‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ Team Goes Inside That Tragic One-Two Punch of Penultimate Episode

[There are major spoilers in this story for The Handmaid’s Tale’s “Execution,” episode nine of season six. “].

A good commander does not exist.

Throughout the sixth and last season of the Hulu series, the authors of The Handmaid’s Tale have been conveying that message to viewers. When June (Elisabeth Moss) was shocked by Nick’s (Max Minghella) betrayal of the Jezebel, her husband Luke (O-T Fagbenle) claimed it was because he is a Nazi. Yvonne Strahovski’s character Serena Joy recalled June’s warning that Wharton (played by Josh Charles) couldn’t be a good man because he is a man of Gilead when he surprised his new bride with a handmaid on their wedding night.

The penultimate episode, “Execution,” which was written by co-showrunner Eric Tuchman and directed by star Elisabeth Moss, featured the deaths of Nick Blaine, Joseph Lawrence (Bradley Whitford), and Gabriel Wharton. In order to eliminate some of Gilead’s most radical male leaders, Lawrence was collaborating with June and the Mayday revolution to plant an altitude-triggered bomb on a High Commanders plane and then escape. But Lawrence chose to sacrifice himself by boarding the plane and carrying out his plan when Wharton (Charles) and the others arrived early. Nick boarded the plane at the last minute.

Minghella and Whitford—who are actually close friends—reflected on the valiant former handmaid in the heartbreaking final scene between June allies Nick and Lawrence. Nick was unaware that it would be their last conversation, but Lawrence was. When Nick told Lawrence, “She told me to give all this up,” Lawrence said, “You should have listened to her.”. While Nick and June, the show’s biggest romance since season one, never experienced that moment, Lawrence had a heartfelt farewell with June before boarding the plane. June’s raw and conflicted feelings, as she watches the plane explode in the sky, also speak for the audience.

In the last season’s struggle against Gilead, the deaths mark a sea change. As punishment for killing Commanders in episode eight’s wedding night coup, Moira (Samira Wiley), Janine (Madeline Brewer), June, a newly transformed Aunt Lydia, undercover CIA agent Aunt Ava (D’Arcy Carden), and other handmaids were nearly hanged earlier in the episode, nearly eliminating the majority of the female cast. However, as planes invaded Gilead-run Boston, June cried out the handmaids’ catchphrase, “Don’t let the bastards grind you down!” Luke, former Martha Rita (Amanda Brugel), and Mayday fighters arrived to save June and the women.

Below, as the series enters its final episode, Minghella, Whitford, Moss, show creator Bruce Miller, Tuchman and season six co-showrunner Yahlin Chang, and executive producer Warren Littlefield discuss how they chose and executed a moving end for two of the most significant characters in the series in separate interviews with The Hollywood Reporter.

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When we first broke the season, we decided on Nick and Lawrence’s deaths, said ERIC TUCHMAN, writer and co-showrunner for season six. Nick’s fate resulted from our decision to betray him halfway through, and Lawrence’s fate followed suit. Lizzie [Moss goes by “Lizzie”), MGM [Television], Hulu, and all the creatives—including those who passed away—were the ones to whom we pitched the season. Lizzie raised her hand in response to hearing that portion of the pitch, saying, “I want to direct that one, too.”. She was already in charge of the conclusion. She and Max were on board right away.

ELISABETH MOSS [executive producer, director of “June/Offred”), I was in Paris filming The Veil when they presented us with the entire season, outline by outline. After the meeting ended, I said, “I have to direct episode nine.”. They graciously said yes when I respectfully asked. Personally, I must go if Nick and Lawrence do.

TUCHMAN The show is at such a pivotal point. Hopefully, it makes a big difference. She realized that directing that would be very juicy.

Lizzie first presented it to Max on the set of their independent film Shell, which was directed by Minghella and starred Moss. YAHLIN CHANG is the writer and co-showrunner of season six. “You’re going to die in the coolest way,” she said to him. She sort of prepared him, she says, laughing.

MAX MINGHELLA [Nick Blaine] We filmed Shell just prior to this season’s conclusion. It had been a while since we had started working together, and she was expressing her excitement about the direction the season was going to take. So, even before I read the scripts, I was given a hint.

We are no longer attempting to romanticize or idealize Nick, and TUCHMAN Max understood that it was a very honest look at his character. Max truly embraced everything, to his credit.

