Max Minghella, who plays Commander Nick Blaine on “The Handmaid’s Tale,” recently discussed his character’s tragic death in the show’s penultimate episode. In the episode, Nick and Commander Joseph Lawrence, played by Bradley Whitford, boarded a plane with an explosive device, sacrificing their lives to take out Gilead’s extremist leaders. Minghella found Nick’s final moments, in which he discusses June, to be poignant and consistent with the character’s arc throughout the series.
“He’s really been driven by that relationship,” Minghella said of Nick’s connection with June, played by Elisabeth Moss. The actor also addressed Nick’s fundamental weakness and indecisiveness, which often drew him back to Gilead’s leadership. Minghella noted that young men who become radicalized often seek out strong male role models, a trait evident in Nick since the first season.
When asked about Nick’s betrayal of June’s plans, Minghella said he was aware of the character’s direction before the season began. “To ground that relationship into some of the darker points-of-view in ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ was surprising but interesting as an actor,” he said.
Nick’s self-sacrifice for June
“Certainly, nobody could accuse them of pandering.”
Minghella expressed satisfaction with the show’s final season, particularly the emotional retribution delivered to the audience. “I hope audiences enjoy both the dense aspects of the show and some emotional retribution,” he said. Showrunners Eric Tuchman and Yahlin Chang also weighed in on the deaths of Nick and Lawrence, which they had planned early in the season.
Tuchman said, “It felt like the end of his story. He was trying to straddle two worlds, and he ultimately had to make a decision.”
Elisabeth Moss, who directed the episode, was eager to helm the impactful moment. “If Nick and Lawrence are going to go, it has to be me.
It’s a huge moment in the show that hopefully has a lot of impact,” she said. As “The Handmaid’s Tale” approaches its series finale, the deaths of Nick and Lawrence serve as a reminder of the show’s commitment to challenging its characters and audience, setting the stage for an explosive conclusion to June’s fight against Gilead’s oppressive regime.
