For some reason, Nick didn’t escape Gilead with June, but The Handmaid’s Tale finally explained in the season 5 finale exactly why he stayed behind.
Warning: Contains SPOILERS for The Handmaid’s Tale season 5!The Handmaid’s Tale season 5 finale finally explained one big Nick question, making the character’s story even more tragic. Nick and June’s relationship has been the series’ most consistent will-they-or-won’t-they storyline, with Nick being June’s only real source of happiness while she was trapped in Gilead. Now that June has escaped Gilead, spending most of The Handmaid’s Tale season 5 living freely in Canada, many viewers have been wondering why Nick didn’t escape with her.
At the start of The Handmaid’s Tale, Nick was an Eye, although he has slowly worked his way up to the rank of Commander throughout the series. Although he now has immense influence in Gilead, Nick’s allegiance isn’t with the country, helping the Little American government throughout season 5. In the Handmaid’s Tale season 5 finale, American agent Mark Tuello finally asks Nick why he didn’t escape Gilead with June, which prompts a tragic response. Nick explains that, although he loves June, he knows that there are people who love her outside of Gilead. Nick seems to believe that June’s love for him was only a product of her circumstances and that she would drop Nick for her family once she made it to Canada. On top of that, Nick’s anti-Gilead tendencies have made him a useful ally for the Americans, and he can only use his influence if he remains in Gilead.
Why Nick Still Can’t Let June Go In The Handmaid’s Tale
Nick and June’s relationship has been a complicated one throughout season 5, as Nick is in Gilead and June is in Canada. While the two have visited each other, June’s visits have been strictly business, whereas Nick’s visits have been for the love that he can’t let go of. The two have been through thick and thin, with Nick putting his life on the line for June several times. June was even there for Nick when his first wife died. Although it would be smart for Nick to let June go, a bond like that is hard to break.
Nick and June’s relationship gets even more complicated for one big reason: Nick is the father of June’s daughter, Nichole. June became pregnant with Nichole before leaving Gilead, with the two safely living in Canada throughout season 5. If Nick were to completely cut off June, he wouldn’t just be losing a former love, he’d also be losing his daughter. The familial and romantic bonds Nick has with June make it incredibly difficult for him to let go, even if he has to risk his life to continue protecting June.
Will Nick Ever Be Able To Escape Gilead?
Considering that he’s a Commander, Nick’s chances of escaping Gilead are higher than that of most other people. He is even close with Commander Lawrence, the most powerful man in Gilead, who also happens to be trying to bring the country down. Although Nick probably could escape Gilead, he may not choose to. Nick has had every opportunity to leave Gilead, but he has remained in the country at every turn, with his new wife making his Gilead ties even stronger. While Nick’s fate is still up in the air, his potential tragic fate won’t be revealed until season 6, the final season of The Handmaid’s Tale.
