The Handmaid's Tale Season 2: 8 Ups And 2 Downs From 'First Blood'

6. Nick's Conflict

After being married off to a 15-year-old girl last week, Nick struggles to carry out his duties as a Gilead husband. Well, one duty in particular: he won't have sex with her.

His bride, Eden, discusses her husband's resistance to consummate their marriage with June, which is wonderfully awkward. The young girl can't understand why Nick won't sleep with her, and suggests it might be because he's gay — or a "gender traitor" to use Gilead's terminology. Of course, Eden has no clue that the real reason is because he's in love with June. Then there's small matter of Eden's age, but that doesn't appear to be a problem according to Gilead's law, which just goes to show how disturbed this society really is.

Nick's conflict is highlighted beautifully through his scenes with June, as well as a scene with his bride where he avoids the subject of sex at all costs.

Ultimately, he performed his duty as a husband, consummating the marriage in an extremely powerful scene. He's doing what he has to do to save June, and the best way to do that is to do as you're told.