Warning! SPOILERS for The Handmaid’s Tale season 5 episode 3 ahead.While The Handmaid’s Tale season 5, episode 3 showed how unlikely Nick and June’s potential future is, just after episode 2's seeming efforts to leave a door open for the pair. The Handmaid’s Tale’s first three episodes in season 5 showed an escalation of violence between June (Elizabeth Moss) and Serena Joy (Yvonne Strahovski), with June’s Gilead allies Commanders Lawrence (Bradley Whitford) and Blaine (Max Minghella) even risking being uncovered by Serena had they not capitulated and given Fred the funeral she believed he deserved. However, Mark Tuello’s (Sam Jaeger) presence in Boston accompanying Serena to Fred’s funeral provided an interesting development for Nick.
Tuello’s proposal could have possibly brought Nick closer to Nichole and even brought Nick and June closer if only he accepted to essentially work as a spy for him. After all, if Nick had managed to provide enough information on Gilead for the US and Canadian governments, he could have eventually asked to be accepted into Canada as a refugee. However, The Handmaid’s Tale season 5 episode 3 firmly put a stop to even just the chance that could happen in the near future, as Nick not only finally told June about his new wife Rose (Carey Cox) but also itted to her that, having new obligations, he couldn’t know when it’ll be safe to talk again.
Even when they weren’t romantically linked, Nick and June’s relationship always proved crucial for them, as they ed each other even while being in different countries. However, as The Handmaid’s Tale season 5 introduced Nick’s wife and made a point of showing their ive and clearly honest relationship, considering how Rose knew a lot about June and Hannah because Nick confided in her, it’s less likely that Nick and June will be reunited anytime soon. In addition, since Commander Mackenzie (Jason Butler Harner) promised Nick he would keep an eye on him after seeing him talk with Tuello, it’s also unlikely Nick and June will be available to be in again anytime soon after The Handmaid’s Tale season 5, episode 3, leaving them alone on their personal paths.
Will Nick Ever Escape Gilead? It Now Looks Even Less Likely
Tuello’s proposal to Nick proved the new commander’s relevance and usefulness for the Canadian and American governments, especially for the information he could have provided. However, as The Handmaid’s Tale season 5, episode 3 highlighted Nick’s perilous situation and his need to protect himself and his wife Rose, it’s highly unlikely he’ll be free of Gilead. Moreover, even if he weren’t being watched by Commander Mackenzie, Nick’s only bargaining chip with the US and Canadian governments to obtain some benefits would be information about Gilead. To provide it, Nick would be more useful to the US and Canada inside Gilead rather than outside of it in Canada, making his escape from the theocracy even less likely.
While Nick’s unique situation will make him more likely to stay in Gilead, not only because he’d actually have more power to bring it down from there, it doesn’t mean he and June will ever hear from or see each other again. After all, as their talk on the phone in The Handmaid’s Tale season 5, episode 3 proved, Nick and June’s relationship is still strong enough that they could be sincere and trust each other, especially considering how they talked about Rose. It can only be hoped that it’ll stay that way going forward and that together they can help bring down Gilead one step at a time in The Handmaid’s Tale season 5.
New Episodes of The Handmaid’s Tale release every Wednesday on Hulu.