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Come on. You know I'll take care of you.

Luke's way to console June, in response to the deprivation of women's civil liberties[1]

Luke Bankole

Lucas "Luke" Bankole is the husband of June Osborne and the father of their daughter before Gilead's formation. He is separated from his wife and child when they are captured trying to flee the country. In the book, it remains unknown whether he is alive or dead. In the series he successfully escapes to Canada. Luke is portrayed by O-T Fagbenle. His character remains largely the same, although one difference is that in the TV adaption, he is depicted as Nigerian-American, whereas in the book he is Caucasian.

His full name is stated as Lucas Bankole. He was born on April 29, 1980 in Nyack, New York.[2]

Appearance[]

Luke is a tall man with dark black hair, a black beard, and dark brown eyes. He is good looking and has a big smile. He wore eyeglasses before Gilead rose to power.

Personality[]

When with family and friends, Luke has a happy-go-lucky personality. He is a warm person who is kind, generous, and loving with those around him. In other situations, such as being confronted with the Waterfords in regard to the kidnapping of his wife, Luke is strong, forward, and isn't afraid of saying what's on his mind. He is a smart man who is trying to make the best out of the situation while figuring out how to get his family back.

Before Gilead[]

The first time Luke meets June, he is still married to another woman named Annie.[3] Luke and June continue meeting up for innocent lunches, where June learns that Luke hasn't told his wife about them. After an affair with June he leaves his first wife for her[4]. After Annie confronts June at Annie's workplace, Luke calls Annie and angrily tells her their relationship is over and that she has to move on.[3]

In expectation of their daughter’s birth, Luke drives June to the hospital amidst crowds of people protesting the recent sharp decline in birth-rates. She is greatly relieved to learn that Hannah is a healthy baby. Shortly after her birth, June wakes up to find Hannah is gone. She initially assumes she’s been taken for a blood test, until sirens begin blaring throughout the hospital. Luke urges June to stay where she is whilst he goes to investigate. June follows Luke regardless and is horrified at the sight of one of the nurses lying on the ground in a puddle of blood, either dead or unconscious. June then runs into a woman holding Hannah. The woman insists that Hannah is her child – it’s implied her own baby died, causing her to have a psychological breakdown. June watches in horror, futilely attempting to explain that Hannah is her own baby. Luke arrives, but this prompts the woman to try to flee with Hannah. Fortunately, the police and Luke intervene, returning Hannah to June while the woman is arrested[5].

Hannah’s christening ceremony is attended by Luke, godmother Moira and grandmother Holly, who warns June against using religion to make decisions[6].

It is reveled in Unknown Caller that he worked for the Suffolk County Office of Urban Planning.

After the takeover[]

June, Luke and Hannah try to escape to Canada and hide in the trunk of their car while a man called Mr. Whitford drives them to a secluded cabin near the border. Mr. Whitford tells them he still needs to grab them Canadian passports, because U.S. passports "don't mean shit no more". Before he leaves, Mr. Whitford teaches Luke how to shoot a gun, which he is clearly uneasy about[7].

After learning that Whitford has been killed, they try to reach the Canadian border on their own, but their car is spotted by a patrol. They crash at the side of the road, and Luke tells June to take Hannah and run from the Guardians pursuing them. Shortly after, Luke is taken captive by Guardians. They place him in an ambulance after he is shot in the stomach, and intend to question him[7].

The ambulance veers off the road, and both his captors die in the accident. He takes a first aid kit and a gun from a dead Guardian and goes off to find his wife and daughter. After stumbling in the woods for a bit, Luke sees his daughter's shoe, her stuffed bunny rabbit, and what appears to be June's belongings. He takes this to mean that they were captured before they could reach the border[7].

Luke finds a small town and rests inside of a bar of some sort, where are bullet holes all over the walls and windows. He is found there by strangers who are also on their way to the border. They think he is a Guardian at first, but after determining he is on their side, they carry him to a battlebus, where the leader, Zoe, cleans out his bullet wound. The people on the bus are introduced as Christine, Lyla, and Peter, or: "an army brat, two strays, a gay, and a nun". They tell Luke that Zoe and a group of US Army soldiers she was stationed with in South Carolina rescued a girl, Erin, from one of the Red Centers, but they don't even know the extent of what's happening [7].

Luke, still in the battlebus, plans to leave the other and head back to Boston. Zoe brings him inside of a church and shows him what happens to people who try to fight back. The townspeople who hid their fertile women were all hung and strung up inside the church by the Guardians. Luke decides to go with the others to New Brunswick in Canada. They get into a motorboat, but not before they are hailed with bullets from Guardians. Zoe dies from the gunfire, and Luke is seen escaping with the others[7].

Present, season one[]

June is informed by Mr. Flores, the Mexican ambassador's assistant, that Luke is alive, whereas she had assumed he was killed when they were captured at the border (though she did not witness his death, she heard shots being fired and never saw him again). Mr Flores knows Luke's full name, birthdate and birthplace, and also knows "Offred's" real name prior to meeting her, implying that what he says may be true. He asks her to write a short message for Luke [2].

