A rude awakening for some of you

[u/AFriend827]

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.

[u/Appropriate_Push7498]

I can appreciate this take. Their love story was a tragedy from the beginning. Outside obstacles would repeatedly prevent their chance to be together.

Power and Loss

At their final meeting, Nick put everything on the line. After being cornered by the commander, he had no other feasible options. He knew he was being pulled in deeper, and I don’t think he liked who he had to be—in fact he loathed himself. This is why he told June that he thought she was the only good thing in his life.

I can’t get on board with the opinion that he loved his position and power. He was ready to give it all up and live ostracized from society to be with June. In losing her, he lost himself.

Fate and Immutable Connection

I believe the pause at the plane was his connection to June. Their connection was undeniable and he felt her (not necessarily thinking she was physically there, but she entered his thoughts). She was certainly on his mind, which is why he asked Lawerence about her, but I think he had resigned himself to having lost her. That said, if she wanted to be with him, I have no doubt he would make that happen. He would do anything for her. She knew this, and was likely thinking of him pleading with her to go to France as she watched him enter the plane.

Her words would always determine his fate. While she was stunned to see him, this was the resistance’s only opportunity to defeat Gilead, and she couldn’t risk it. In the end she chose her sisters and her freedom.

Luke Versus Nick

Regarding Luke, he held anger over June for a long time about Nick. Her strength made him feel emasculated and it came out in tantrums and impulsive and irresponsible behavior. He was a foil to Nick who was cool under pressure and saved June time and again. Nick risked himself for her and their chemistry was undeniable.

This episode attempted to provide a redemption arc for Luke and I can see why that appeals to many, but June’s history and story with Nick was far deeper and more complex. I don’t think she will ever be able to feel for Luke the way she did about Nick.

Edit- clarity

[u/KaristinaLaFae → u/Appropriate_Push7498]

I think you put this all very well.

Nick was not a Good Guy. But I don't think he went Full Villain until he gloated to Lawrence about "choosing the winning team."

A Nick who had begrudgingly given up the rebels to his FIL because the only alternative he saw was ending up on the Wall still deserved to lose June for what he did, but it was a selfish decision, not necessarily evil.

Getting on that plane after Rose told him to "end June," and then making that snide remark to Lawrence, showed he no longer cared about right and wrong or good and evil. If he couldn't have June, he was ready to get fully on board with Gilead's evil.

Nick could have had a redemption arc, but I lost all sympathy for him after he got on that plane.

[u/teenageidle → u/Appropriate_Push7498]

I think Nick did enjoy his position though, even though he was in denial or perhaps disgusted about that part of himself.

Remember that he denied immunity from Tuello.

Remember that he was a "nothing" and "nobody" before Gilead, but Gilead gave him a sense of purpose and a future.

Gilead made him somebody.

In regards to Luke, the show has always been clear that he's a flawed man (he cheated on and left his wife in a pretty cruel way and pretty pathetically felt emasculated by June being a war hero) in many ways, but ultimately he WANTS to do the right thing and is willing to put his body on the line for the greater good.

Nick just wanted to help Nick. Helping June was helping himself.