‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ Boss Explains Nick’s ‘Winners’ Line in Final Moments
Spoiler Alert
[Warning: The following contains MAJOR spoilers for The Handmaid’s Tale Season 6 Episode 9, “Execution.”]
The Handmaid’s Tale delivered an explosive end for Nick (Max Minghella) and Commander Lawrence (Bradley Whitford) in the penultimate episode of the series. June’s former lover was killed when an altitude-triggered bomb went off on the plane carrying the last surviving commanders from Boston, a bomb planted by Lawrence in what became a suicide mission. June (Elisabeth Moss) and Lawrence didn’t expect Nick to be on that plane, but stopping him from boarding would mean losing their last chance to kill Wharton (Josh Charles) and the other commanders. Nick smiled at Lawrence on the plane as he said, “Guess you decided to join the winners.” His death, and this “join the winners” line in particular, has had The Handmaid’s Tale fans talking since the episode came out on May 20. Here, The Handmaid’s Tale executive producer/former showrunner Bruce Miller explains what that line means to TV Insider.
Earlier in the episode, Nick’s pregnant wife Rose (Carey Cox) urged him to take his place as a powerful commander being led by her father, Wharton. Rose wanted Nick to defend their family after June and the Handmaids killed the majority of the city’s commanders and some of their wives. Having been rejected by June after the Jezebel’s massacre in Episode 7, Nick decided there was nothing left for him to do but side with Gilead. It’s a serious moral issue that Nick would align himself with this authoritarian regime.
Miller is the creator of The Handmaid’s Tale series and served as its showrunner through Season 5. Yahlin Chang and Eric Tuchman took over as co-showrunners for the final season as Miller pivoted to creating The Testaments spinoff that’s currently filming in Toronto. Miller was still creatively involved in the final season and wrote next week’s Handmaid’s Tale series finale.
Miller says that the “join the winners” line was indicative of Nick’s true good nature. Siding with Gilead, according to Miller, was an act of protection for his wife and unborn son.
“He’s willingly choosing [to side with Gilead], but think of what he said. He didn’t say, ‘We chose the right side,'” Miller explains to TV Insider. “He needed to be on the winning side because he can’t be on the losing side in Gilead because that means you’re gone and you can’t help anybody.”
Disney / Steve Wilkie
Nick isn’t choosing Gilead as a sudden endorsement of its beliefs and practices, Miller says, but rather a belief that there’s no beating this regime; it’s better to protect yourself by moving with it rather than against.
“What he really means is, ‘We picked the winning side,’ which is good [to Nick] because on the losing side, there’s 36 of them [commanders] dead already back in Gilead,” Miller explains. “He liked to stay out of trouble, and this seemed to be the only way he could possibly stay out of trouble in the long run.”
Miller agrees that Nick “absolutely” made the wrong decision, and he paid for it with his life. The producer explains Nick’s morality and decisions in more detail.
“For Nick, I really felt like he’s such a good man that once he got married and his wife got pregnant, I felt like it was kind of inevitable. He had to try to build a life in Gilead,” Miller says. “He was being the person we all believe he is in a wonderful way, which is he was a devoted boyfriend and lover to June to a huge extent. The things she loved about him and his devotion to her are the same things he felt towards, ‘OK, now I’ve committed to this woman, I’m going to have a child, and June would beat me up if — she’d be so disappointed if I didn’t take care of my child.’ So for me, it felt like a sad but inevitable step that is like, it’s one thing when you’re alone and living over the garage, but when you get married and when you have a child, you have to make a choice about the environment you’re going to raise them in.”
Disney / Steve Wilkie
“By making that choice, he was on a slope that he desperately didn’t want to be on, but he could see ahead,” Miller continues. “He really got sadder and sadder about the inevitability of having to really do something in this regime that he really felt like he had done his service and he didn’t have to do it. As you move along in the story, what I tried to do with both of those guys [Nick and Lawrence] is think about what they would do next. Not what the story would do to them, but do what they would be trying to do. And I think that Nick is trying always to stay out of trouble. He does terribly this season, but he’s constantly trying to get out of conflict, trying to run away.”
“He likes to run away. We all do. When we first met him, he had a lot more time to have a very rich fantasy life and a very empty real life,” Miller concludes. “His fantasy life came to life with June for a while, and now he has very little time for a fantasy life, and his real life is really complicated, and he spends all this time thinking about how to keep himself safe for his family. It’s changed him in a way with his priorities that he has to think about that more than he can think about himself. So it’s very sad, but I do think it was inevitable for him if he’s going to be a standup guy, that he would be a standup guy for his on-the-way son.”
Nick’s death “was heartbreaking for me,” Miller notes, going on to praise Minghella’s performance throughout the course of the series.
