The Handmaid’s Tale S6E5: Lawrence’s Shocking Decision, Will June & Moira Escape?

by

Warning: Contains SPOILERS for The Handmaid’s Tale season 6, episode 5!

In “The Handmaid’s Tale,” Season 6 Episode 5 has aired, culminating in a suspenseful twist featuring June, Moira, and Commander Lawrence. As the final season unfolds, tensions are escalating, with June recognizing that she must take stronger actions against Gilead’s growing influence if she hopes to free Hannah. Consequently, June has resolved to return to the perilous lands of Gilead once more, leaving us at the end of Episode 5 in a position where Lawrence is her potential means of escape.

In the fourth episode of season 6, “The Handmaid’s Tale” concludes with a significant turn of events as June and Moira resolve to reenter Gilead. Mayday devises a fresh strategy to strike at Gilead, aiming to exploit Jezebel’s establishment to target the Commanders implicated in the plane hijacking from season 5. Aware that this could place the women working there in peril, June and Moira choose to visit Jezebel’s to alert them. As Marthas, June and Moira undertake this perilous mission, but matters soon take a disastrous turn for the worse.

Can Lawrence Get June & Moira Across The Border?

Commander Lawrence Could Fail

At Jezebel’s, June and Moira strive to alert the women about the impending attack, and they also endeavor to persuade Janine to depart with them. However, she decides to stay with the other girls. Consequently, June and Moira depart without any belongings. While they are there, a guard approaches them, compelling them to remove their masks. Once they realize they’re in danger, June and Moira eliminate the guard. They understand that his disappearance will eventually be noticed, which turns out to be true as the sirens blare, urging them to flee from Jezebel’s hastily.

In a parking garage, June and Moira find themselves in a predicament, unable to leave. Just as hope seems lost, they spot Commander Lawrence. June steps in front of his vehicle, compelling him to exit. She pleads with Lawrence for assistance in escaping, and, grudgingly, he instructs them to get into the back of his car. The episode concludes with Lawrence slamming the trunk shut as June begins to ask him to help smuggle them across the border, leaving their future uncertain until season 6, episode 6 of The Handmaid’s Tale.

As a supporter, I find Commander Lawrence to be an influential figure, but the question lingers: Is he potent enough to orchestrate the clandestine escape of two women from Gilead? Despite his history of challenging Gilead’s authority, Lawrence has made adversaries that could raise suspicion should he approach the Gilead border. Consequently, a thorough search of his vehicle might be conducted, potentially exposing June and Moira to discovery.

Can Lawrence Be Trusted & Is He Actually Helping Them?

Or Does He Have Different Plans?

Commander Lawrence is a character in “The Handmaid’s Tale” who leaves viewers questioning his trustworthiness due to his ambiguous nature. On one hand, Lawrence has shown kindness towards June and other protagonists by helping them in various ways, like sending Janine to Jezebel’s instead of the Colonies which might have saved her life. However, he’s also displayed a dark side, such as when he ordered planes to be shot down during “The Handmaid’s Tale” season 5. This act and his leadership role in Gilead make him complicit in some of its most heinous crimes, despite any personal disagreements with them.

It appears Lawrence is dissatisfied with where Gilead is going, despite perhaps not being fond of a location as liberal as the United States. Instead, Lawrence’s concerns seem more aligned with June, and he seems to prioritize New Bethlehem above both Gilead and other interests. It’s plausible that Lawrence might be planning to take June and Moira to New Bethlehem because it may pose less risk than going to the Gileadean border.

Is Mayday’s Jezebel’s Plan Now Ruined?

Thanks To June’s Killing Of The Guard

In the first half of season 6, Jezebel’s scheme, which has been a significant plotline for Mayday, is at risk of unraveling. The actions of June and Moira in killing the guard could lead to increased scrutiny on Jezebel’s, potentially tightening security. If they discover there was an intruder, successfully executing the plan will be even more challenging. Given Mayday’s history of failures throughout The Handmaid’s Tale, it wouldn’t be surprising if the group encounters difficulties again in the final season.

Despite some challenges, there’s still a possibility that Mayday’s plan might succeed. At present, Janine is the sole individual privy to Mayday’s scheme. It seems unlikely that she will reveal this secret, and though a corpse has been discovered, it’s rather far-fetched for Gilead to suspect a broader conspiracy based on this alone. As long as Janine remains silent, there’s hope. This situation certainly makes Mayday’s mission more complex, but it’s not an insurmountable obstacle yet.

Why Wharton & Serena Joy Are Getting Married

Is Their Marriage Based On Love?

In the fifth episode of season 6 in ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’, it’s Commander Wharton who proposes to Serena Joy Waterford, and surprisingly, she agrees. This decision is intriguing given several factors. Firstly, Serena Joy has expressed dissatisfaction in her previous marriage and generally dislikes the regime of Gilead. Accepting a proposal from Gilead’s top figure appears to be a significant step backward. Moreover, Commander Wharton’s recent courtship with Serena suggests that their sudden leap into matrimony might seem somewhat hasty.

In the story, both characters appear to have reasons to get married. For Serena Joy, tying the knot with Wharton might offer her the most protection. Given her previous actions against Gilead and her influential status within the nation, she’s at risk. Marrying a High Commander would make her essentially immune to harm. On the other hand, Wharton seems interested in Serena Joy for her influence, much like Lawrence wants to utilize her for his New Bethlehem project. Their relationship in “The Handmaid’s Tale” appears more political than romantic, suggesting it could be a strategic union.

Read More

2025-04-22 23:28