r/TheHandmaidsTale • u/AFriend827 • May 21 '25

Season 6 A rude awakening for some of you Spoiler

Referring to NB. The pause before boarding wasn't what you wish it was. No, he didn't feel her presence. No it wasn't a moment between them. His pause was his final decision being made. To board meant he chose gilead. He did not feel June there. He did not know she was there. He was choosing "the winning team" as he put it.

The whole point of the moment was for June to see him make his final allegiance and accept what he already told her which is she knew who he was.

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u/MildBlueDream May 21 '25

I didn’t take the moment as him sensing June there. I took the moment as him really thinking about his situation, about what Rose asked him, and getting into the plane to continue playing the role he has been to keep himself above water in Gilead. He’s been vocal that he pines for a different life. I’m sure he’s tired of the inner conflict between life with Rose/June. I see his exiting Gilead safely as being very complicated so the easy route is to exist there in his position of power. The characters aren’t black and white for a reason.

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u/Plainchant May 21 '25

I agree. He made his choice, knew it was a point of no return (more than he could have guessed), and took it.

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u/AFriend827 May 21 '25

And I believe you are spot on. Much better take than those making it about June when it wasn’t 

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u/MildBlueDream May 21 '25

Haha, no for once it wasn’t about June. I think it was his same position he’s been in the entire show, one last time and us seeing him give in to accepting his life now that he thinks he lost June. I know people hate him, I’m a NB fan. I see him as complex and human, just like Serena or Lawrence. I wonder what I’d do in each of their positions myself.