Devotion

Devotion
Season 6
Episode 3
Air date	April 7, 2025
Directed by	David Lester
Written by	Nina Fiore & John Herrera
Episodes
Previous	Exile
Next	Promotion

Devotion is the third episode of the sixth season of The Handmaid's Tale. It aired on April 7, 2025.

Plot

In the Mayday safe house, June learns from Mark that Luke and Moira were tasked to pick up a bag containing the identities of the extremist commanders Mayday wants to take out, but they've been trapped in No Man's Land for four days, and Nick isn't responding.  

In New Bethlehem, Nick is preparing to host foreign dignitaries and convince them that Gilead is now a safe place to live. When a German diplomat arrives, he pulls Nick aside to deliver the secret message that "June Osborne is at mile marker 17." Nick meets June in the woods at the indicated mile marker, where she lays out Luke and Moira's situation in No Man's Land. Nick can't call off the security patrol due to the visiting diplomats, so he decides he'll need to go in himself and rescue them. June insists on joining him.

While Lawrence nervously awaits his visitors, he checks in with Serena. Serena questions Lawrence's faith, who seems to be more interested in charming his new foreign friends, quoting a phrase from the musical "Book of Mormon" as prayer. He assures her they can rebuild the country they broke.

Aunt Lydia visits one of Gilead's Jezebels brothel and is shocked to learn her "special girl" Janine has been sent there to serve as a forced prostitute, along with three more of her former Handmaids. When a horrified Lydia wants to help get them out, Janine – named Kitty at the brothel – tells her the best thing she can do is leave and forget about her, leaving Lydia speechless.

Back in New Bethlehem, Lawrence and Serena are giving the dignitaries – including Canada's female diplomat – a tour of the pastel-colored town. While he talks up the "safe and peaceful" community, Wharton approaches Serena, complimenting her looks under the pretext of checking on her wellbeing.

In No Man's Land, Nick and June enter an abandoned water park that's heavily patrolled by Guardians. Nick reveals that he agreed to spy for the U.S. so he could help keep June safe, but he is still reluctant to risk everything to help save her husband. June assures Nick she still loves him, while he concedes he could never quit her even if he can't have her.

In the water park's gift shop, Luke and Moira have been hiding for four days now. They've acquired the intel they came for but with no way out, they are nearly out of rations. After a tense moment when someone enters the gift shop, it's revealed to be Nick and June. After a short scene of reunion, the four sneak outside and head for Nick's car, where they run into a guardian patrol. Nick tells the suspicious soldiers the situation is under his control and they needn't worry about it. When the guardians insist on recording the incident, he shoots them both dead.

At the tour around New Bethlehem, Lawrence and Wharton are wondering about Nick's whereabouts. Some of the female ambassadors still don't trust Gilead enough to return refugees to this place. Only when Serena vouches for Lawrence's claims of progression and reformation, they seem moved by her personal struggles and promises to atone for her own mistakes that led to the formation of the old Gilead. Serena also points to Gilead's rising birth rates, which are far ahead of any other country’s. Lawrence endorses her by promising that New Bethlehem will have "All the good of Gilead, none of the bad." The Canadian dignitary, cradling Noah, agrees to consider sending her country's refugees back. Wharton compliments Serena on her sales skills.

Later the day, Lawrence is celebrating the successful day and already talking about expanding New Bethlehem while Wharton claims the country may not be ready for that. Serena and Naomi fully support Joseph's expansion suggestion, but Wharton only agrees to keep the conversation going. He also asks about Nick's whereabouts, but Lawrence is quick to cover for the missing commander.

When the Lawrences arrive home, they find an upset Aunt Lydia waiting for them, demanding answers about her handmaids being sent to work in a "den of depravity." Joseph blows her off, believing they should be thankful they're not working in the colonies. Lydia begs Naomi to take Janine back in, with no avail, and gets angry when Joseph refers to her girls as "stained" ex-handmaids, claiming they ought to be rewarded for performing a "sacred service" for their country rather than punished.

In No Man's Land, Nick drops June, Luke, and Moira off to Mark, who angrily threatens to reveal Nick's betrayal if he doesn't cooperate in the future. Nick says he's doing his best, and that he wouldn't be any good to Mark if he was dead. The Mayday crew then exchanges goodbyes with Nick, with June insisting on a "See you later", noting once more this won't be the last time they'll see each other. 

Cast

Starring

• Elisabeth Moss as June Osborne
• Yvonne Strahovski as Serena Joy Waterford
• Ever Carradine as Naomi Putnam
• O-T Fagbenle as Luke Bankole
• Sam Jaeger as Mark Tuello
• Max Minghella as Nick Blaine
• Samira Wiley as Moira Strand
• Bradley Whitford as Joseph Lawrence

Guest Starring

• Madeline Brewer as Janine Lindo
• Ann Dowd as Aunt Lydia Clements
• Josh Charles as Commander Gabriel Wharton
• Carey Cox as Rose Blaine
• Peter Deiwick as Herr Strauss
• Camille James as Louise
• Puja Uppal as UN Officer Andi
• Patricia Vanstone as Helen
• Naomi Wright as Aunt Miriam
• Shakila Fernando as Jezebel
• Karen España as Mexican Diplomat
• Nathan Carroll as UK Diplomat
• Janet Monid as Australian Diplomat
• Wes Berger as Patrol Guardian #1
• Kyle Jonathon as Toby/Patrol Guardian #2