In "Little America", Toronto, Canada, Luke is shown with Erin. He gets a phone call and goes into a government office filled with flyers of missing persons. A woman brings Luke into a room where she hands him the note June wrote him via the Mexican ambassador's assistant. The note, read in June's voice, says: "I love you so much. Save Hannah." Realizing they are both still alive, Luke cries while he smiles[7].

Moira manages to escape to Ontario, Canada. She ends up in a refugee camp where she is given clothes, a phone, money, and food. Luke comes and finds her there and she bursts into tears when they are reunited (In large part because Luke reveals she's part of his family in his eyes)[8].

Present, season two[]

Luke is seen living with Erin and Moira in a small appartment[9].

The Waterfords land in Canada. Moira recognizes Fred and she points him out to Luke and Erin as they watch television. Moira and Luke go to the U.S. embassy and ask Rachel to arrest Fred but she tells them that it isn't possible. She encourages Moira and Luke to attend a planned protest[10].

At the protest, Luke confronts Commander Fred. He's taken away by the police but not before Serena and Nick realize that he's Offred's husband. Serena and Fred head up to their room where Fred says that they've made progress with the Canadian government. Nick goes looking for Luke and finds him in a bar. He tells Luke that June is alright but Luke says that she isn't fine. Nick tells her that June is pregnant. This upsets Luke and he tells Nick to get out but then changes his mind and goes after him. He asks about Hannah but Nick doesn't know if she's okay. Nick gives Luke the stack of letters June gave him and tells him to get them out somehow. Luke asks Nick to tell June that Moira got out[10].

Luke, Moira, and Erin go through the stack of letters. Moira is upset that it isn't something they can use against Gilead but Erin says that this is something that they can use against them. The next day, Commander Fred and Serena are told they are no longer welcome because the letters were uploaded to the Internet and the public outrage was overwhelming. Later, Moira and Luke are celebrating their departure with a large group of people. They begin to sing "America the Beautiful." [10].

Present, season three[]

Night (Season 3)[]

Luke rushes to the post office with Moira hot on her heels. He receives an envelope, inside is a picture of Hannah. Luke is relieved that she is safe. Emily appears behind him with Nichole, telling him his wife (June) saved her life.

Mary and Martha[]

In Canada, we see Luke digging through some annoying paperwork. Baby Nichole is now living with Luke, Moira and Erin. Emily comes over for dinner and a visibly primed Luke asks her why she hasn’t yet contacted her wife Sylvia or their son Oliver. As it gets awkward, Luke storms out, to which Moira explains “He looks at you, he sees June”, adding he’d want Hannah and Nichole’s mom to call if she made it to safety. Emily says June would call, because “she’s a lot stronger than me.” Moira says she understands Emily’s fear, because a lot of the reunions aren’t the storybook endings that people imagine.

God Bless the Child[]

While June is waiting to leave the Putnams’ house, Serena creeps close to tell her how she can see Hannah playing outside after lunch at her school. A few minutes later, an officer of the Eyes comes in and wants to see Commander Waterford immediately: He’s got a video of a Canadian protest showing solidarity with Chicago. Luke is at the protest, and he’s wearing Nichole in a carrier. The Waterfords have June confirm Luke’s identity, which she does reluctantly. She walks out of the room and sits on the floor.

Luke and Moira make arrangements to have Nichole baptized because "this little one should be absolved of their sins", as Luke points out.

Unknown Caller[]

In Gilead, June shares the confirmation with her fellow Handmaids at the supermarket that Nichole is safe, and with her husband Luke. While most of them congratulate, Ofmatthew on the other hand, tells June that she’s praying only for Luke to return Nichole to her "rightful home", meaning Gilead. Commander Lawrence later refuses to help June find out whether Luke is in imminent danger by stating "We’re all in danger".

The Waterfords show up at the Lawrence household and ask an initially reluctant June to call Luke and ask him to agree to a visit in Canada. With the Waterfords and Commander Lawrence looking on, June phones her husband and reassures him that she and Hannah are both OK. She then tells him to bring Nichole to meet the Waterfords at the Toronto airport the next day. Luke agrees to see "not him, just her." The call cuts off as June is telling him she loves him.

At the airport, a wary Luke won’t shake Serena's hand she extends to him, cradling a sleeping Nichole to his chest. Serena thanks him for agreeing to the meeting, but he makes it clear that he’s only there because June asked. Serena promises that June is safe and gives him the name of June’s new Commander. He refuses to promise that he will tell Nichole about her, harshly informing her she will never "be anything to her" since the girl's story is "how brave her mother was for getting her here". When a crying Serena points out it was her to let Nichole go because both June and her wanted a better life for her, adding she also "protected" June, he pockets the case with the necklace that Serena offers him. He eventually allows her to hold the baby, who’s woken up, before they part.