Playing Nick is “such a hard thing to do well,” Miller says. “And [Minghella’s] a writer and a director and a producer of his own projects, and he’s such a thoughtful, gentle, precise actor. He never oversteps any way. It’s wonderful. He’s really, really great. And it’s a difficult character to play because almost all the time you don’t see [Nick], he’s doing horrible things. So how do you play that character? You play someone who is — you’re only seeing him when he’s absolutely at his most wonderfully ecstatic. And so it’s a really interesting thing. And Max and his eyebrows have done excellent work.”
Find out what happens after this successful attack on Boston’s last commanders in The Handmaid’s Tale series finale.
The Handmaid’s Tale, Series Finale, Tuesday, May 27, Hulu
Conversation59 Comments
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I felt more sorry for Commander Lawrence. He didn't want to get on that plane, but he knew the other commanders would be suspicious if he didn't get on it. He knew he was going to his death, and got on the plane anyway.
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He sacrificed himself. I truly believe he decided he had to get in the plane for the greater good. Besides. Those commanders wanted him dead anyway.
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I feel sad, thinking about the last scene with the little girl. He truly loved her and wanted the best for her. While his wife was cold hearted. His sacrifice was maybe for the little girl to end Gilead, so the little girl could grow up reading and writing with an education.
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I am just glad that Janine will finally be able to be reunited with her daughter and Naomi will end up in handcuffs.
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yah be awe might have been able to escape with his daughter to Alaska or somewhere. He loved that kid and was willing to die to possibly give her a chance.
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I also believe he did it as an homage to his wife (not Naomi). It reminded me of the phrase, “You’ve made your bed, now lie in it.” He’s an incredible actor.
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I cried more over commander Joseph Lawrence than I did over Nick cudos to Lawrence’s bravery suicide
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Given that his decision led directly to the deaths of the women at Jezebels, the idea of his being a basically "good guy" is a bit off. As they say in Spain, tell me with whom you walk, and I'll tell you who you are." He picked the wrong side.
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Agreed! Also, he had tried to get June to run away with him before she knew about his betrayal leading to deaths at Jezebels. Good guy?! I don't think so either.
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I don't think he necessarily knew they were going to kill the women at Jezebel's when he made that decision. I do think most of his decisions were self serving this season, though. He never really seemed to support the resistance - he just wanted to do whatever it would take to get June. He did what he could to stay alive so he could pursue that goal, but wasn't willing to sacrifice himself for her cause.
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he knew.
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No, he didn't know it was going to lead to their deaths. He even said that he didn't Wharton was going to do that (but when he realized it, he told his Eye friends to save June's best friend), that he didn't mention they had part in it, that he was investigating a possible Mayday attack.
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Thank you! I agree. I think Nick is self serving. The only reason he did good things was because of his love of June, not an act of doing things for the greater good! Remember he wanted June to go away to Paris after his actions condemned the girls at Jezebels. He’s a coward really.
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While getting on the plane Nick paused for a moment. Do you think he felt that June was nearby
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Absolutely! I feel like he knew it was the end.
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Absolutely he felt her!
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It was gut wrenching to watch, but beautifully done 💜.
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Omg! I was on edge . I was heartbroken that Nick and especially Lawrence died in this episode. I wasn’t expecting that. I’m so excited to see what comes next and I wish we had more seasons 💞
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I was kind of expecting June to whisper to Nick and tell him not to get on the plane. I wonder what side he would have chosen? Stay with June or alert the Gilead Comanders?
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I also felt that Lawrence knew even before he left the house that he was going to die. Remember he asked his wife to make sure that she reads to their daughter? That whole conversation was loaded. Women in Gilead aren't supposed to read. I know they were trying to change that in New Bethlehem but it wasn't set in stone. Remember that's how Serena lost her finger.
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I think he knew obviously that there was a huge risk and that he could also get caught. But I think he was thinking he would return. So sad I hope They steal back the daughter.
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I found it interesting that when his “Wife” asked where he left off reading, he said chapter 9. And that was episode 9.
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My feeling for nick were like a roller coaster ride… I liked him at times and didn’t at other times but Commander Lawrence was someone I like all along !!! I was so beyond sad when I realized he was going to sacrifice himself and when nick got on , I thought for a brief second that maybe they would have gotten out of it until the plane took off☹️
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I thought Lawrence was going to make up an excuse like he forgot something in his car. And get off the plane and the other commanders were busy talking and wouldn't notice before the plane took off.
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That’s what I thought!
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With both Nick and Lawrence both sitting on the plane side by side both with different reasons to be there I find it very poignant
Nick chose to save himself at Jezebels at the cost of the girls, then chose again the plane to save himself. He was always looking for the easy escape (the intention was always for an easy leg up).
