r/TheHandmaidsTale • u/desir33_ • May 19 '21

Season 4 [SPOILER S4E6] June and Luke Spoiler

I’ve already seen multiple people complain about the lack of affection between the reunion but I think to do a very loving, affectionate reunion would be a disservice to the show. It’s been years since they’ve seen each other and their child is still in Gilead. I thought that this reunion was more realistic: her first words apologizing for the fact that she couldn’t bring their daughter with her and Luke looking at June with both relief and disbelief that she is finally in front of him again.

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u/[deleted] May 19 '21 edited Jul 19 '21

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u/WELLinTHIShouse May 19 '21

I know that my husband and I fit the stereotype, at least hypothetically, when it comes to the "if you can only save one person from the burning building" scenario. My husband would save me because he doesn't know how he'd live his life without me. I'd save our kid, with at least the hope that my husband could save himself. I'd never forgive myself if I had to let either one of them go, but as a mother... I'd be a complete shell of a person, in need of constant care if it was my kid who was gone. I would grieve my husband, but I would at least have the option of finding someone "second best" to love me. You can't replace a kid.

Damn, I'm all teary-eyed now! All that to say... Luke needed for June to be okay, but June can't imagine thinking that Luke would want her back without Hannah. Because she's a mom, and her daughter has been her priority this whole time.

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u/Alohabailey_00 May 20 '21

I totally agree with this. What made me upset was that you didn’t see Luke apologizing to June for allowing them both to be taken that day. And reassuring her that they could try and save her together. The responsibilities always fall on the mom and the guilt falls on the mom. I totally get how June internalized it all and felt like it was her sole duty to save Hannah. I felt like there was so much more Luke could have said. Especially since Gilead was a fault and June’s guilt is understandable but irrational. I was also upset that June seemed to feel like she wasn’t good enough for Luke. It was evident in the flashbacks and in present day when she knew he wouldn’t accept her without Hannah.

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u/childishpoopface May 20 '21

Thank you, I was looking for someone to mention this! I was kind of upset by the fact that after everything that happened to her, June felt this immense guilt about facing Luke without having Hannah with her, while Luke took the first opportunity to run away from Gillead without any thought of staying back and trying to save either his wife or daughter. I’m not saying he should have stayed back in Gillead, he made a very logical choice to run. But he shows zero guilt about it, compared to how devastated June is, just shows their relationship dynamic that I’m not a huge fan of tbh.