Luke pops a tape into a Walkman, listening to the opening bars of “You Make Me Feel Like Dancing.” But after a moment, June’s voice cuts in. She lets Luke know Nichole's real name, Holly, and that of her biological father, and that Nick helped her to survive. Then she promises her husband that she’s trying to get to Hannah, and that she loves him.

Moira runs home to tell Luke he’s got to turn on the TV. When he does, he sees the Waterfords telling the world that they are a “family in mourning” who just wants the Canadian government to return their daughter to Gilead, June standing in the background in her Handmaid dress.

Season 4[]

"Nightshade"[]

Luke hosts a charity event, and invites Rita to speak. He takes over from her once she appears to grow distressed, and begins to ask the audience for donations.[11]

"The Crossing"[]

Rachel Tapping tells Luke that sources have confirmed that June has been captured. Moira asks if he wants to come for a vigil, but he says that he finds it pointless. He cares for Nichole, and they bury a green persimmon in the garden for luck, just like Rachel suggested.[12]

"Vows"[]

Luke meets June aboard a boat the morning she arrives in Canada. June apologizes for not having Hannah, and starts to break down in tears. Luke tells her that it is okay, and hugs June, kissing her forehead. June and Luke exit the boat, and June exhales as she sets foot on Canadian soil.[13]

"The Wilderness"[]

Luke picks up June from her court hearing and tries to pump her up. “You’re here. Nichole is here. That’s a miracle,” he says. He is unsuccessful as June just says she's tired.

At the end of Season 4, Luke finds June covered in blood (Fred's blood) and he knows what she did. He breaks down crying as June promises to leave.

Season 5[]

Luke continues to stand by June as she struggles. He tries more and more to understand where she is coming from, which really helps June- not to be judged but to be supported and to have an ally. However, Luke wants to do things the more traditional way. Take Gilead down on paper not by killing people. At Fred's funeral, Serena goes to Gilead and calls for Agnes (Hannah) to come be by her side for the funeral. She kisses her on TV and June and Luke see it. They're furious that Serena is playing with them like this.

Luke himself marches to meet with Serena when she is transferred back to Toronto. He warns her June might kill her and if she doesn't- he might himself. He calls in favors to have the Gilead Cultural Center shut down because of its violation of building codes and finds some success there.

He and June have been distant since her return- especially in the bedroom. However, when Luke tells June he might kill Serena himself but that they have to trust each other June starts to warm to him. They have sex.

Luke and June receive intel from Mayday that someone might have information about Hannah. However, No Man's Land has been parolled more freqently and their source refuses to cross. June and Luke decide to cross it themselves to get the information. They meet their source, get the information, hang out until nightfall, and head back. However, on the way back they get caught.

Luke and June get put into cages and wait for their fate. Eventually, they get separated. Luke goes back to Canada and June gets taken by Ryan Wheeler's men. Luke receives word that June is safe at a hospital in Canada days later and he goes to see her. Knowing that she is with Serena, he calls the Canadian government detainment officers to take Serena into custody.

June gets a call from Tuello that they located Hannah and are going to retrieve her. A group of military go in but their planes get shot down and Luke and June's hopes to get Hannah back are destroyed.

Back at home, Luke sees that June is getting attacked. A man in a truck is running her over intentionally and he intervenes, pulling the man out of the car and punching him until he blacks out. Luke rushes June to the hospital, but the police ask him to go back to the station for questioning. June goes back home and is okay, with a broken arm. Rita comes to the house because she has a friend in the Toronto police and warns Luke that they are going to issue a warrant for his arrest because the man died. Luke is furious because he only hit the guy because he was attacking his wife.

June decides they can't wait around- they have to run. They pack up and intend to head to the airport to fly to Hawaii or Alaska but Tuello intervenes, warning them that police will be waiting at the airport. He gives them train tickets and encourages them to go out West. They go to the train station and Luke tells June to go ahead with Nichole so they don't get associated with him if he gets caught. He waits for them to board the train and sticks his hands in the air, alerting police to his presence. He gets arrested.

Trivia[]

  • Viewers of the television series took to Twitter following the airing of episode 4 for season 5 as the trailer for episode 5 hinted at Luke's death as he and June attempt to go back into Gilead but are chased by Guardians, a nod to the first episode of the series. Fans directly condemned Hulu for also alluding to other events/deaths via trailers for season 5.

Photo Gallery[]

References[]

  1. Episode 3, "Late"
  2. 2.0 2.1 Episode 6, "A Woman's Place."
  3. 3.0 3.1 Episode 2.4, “Other Women
  4. Episode 5, "Faithful"
  5. Episode 2, "Birth Day"
  6. Episode 3.4, "God Bless the Child"
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 Episode 7, "The Other Side"
  8. Episode 10, "Night"
  9. Episode 2.3, "Baggage"
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 Episode 2.9, "Smart Power"
  11. "Nightshade"
  12. "The Crossing"
  13. "Vows"
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