Lawrence chose to help June at Jezebels at great personal risk and then chose the plane to sacrifice himself. He may have started this mess (the intention was not of power or selfishness) but he was trying to fix his mistakes
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I accidentally read a spoiler 2 days ago and couldn't bring myself to watch it until today. As a die hard fan since the very beginning, I expected a captivating/ fireworks display type of ending; especially with Testaments right around the corner... No where in hell did I ever think THIS would happen. I was beyond heartbroken for not only Commander Lawrence, but the fact that June, Nick, & Nicole, will never have another goodbye (even after the betrayal which IMO was eminent although he could've just made up a different possible threat & helped June & jezebel girls.
Lawrence on the other hand tried like hell to right his wrongs over the last 2-3 seasons and being such a disappointment to his wife. I think the ultimate selfless act was done out of pure love & respect; not only for her but June too.
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I realized Lawerence wasn't going to survive the episode when he was saying goodbye to his little girl and he looks up at his horrible wife and says please read to her every night. She rolls her eyes and dismisses his comment likely because women aren't supposed to read or write in Gillead. She dismisses his request and Lawerence says please. This child loves to learn. She loves to be read to. She has an aptitude for learning. She finally takes the book out of his hands he'd been reading to the daughter every night and says what chapter are u on. He says 9. Its this foreshadowing that he knows somehow hes not coming back. And then I knew too. The second June convinces him with the bomb plan I thought my heart would break in two. Throughout the entire show commander Lawerence is 2 sides to a coin. His redemption was also his downfall. He would have been dead even if he didn't bring the bomb. Gilead commanders had already sensed and picked up on the truth of lawerance. He wasn't all in. He wasn't completely devoted. He had a smile on his face and a lead weight strapped to his heart. He wrestled every season to ignore his humanity. Truly he tried to be "passable" even if it meant body's hung on a wall. He could have helped June kill all the commanders plotting against him and then taken over Gillead in an evil plot twist. But at the heart of Lawerance was, well.. his heart. His true self. He couldn't blend in. Sure as shit would be hung if he stood out. Redemption was all he had
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I certainly did not expect Lawrence and Nick to die. It was heartbreaking especially after watching Lawrence hug Angela and tell her how much he loves her.
Both have been such influential characters....to see them die tore me apart!!😭
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I don't understand how the writers of this series could think they wrote a "good guy" in the story of Nick. First, he was actually part of the initial start-up of this regime. Maybe he didn't realize how much damage it would cause women till he met and fell in love with June, but any time anything would turn uncomfortable for him, he abandoned the plan. He only cared about saving June, and his daughter with June, he knew this life was no life for a woman or a girl that he loved. His daughter is already safe in Alaska with Holly. His revealing the plan at Jezabels was the true revealing of his personality. Especially when he asked June to run away with him to France, basically asking her to abandon her 1st daughter and all the time she spent trying to save the other handmaids. He only does this because he doesn't want her to find out he ratted out their plans. He didn't care about his wife and unborn son in that moment! He likes Gilead because he's got power in Gilead. His 2nd child will be male, so he likely won't suffer either. He chose the cowardly path. Lawrence KNEW he was going to die and went on that plane anyway. He's the only one who deserves redemption.
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WHHHHYYYYY just why why kill my dude Commander Lawrence??!!! To hell with Nick no love lost there seeing him go. I'm devastated. Gonna need major therapy to get over Commander Lawrence. RIP my guy! DAMN YOU WRITERS!!😓😢
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Nick and June love story is breathtaking, ending up like this felt so sad.
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I'm not sure why there's a spoiler warning when it literally gives away one of the deaths in the title of the article.
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Scam
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Maybe I am in the minority here but I am angry about this episode. It stunk. First, the entire June execution scene and her confrontation with Wharton seemed “soap opera” dramatic and far fetched. Also, I am a purist and we are already seeing deviations from the books. First, in the Testaments novel, Aunt Lydia is a strong resister who is using her power to bring down the regime. In the book, she is more self interested. She cares about others but ultimately wants to bring the regime down as a form of personal vengeance. So this episode’s crumbling mess and indignant Aunt Lydia of episode nine is out of character. Lastly, in the Testaments novel, June’s daughters reunite with her and their respective fathers. According to the book, Nick is a double agent for Mayday who is in Gilead and June is hiding on a farm. What would have been ideal is to June forsake Nick for his betrayal and Luke forsake June for her betrayal of his plan to her lover. But instead…we got this tripe. I’m preparing myself now for a depressing and blasé series’s finale and sequel.