MINGHELLA Nick was under a lot of pressure, and under pressure, people don’t always think clearly. I believe that Nick thought Wharton already knew the answers when he told him about the Jezebel’s coup, and that it was more of a test than a real interrogation. I don’t think Nick would have given those answers if he had known the ramifications of that conversation, and I believe he honestly didn’t prepare for them.

BRUCE MILLER [creator, writer, executive producer] June loved Nick, but he didn’t really connect with her in any of his other activities. Max’s portrayal of a Juneland resident has been outstanding. In a place like Gilead, Nick’s lack of allegiances becomes apparent. You are at risk from both sides if you are not loyal to either.

TUCHMAN Nick, I believe, doesn’t speak in Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale. He also says very little in the pilot. As an actor, you wouldn’t know based solely on the feeling that something is cooking between him and June. You would need to have a lot of faith that the writers will treat you well. To his credit, Max was able to see that right away.

MINGHELLA I really enjoyed playing Nick, which is strange. He seemed very at ease playing, but I don’t think we’re all that alike. I think this is a really moving way to end. I felt like Nick on a more grounded level, and I was quite impressed by how different it was from what I had anticipated. The fact that the show’s creators came up with something so creative while staying true to the show’s theme is a huge compliment to all of them. The turning point, in my opinion, was in the choices he made in that hospital scene with [wife] Rose. It seemed to me to be a morality play. In the context of this story, the world will karmically punish you for making such a psychological choice.

MOSS June did not fall in love with Nick, in my opinion. That being said, the loss of the women [who were killed] at Jezebel’s will always take precedence over her grief over the loss of the person she fell in love with. But there’s also pain there. I won’t claim that there wasn’t some complexity involved in June’s ignorance of his future while she was at that wedding. [Watching him board the plane] is obviously very complicated.

MILLER I realize this is a contentious issue, but it seemed inevitable that June would lose Nick in this manner. One of them will eventually encounter the other while they are fighting on opposing sides, and they may have to give their lives or sacrifice themselves. The world of Gilead is dreadful, cruel, full of death, and full of loss. The fact that Nick was heavily involved in Gilead’s version of January 6 is part of his backstory. He’s seen as one of the original individuals who the United States would never forgive. Canada or the United States. He made a lot of effort with those folks.

CHANGE Because we as writers are so invested in this romance, there are some aspects of Nick that June is blind to, as are our viewers. Being an Eye from the start and eventually rising to the position of Commander, Nick has committed some wrongdoings that we haven’t revealed, so it was easy to forget. However, one of the recurring themes in this season—which you can observe in Wharton and Nick—is that a good Gilead Commander does not exist. If you are a powerful man in Gilead, you are likely affected by some of the corruption there.

MINGHELLA, I wasn’t completely aware of Nick’s darker side because I’m only reading the scripts I’m acting in. Reading about how drastically the show’s viewpoint on him changes in season six was undoubtedly unexpected. However, I saw it as an opportunity to delve into a side of this character that I haven’t yet explored, which is a pretty intriguing thing to get to do six seasons into a series. I have been pleasantly distracted because I am currently working on a very demanding project. But more than anything, I hope the story is enjoyable to readers as a whole. For all of us, it has been an actual labor of love. Everyone hoped to produce something that was both gratifying and, most importantly, unpredictable.

MOSS Although Nichole [now known as Holly] is her real name, I do believe Nick loved her. June will probably tell [her and Nick’s daughter] how wonderful her father is. She will express her love for him and his love for her. She will tell him how much her parents loved each other and that, in the end, if he had had another chance, he would have done the right thing.

MILLER Nick and June had a fantastic relationship. Their love, in my opinion, was incredible and quite surprising. And Nick was nearly saved by it. He came very close. He had that personality from the start, but June saw a truly amazing side of him that we [the audience] saw virtually constantly. He drove like a fucking idiot. He was the Gestapo and was in the Eyes. People like Nick are killed when they reach the top because other people want that power, whether it’s Mayday or the other commanders letting Mayday blow up that plane. He’s a survivor, but he’s not much of a power player.

BRADLEY WHITFORD [“Joseph Lawrence”] I’m portraying a character who has committed some truly heinous crimes, but you can always tell that there was a redeemable aspect to him. Additionally, I’m aware that the show needs a villain, but I had no idea where this character would end up. However, I was hoping that he would wind up on the right side of history. This artistic endeavor holds great significance for me. I have a lot of meaning for this book. I find great meaning in the show’s regrettable cultural relevance. Consequently, there was a great deal of anxiety. In my career, I’ve been very successful at not bothering writers, but I was so concerned about it that I scheduled a meeting with Eric and Yahlin.

