The Handmaid’s Tale Season 6 Episode 9 Ending Explained: Nick, Lawrence, and June’s Fates

The Handmaid’s Tale season 6 is just one episode away from wrapping up the entire show (well, at least till The Testaments comes out). The last episode ended with the Handmaids killing the Commanders after Serena and Wharton’s wedding banquet. This episode continues that action, and while the rebellion hopes for victory, there are still a lot of thorns on the road. 

The Getaway Truck of the Handmaids gets Intercepted

The Handmaids kill the Commanders (and some even kill the Wives) to the tune of Taylor Swift’s Look What You Made Me Do music, and then they make their way to the truck that is supposed to get them to their freedom and far from Gilead. However, the truck gets intercepted, and they get taken back to where they were trying to escape from. June, however, gets taken to meet Wharton. 

June gets Saved by Mayday

Wharton meets with June, and while the latter tries to convince him to spare her friends, he remains unmoved, and so June and the others (including Aunt Lydia) are all taken to face the rope. Wharton blames Lydia for not handling the women, but she lashes out at him. June also gives a speech where she calls for arms and inspires the rebellion to keep it going even after her death. She gets readied for execution, but gets saved by Mayday. 

June Wants to see this Rebellion Through 

When June and the others get nooses put around their necks, Luke, Rita, and the others attack the Guardians. The Handmaids get freed, and June gets saved in the nick of time. So, she doesn’t choke to death. The Handmaids too pick up weapons and join the fight. June sees Luke standing in front of her and witnesses the American fighter jets flying. The fight has truly begun, and June is ready to see this entire thing through. Wharton, amid this chaos, gets escorted out. 

Wharton Plans to Leave for DC 

Serena reveals to June that Wharton is planning to leave for DC from Bedford. They are going to get backup, and so it becomes important to put a stop to their plan. Lawrence, a Commander (who is with Mayday), is tasked with planting a bomb on the plane and then getting off of it.

Lawrence Sacrifices Himself to give the Rebellion a Fighting Chance 

Lawrence initially doesn’t want to place the bomb on the plane, so June accompanies him to give him confidence. However, the plan goes awry when the other Commanders show up before Lawrence can get the job done. While other Commanders rebuke Lawrence for sympathizing with the Handmaids, Wharton says that they all need to present a strong front in DC. 

Lawrence then realizes that to get the job done, he will have to take the bomb with him on the plane. This is the only way Mayday will have a fighting chance. He and June (who is hiding) share a look and she realizes that she will lose a great ally. 

Nick’s Death ends The Handmaid’s Tale Season 6 Episode 9 

Nick joins the Commanders on their journey to DC, and this surprises June, who thought that he was with Rose after she complained of pain. However, that medical emergency was resolved quickly, and she and the baby were now doing okay. After this, Rose told him to fight for Gilead and get rid of June forever. 

So, he joined Wharton on the plane. June watches everything but does nothing to distract him because if she interferes, Mayday will have no chance. Also, he betrayed her the last time, so she stays quiet. On the plane, he asks Lawrence if June is alive and is relieved to hear that she is. 

He then says that she once asked him to join the rebellion. To this, Lawrence replies that he should have. From the ground, June looks on as he plane turns into a ball of fire.  

Where can you Watch The Handmaid's Tale Season 6?

Episodes 1 to 9 of The Handmaid’s Tale season 6 are now streaming on Hulu. New episodes drop every Tuesday. Episode 10, the series finale, is titled "The Handmaid’s Tale" and will air on May 27, 2025. If you want to refresh your memory, we have the recaps of Episodes 1-3 and Episodes 4 to 8.