‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ Delivers Nick Bombshell: Max Minghella Explains Major Betrayal

[Warning: The following contains MAJOR spoilers for The Handmaid’s Tale Season 6 Episode 6, “Surprise.”]

The title of the April 29 episode of The Handmaid’s Tale, “Surprise,” sells the episode’s bombshell reveal short. June (Elisabeth Moss) wasn’t just surprised by what she overheard about Nick (Max Minghella) while hiding in a closet with him in Serena’s (Yvonne Strahovski) home, it took the air right out of her lungs. This is the turning point in June and Nick’s relationship that was always inevitable in this series, and their relationship will never be the same. In fact, it’s probably done for good.

June returned to Gilead on a secret mission with Moira (Samira Wiley) to help set up Mayday’s plot against the Boston commanders that frequent the Jezebel’s brothel. Janine (Madeline Brewer) was working there, and June and Moira were determined to help free all of the women while attacking Gilead’s leaders. The plan went sideways, resulting in June hiding out with Nick in New Bethlehem. The unexpected return of Nick’s father-in-law, High Commander Gabriel Wharton (Josh Charles), forced June to seek shelter at Serena’s. The next morning, Wharton arrived at Serena’s (his now-fiancée) home while June and Nick were there. They hid in a closet and heard Gabriel reveal to Serena that the commanders discovered the plot against Jezebel’s with Nick’s help. While June was hiding at Serena’s and waiting for Nick, Nick was pressured into revealing the truth about the Mayday plot. Jezebel’s was shut down, and the fate of every captive woman inside it was left hanging in the balance.