CHANG Bradley joined us for lunch [following season five]. What was going to happen to Lawrence worried him. He sincerely hoped Lawrence would not turn evil. For the season finale, he didn’t want him to go down that path. Bradley was relieved that we already knew how he would pass away and what we would do with him. He was totally on board as soon as Eric made the pitch.

WHITFORD I essentially imagined his trajectory. Since it can’t be too easy. No male savior is needed for this show (laughs). One of these smart guys, Lawrence, was so thrilled about the concept of New Bethlehem that he kind of fell for it again, falling for flattery and power. Despite his disdain for these men [the other High Commanders], his savior complex prevents him from seeing the clear possibility that they would turn against him, which is why he chose to assist Mayday.

TUCHMAN Characters should have a spectacular exit when they are killed off. You want it to make a huge impact. In this instance, Max and Bradley literally have a very memorable ending, and Josh Charles also blows up.

MOSS We all [from executive producers to Hulu and MGM] were always making sure the show progressed with the last season. Do we finish somewhere different from where we started? Don’t stand still. Proceed forward, as this is the end. Ten episodes remain to reach the conclusion. This season, none of the characters finish where we start.

Therefore, even though I hadn’t read it yet, I knew what was going to happen. Lizzie asked, “Want to read it?” as we were filming another scene, and I said sure. However, it had not yet been viewed by other members of the cast. Ann Dowd left a very kind message when they received the script. Simply put, she found it to be lovely.

TUCHMAN I prepared a brief salute for [Lawrence] as he turns to June just before he boards the aircraft, but it isn’t nearly as poignant as Bradley’s expression. I’m always gutted by that moment. His gesture and expression toward her are very moving. Seeing him sitting there on that plane, knowing what’s going to happen, is powerful.

MOSS Brad came up with that idea. I was really moved by the hand over the heart. I’ve known Brad for twenty-five years, after all. The most important thing to me is that the individuals I work with genuinely feel proud of their work. that their work is at its peak. You can let them push themselves. The room is large enough for them to do that, and they can speak on both sides of the camera. That’s the main point of it.

WARREN LITTLEFIELD [executive producer] This is an architect of Gilead, and the shot of [Bradley] boarding the plane is heartbreaking. Without Lawrence’s intellect, Gilead would not exist, and we are currently experiencing grief and sorrow over his passing. That is an amazing journey. The writers’ discoveries and Brad’s efforts to make that character come to life are both honored.

WHITFORD It was one of those instances where you have no idea what will happen until you make the gesture. I was familiar with [the gesture]. I always found it very touching when a friend of mine did that to a loved one’s coffin at a funeral. In my opinion, it’s also a continuation of the significance of this encounter with Lizzie and the creative connection I have with her that dates back to The West Wing. Although it wasn’t the final scene we shot, it was progressing.

MINGHELLA Having Lizzie direct my final scene in the show was truly a blessing and a great way to wrap things up. It was also appropriate to end with Brad. We’ve grown very close. He is simply amazing. Even though I didn’t know him prior to The Handmaid’s Tale, he is now one of my closest friends. It was ideal for us to perform our final scene.

WHITFORD On the plane, we shot our final scene. I was just dreading it, so I felt strange. Being seated next to Max and guided by Lizzie meant a lot to me. Max is the person I love the most. Both of these young individuals greatly inspire me. Both of them have contributed to this fortunate older man’s amazing creative experience, and I feel a sort of paternal ache toward them. I simply didn’t want to say goodbye because the [Toronto] crew is the sweetest crew on the planet, regardless of what [President] Trump may think of Canadians. I am aware of its rarity. These programs are alchemical. Even discussing it makes me feel emotional.

The decision that Lawrence made pleased me greatly. I believe he’s thinking, “This poor kid is another victim of this hellscape that I created,” as he sits on the plane in the last scene, listening to Nick. “.”.

Because of the fervor of the fans, LITTLEFIELD Finales are incredibly challenging. I don’t want to let you down. There are some truly outstanding shows with less than ideal conclusions. However, I am extremely pleased with the direction we took this season, the work we did on the last episode, and the new path we are currently taking with [sequel series] The Testaments. Yahlin and Eric had to make a very careful landing so that we could take off with The Testaments. Even though they had a lot to manage, they succeeded.

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