Dear Nick and June supporters,
On July 14, 2023, Eloisa Jimenez from Vader News published an article titled, "The Handmaid's Tale: The relationship fans hate and don't want to see in season 6." As advocates for this compelling love story, we feel it's necessary to address and debunk the misinformation spread by this article.
The following is the translated version of the article and our comprehensive rebuttal.
Thank you for your continued support,
The ATF Crew.
The Handmaid's Tale: The relationship fans hate and don't want to see in season 6."
Fans of the famous Hulu series, The Handmaid's Tale, want one of the relationships in the plot to end once and for all, because they can no longer tolerate what it has meant for the story.
The Handmaid's Tale is a dystopian series on the Hulu platform that tells the story of June, better known as Offred (Elisabeth Moss), a woman who, like many others, was stripped of her possessions and her family to become a slave to a project that not only took away her dignity but also her will to live.
Although it's not a romantic story, the writers of The Handmaid's Tale have insisted on giving it an emotional hue, uniting two characters who, under other circumstances, would not have connected. It is about Nick (Max Minghella) and June Osborne (Elisabeth Moss), who found love in a hopeless place called Gilead in season 1, and have demonstrated it many times since then. But their story is so complex and twisted that many would wish it would not be touched upon in the plot again.
Their relationship starts in a terrible way when June is sent to Nick by Serena Joy (Yvonne Strahovski), who was desperate to have a child. So, she thought it would be a good idea for Nick to rape June to get her the child she so desired. But miracles do happen, and the two unfortunate lovebirds in The Handmaid's Tale find peace in each other's arms.
And down they understood that their only bond was happening because they were both completely traumatized and problematic. Their kind of intermittent adventure only added spice. But at some point in the show, fans began to feel that the relationship between Nick and June in The Handmaid's Tale was being forced.
"Fans no longer tolerate the relationship between June and Nick in The Handmaid's Tale
They give the relationship the maximum amount of screen time that I'm willing to endure. It's like wasting time trying to increase my interest in their relationship when I really don't care. Do I want their relationship to collapse? Not really, but I really don't want to constantly see it, said a user on Reddit.
Fans are sure that this story should have ended at the finale of season 4 when we saw June escape to Canada and reunite with Luke (OT Fagbenle). But somehow the writers kept pushing for June not to forget Nick and to continue in a kind of relationship with him. There's a much bigger story to tell with The Handmaid's Tale than a narrative of 'unfortunate lovers,' and the show should abandon the overblown romance of Nick and June in favor of more important stories in season 6, according to the fans' opinion.
Our Reubuttal.
Subject: Re: Misrepresentation of Fan Sentiment in “The Handmaid’s Tale: The relationship fans hate and don’t want to see in Season 6”
Dear Ms. Jimenez,
I am writing to express concerns regarding some of the claims made in your recent article, “The Handmaid’s Tale: The relationship fans hate and don’t want to see in Season 6”. As an avid follower of the show and an active participant in several fan communities, I believe the perspectives you've presented do not accurately represent the widespread sentiments of the fandom.
1. Your claim that fans are universally tired of the relationship between Nick and June contradicts the substantial evidence of the robust fanbase devoted to this narrative. This includes a Facebook group with over 16,000 members, a Reddit group dedicated solely to Nick and June, Tumblr fandoms, and two podcasts inspired by their relationship, to name a few. This relationship represents a story of survival and resilience against the dystopian backdrop of Gilead.
2. You assert that June lost her will to live. However, this overlooks her explicit declaration in Season 1, Episode 1, where she affirmed her determination to survive for her daughter, Hannah. Moreover, in Season 3 Episode 5, June acknowledged Nick's role in helping her endure the hardships of Gilead.
3. While you opine that Nick and June would not have connected in different circumstances, both Elisabeth Moss and Max Minghella have publicly disagreed. In separate interviews, they expressed their belief that their characters shared a genuine connection, substantiated by an undeniable attraction evident from the show's inception.
4. The complexity of Nick and June’s story is exactly what draws fans to it. Season 5, arguably the weakest season with a Rotten Tomatoes audience rating of 27%, suffered due to a notable lack of Nick and June scenes.
5. The relationship between Nick and June wasn't initiated solely by Serena Joy's manipulation. Their connection began prior to that point, as evidenced by their early interactions and mutual attraction, notably in Season 1, Episode 3.
6. The relationship between Nick and June isn't solely a consequence of shared trauma. Showrunner Bruce Miller has consistently spoken about the genuine love between them, and this sentiment is shared by many fans.
7. Far from being a forced relationship, Nick and June's bond is what many fans yearn for. Seasons rated lowest by fans are those where their relationship takes a backseat.
8. June's escape to Canada and reunion with Luke in Season 4 didn't signal the end of her story with Nick. The changing dynamics due to June's trauma and evolution have impacted her relationships, making the bond with Nick even stronger.
9. The love story of Nick and June does not detract from the larger narrative; it enhances it. Fans are clamoring for more of their relationship and less of June's strained relationship with Luke.
In summary, this article seems to have overlooked a substantial portion of fan sentiment, thus presenting a skewed and incomplete narrative. I encourage you to take a more nuanced approach in your future writings, reflecting the diversity of opinions within the fandom.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Best regards,
Wanda, a dedicated fan of Nick and June.
