Handmaid’s Tale Shocker: Lawrence’s Ultimate Sacrifice Explained

by

Warning – This article contains spoilers for The Handmaid’s Tale Season 6 Episode 9.

In the most recent episode of The Handmaid’s Tale Season 6, Commander Lawrence (played by Bradley Whitford) found himself compelled to take a crucial step and embark on a perilous journey aboard an aircraft. This enigmatic character was initially presented in Season 2 of the series, where he gained notoriety for establishing the Colonies – harsh labor camps situated in the wasteland that imprisoned the most severe offenders, such as Janine. Despite his infamous past, Lawrence has shown signs that he is not as steadfast in supporting Gilead’s regime compared to other Commanders. This inconsistency proved detrimental to him during Season 6.

The Handmaid’s Tale represents the television adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s renowned dystopian novel, offering a grim portrayal of a North American continent dominated by a theocratic regime that suppresses women’s rights and power. The Hulu production boasts an impressive ensemble cast consisting of Elisabeth Moss, Yvonne Strahovski, O-T Fagbenle, and Ann Dowd. Stream the final season 6 of The Handmaid’s Tale on Hulu, as it marks the conclusion to this gripping series.

Why Did Lawrence Get on the Plane In Handmaid’s Tale Season 6 Episode 9?

The penultimate episode of The Handmaid’s Tale, titled “Execution,” delivered on its promise. 

Following the handmaids’ uprising against their commanders and Mayday successfully rescuing June (Moss) and her allies from execution, they congregate to devise a strategy to dismantle Gilead permanently. Lawrence, having discovered that the commanders intended to assassinate him and transform his New Bethlehem vision into a trap for fleeing refugees, joins forces with Tuello (Sam Jaeger) and June. This alliance hatches a plan to place an explosive device on a plane that the surviving commanders aim to use for their flight to D.C.

As a dedicated film enthusiast, let me recount an intriguing sequence of events. With Serena Joy’s assistance, I unearth the itinerary and coordinates for their flight. Reluctantly, Lawrence agrees to act as a spy, planting the bomb onboard, with June standing by as his emergency exit driver. However, our plans take an unexpected turn when the commanders decide to board the plane ahead of schedule, finding joy in Lawrence’s decision to join them. In a heart-stopping instant, Lawrence makes a fateful choice, deciding to step onto that plane with the bomb.

As a movie critic, I found myself grappling with an insurmountable predicament facing Lawrence. He was faced with a ticking clock decision: either plant the bomb and risk raising suspicions from fellow commanders, or forego boarding the aircraft to save his own life, knowing that the group would slip away unscathed. Ultimately, Lawrence made the selfless choice to give up everything for the cause, carrying the bomb onto the plane, fully aware that he was signing his own death warrant.

Does Commander Lawrence Survive or Die?

In Season 6 Episode 9 of The Handmaid’s Tale, the ending leaves us with few doubts about Lawrence’s survival. After June observes an explosion on a plane carrying both Lawrence and her former lover (and deceiver) Nick (Max Minghella), it’s clear that neither could have made it out alive.

Whitford expressed similar sentiments to Elle, sharing in an interview that he was quite concerned about where the show was heading and feared it might replicate Lawrence’s journey from earlier seasons. This is why he communicated his apprehensions to Bruce Miller.

I found myself growing increasingly apprehensive as the situation unfolded. To be honest, I became quite preoccupied and even obsessive about it, frequently discussing my concerns with my very understanding wife. I was fearful that a similar fate to Lawrence’s, experiencing the allure of power and potentially losing oneself to it, might repeat itself. This is why I had conversations with Bruce Miller about these worries.

The actor found relief when he realized that the storyline wasn’t heading in the direction initially thought, and Lawrence and Whitford readily agreed with their characters’ deaths serving as a suitable conclusion.

Whitford expressed in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter that he was “thrilled Lawrence chose the path he did,” and felt confident that the Commander found tranquility in his last moments, understanding he was fulfilling his role to bring an end to the “nightmare [he] unleashed.

I was extremely pleased with Lawrence’s decision he ultimately made. It seems to me that as he listens to Nick and flies on the plane (during the last scene), he might be reflecting, ‘This young man is just another casualty in the disastrous world I helped create.’

It would be unfair or inappropriate for either Lawrence or Nick to have lived miraculously after the plane crash, given Lawrence’s final self-sacrificing act in “The Handmaid’s Tale.” Over the course of the story, the Commander had been gradually grappling with his disenchantment towards power and the system he helped establish. Lawrence chose to be a part of counteracting some of that darkness, but it came at the expense of his own life, setting him on a path towards redemption.

Read More

2025-05-21 21:35