her, his mission had never been to bring an end to Gilead the way hers has always been. It adds a new layer to him while reexamining his character as a whole. Check out what Moss said below:

Paris is always tempting. [Laughs] Yeah, it definitely is, especially if you’re in love with the person — which she is, you know? She does love Nick, but you don’t always fall in love with the right person. And unfortunately, Nick is in a position — I mean, look. I can defend him as a director and as storyteller. I can defend him. I think it’s complex. I think that I don’t know if he has a choice in the end, but again, you always have a choice, right? He is in a place where he makes the wrong decision, but I also think that there’s a way of looking at it, that other characters [will] point out to June that she should have seen this coming, that it’s been coming for a long time, that Nick has never quite been fully honest about whose side he’s on. He’s never said that he was part of the resistance. He’s never said that he was going to bring down Gilead. He’s only ever said that he loves June, so that’s the only truth he’s ever spoken about it.

What Nick Betraying June Means For The Handmaid’s Tale Season 6

Mayday’s Plans Continue To Fall Apart

Nick had been one of the few characters in The Handmaid’s Tale loyal to Gilead that June considered a fully trustworthy ally. He’s put himself on the line for her numerous times since the very beginning, from helping her try to escape in season 2, to agreeing to funnel information to America in season 5. Everything he’s done has been for her safety, but his rising rank also means he needs to maintain loyalty to his country. Still, it makes his betrayal a major turn for his character, while upending the protagonist’s game-changing plans.

It also signifies a potential end to June and Nick’s romance, with him informing Wharton of her plans being a major setback for Mayday. Since the show is being followed up with an upcoming adaptation of The Testaments, it doesn’t mean everything the series is exploring in the final season is going to be fully resolved. However, this is a major sign that the duo’s relationship isn’t going to be repaired after this, especially given just how big of a betrayal his info leak is.

Our Take On Nick’s Betrayal In The Handmaid’s Tale

Season 6 Feels Like Everything’s Coming Undone

With Nick now ruining June’s plans for Jezebel’s, it seems like season 6 is going to continue putting obstacles in her way until she takes drastic action against Gilead. More than that, however, is that she’s now lost a long-time ally, since she can no longer trust him with her plans going forward. This makes The Handmaid’s Tale‘s final episodes difficult to ascertain, other than they’ll likely continue to see the main character struggle against Gilead as she tries, desperately, to do what she can against it.

New episodes of The Handmaid’s Tale season 6 arrive Tuesdays on Hulu.

Source: TVLine

The Handmaid’s Tale

7/10

Release Date

2017 – 2025-00-00

Network

Hulu

Showrunner

Bruce Miller

Directors

Mike Barker, Kari Skogland, Daina Reid, Reed Morano, Floria Sigismondi, Jeremy Podeswa, Kate Dennis, Richard Shepard, Amma Asante, Christina Choe, Deniz Gamze Ergüven, Bradley Whitford, Dearbhla Walsh, Liz Garbus

Writers

Kira Snyder, Eric Tuchman, Yahlin Chang, John Herrera, Jacey Heldrich, Dorothy Fortenberry, Marissa Jo Cerar, Lynn Renee Maxcy

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  Elisabeth Moss

  June Osborne / Offred / Ofjoseph

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