💔 “Why Nick from The Handmaid’s Tale is NOT like Snow from The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes”
It seems like the writers of The Handmaid’s Tale tried to play the old trope in the finale: he may love her, but he’s still the villain. They even used Luke to spell it out “all he cared about was you, he doesn’t want us to win” = meaning he has feelings for you but also he’s a nazi
Kind of like Snow, who falls in love with a girl from District 12 but still ends up a monster.
Apparently, in the end — with one wild flip-flop — they decided to make Nick that guy: the one who cares about the girl, but deep down is just another part of the system.
Yes, on the surface, the trope feels familiar: She’s the victim of the system, literally locked in cage. He’s the enforcer of it. The one who’s supposed to maintain control. And somehow, there’s affection between them.
But that’s where the similarity ends. Because at the core, these are two completely different stories.
But oh god the writers of tht are so stupid because they failed miserably, it didn’t work at all. Let’s compare:
1. ❌ Snow was privileged. Nick was recruited as a victim.
Snow was the privileged son of a Games creator, raised in a world of xenophobia and superiority. He was born at the top. Even though they had financial difficulties and he also wanted to provide for his cousin and grand ma he also was very ambitious from the start. He always wants to win.
Nick, on the other hand, came from a poor family, was a victim of economic collapse and systemic recruitment. He didn’t climb the ladder for ambition — he was pulled into it because they used his vulnerabilities and he had no choice. It was shown how from the very start Nick was shocked by the system. He never wanted to win that’s why all the commanders didn’t take him seriously calling him a Boy Scout.
2. ❌ Snow had ambition and enjoyed violence.
Snow betrayed his friend for power — which was already a point of no return. But beyond that, it was shown that killing made him feel good — his words, not mine. One of the clearest moments? When he killed a tribute and then, for no reason, hit the already-dead body again. It wasn’t about survival. It was about control.He wanted to feel powerful.
Nick? Never once shown seeking power, never hurt anyone for pleasure, and always risked himself to save June and Nichole. No backstabbing, no power plays — just quiet resistance. And he killed bad guys (Patnem) without any pleasure, feeling sick even. We saw how devastated and tired he came home after that.
3. ❌ Snow lied to his lover. Nick never did.
Snow lied to Lucy Gray about how many people he’d killed. She saw the truth and walked away.
Nick was always honest with June. Even when things were painful or complicated. There’s not a single scene where he lies to her. She never asked him questions because she was afraid to hear the answers. But if she did he would have told her everything, he’s painfully honest which Bruce Miller said himself - this guy can’t lie and especially he can’t lie to June.
4. ❌ Snow turned vengeful. Nick let her go respectfully
As soon as Lucy Gray rejected Snow, he became obsessive, dangerous, with the gun in the forest hunting Lucy, willing to kill her.
Nick, however, let June go — over and over again. He never punished her for leaving. Never lashed out when she couldn’t choose him — even when it was deeply unfair. He didn’t say, “After all I’ve done for you?!” like Snow did in his spiral of rage.
No. Nick simply whispered: “I’m nothing to her.” Or quietly said: “She thinks I’m a monster.” He didn’t chase her. He didn’t demand anything. He literally stopped moving when she told him not to follow her.
And despite everything he’d done to save her, he never bragged. Never used it to guilt her. He just loved her.
5. ❌ Snow helped for personal gain. Nick helped at his own risk.
Snow needed Lucy to survive the Games so he could win money and status. Even though he cared for her, it was always tied to ambition.
Nick? He helped June escape over and over — fully knowing it could get him killed. He even saved her husband at his own personal risk. None of it benefited him. If anything, it only made his life harder.
6. ❌ Snow chased power. Nick chased love.
Snow always wanted to go back to the Capitol. Lucy Gray was just a detour.
Nick used his position only to help June. He didn’t want power, he wanted a future with her and their daughter.
Nick is not Snow. This isn’t a story about “a villain who “loves” but still chooses evil.”
It’s a story about a man who chose love — again and again, even when it cost him everything. He became a victim of love. And he never became a monster — even when he had every reason to.
So if the writers thought they were giving us a “dark mirror version” of a love story…Are we sure they even watched their own first five and a half seasons?
