TMBlue

A couple years ago, I started working on a big project to edit together all the Osblaine scenes, Nick scenes, and any moments where it’s conceivable that June was thinking about Nick throughout the entire Handmaid’s Tale show.

The file above is everything from seasons 1-5. I started working on season 6, episode by episode, but stopped after episode 6 for obvious reasons… I may return to it and finish the whole thing for the sake of completism, and I was also working on cleaning up a few transitions to make the audio smoother. But for now, here’s my link to everything through 5x10.

First of all, cheering for the way we have turned my Google Drive into Alt Hulu. ✨

But for anyone still having trouble, here's a fresh link to try! If you still run into errors, let me know and I'll figure out a workaround. WE WILL FIND A WAY! *slams fist on desk*

That is not love, that is obligation. It is not a reason to be with someone. Waiting does not make Luke special or "deserving" of June. And yet so many treat him like he's a saint for it, June included. She is always so insecure and apologetic around Luke and it's exhausting to see this play out as a viewer for half of season 4, all of season 5, and now the beginning of season 6. It is not empowering or entertaining to watch a woman push aside her own wants and needs to settle for a man praised for the supposed self-sacrificing act of waiting.

Nick's pained expression really got me there too- he wishes that he could wait, he would wait for her for years, forever, even. When he knew he was in love with June and began a relationship with her back at the very beginning of their love story, he ended his dalliance with Beth immediately, signalling his devotion to her. He feels hurt by June's implications that Luke is a better man than him because he waited for her and Nick didn't. But he can't wait for her or be devoted only to her. He doesn't have the freedom to make that choice. He lives in Gilead and must marry someone he doesn't love and must produce a child that he doesn't want. It was easy for Luke to wait. He didn't have to do anything or compromise anything, all he had to do was exist. He had the freedom to wait or to not wait, and in the fog of his depression, passively did nothing for 7 years. Meanwhile in order to preserve his own life, in order to be able to remain in Gilead and keep an Eye on Hannah, Nick had to actively marry someone.