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Shows and movies are often altered to add a dramatic twist. There are hardly any movies or shows that are identical to the books that preceded them. I think you’re viewing the show as a reader not for entertainment purposes, which can cause disfavor. Although heartbreaking it ended on a powerful note also displaying that despite the tragedy June’s sacrifice of herself consistently was not in vain. Perfectly written and opposite of what we always see where lives are saved and the problems still remain.
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This episode had me drawing parallels to the rebellion in Star Wars. In order for the Empire(Gilead) to be defeated, June's side needed to be willing to make the ultimate sacrifice. The only way to bring down an evil and all-powerful enemy.
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Definitely Rogue One vibes.
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It broke my heart when Nick was getting on the plane and he stopped almost as if he could sense her presence…. But then got on the plane.
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With the commanders in Boston gone Janine's next stop will be to commander Lawrence's house. She will finally be reunited with her daughter and Naomi will end up in handcuffs.
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This whole last season was so messed up, as in the way it played out. The look on June and Nick's face when she realized he betrayed her and sacrificed all the Jezebel girls to safe his own neck, tells me he was a coward. He knew there was no future for him and June, so I believe he settled on Gilead for his own selfishness and desire for power. Lawrence knew that if he didn't sacrifice himself that all they had accomplished woupd be lost. I also believe he was miserable with his wife. I am waiting for the June and Hanna reunion.
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Bradley Whitford is amazing...the hand over the heart and he bit his lip.
He just fell in love with Angela...I cried.
Bye Joseph Lawrence.
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Anikan killed younglings and Nick got the girls at jezebels killed. And I still love them both. I'll die on this hill. I cried so hard for Nick. His character 100% got Daenerys Targaryened.
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I thought I read in the Testament that Nick meets Nicole
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it broke my heart when nick got on the plane, Lawerance too. I truly wanted to see Joan and nick at the end meet on the beach with their daughter. I hated the ending; Luke was ok he was a rebel, but the love she shared with nick was really Passante, he was a stand-up guy. His marriage was arranged; she eventually was going to get pregnant. the only time Nick was happy is when he was with Joan. But she has his daughter which will always tie her to him. I hope another Nick comes in her life in testament. It was the greatest series I ever watched the love story was the only part that seemed real.
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We already know that Lawrence is casted in The Testiments. How did he survive the plane explosion and does that mean others survived?
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I think that day when they ask Lawrence to bring that bomb on the plane, he had already decided to sacrifice himself. Didnt think of it at the time but later when I watched it again the goodbye between him Naomi and Angela was loaded. The way he told Angela to draw with lots of colors and for Naomi to read to her,even when its not allowed. How Angela was hungry for knowledge. It was his way of saying goodbye. Nick what can I say ??he made his bed and now he has to lay in it .He was stuck between a rock and a hard place. He chose Rose in the end I guess. He was right about June choosing when to remember that he is commander and an eye.That said he always did support June and help her till he betrayed her. Yes Nick you should have left when you had a chance. The look on Lawrence face says it all.
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About the lamest take you could regurgitate.
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When Lawrence looks to June and touches his heart, it broke mine. What a powerful and poignant scene. Wow.
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That was a heart wrenching scene! I cried NO as if they could hear me!
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Me too!
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When Lawrence talked to Naomi about the child , saying "all she wants to do is learn" I think he knew one way or another he was a dead man walking . He was trying to make Naomi care more about the needs of the girl but sadly Naomi's only interests involve herself.
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I totally agree with you about this scene ! My heart broke from his performance. He was a good person who wanted a peaceful life and helped many. I was really hoping he'd get out some way, but that didn't happen.😥 Then Nick had to join him which made it doubly worse!😭 Such great actors, my respect , Bravo gentlemen!👏👏
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It showed that the American forces are about destruction and murders. These commanders should have been arrested and put to trail.
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He also saved June's life a few times. June used him as well.
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The women of Jezebels wanted to kill the commanders so were not so innocent.
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He was scared of losing her. He was trying to persuade her before she learned the truth. He knew that it was over once she finds out the truth
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It took a long time to get to the end of the story with all of the delays, but I can honestly say this was one of, if not the best dramatic series that I’ve ever watched. The writers did not screw-up the end, and taking the time to get it right really paid off. Kudos to all involved in the production of the last season. It was perfect.
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PLEASE DELETE!!! WRONG PLACE, WRONG TIME!!! I REALIZE THAT YOU'VE GOT TO SCAM PEOPLE TO KEEP BUYING ALL THOSE PRETTY, SHINEY THINGS TO MAKE YOURSELF FEEL BETTER AND MAKE THOSE 2 CHILDREN OF YOUR ASHAMED OF YOU
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