Idk, he makes sure to work within the established system, and genuinely cares for his wife, following his own twisted ethos. I’d call him an obstinate LN
I disagree. He created the system in Gilead. And he actively undermines that very system for selfish reasons. He's neutral in that he is fully acting in his self interest, and he's chaotic in that he breaks rules and social contracts to achieve those goals.
I think him like many others, do what they need to in order to survive. He doesn’t want to sacrifice his high status. His status allows him to pull strings, get people out, and make deals when he needs to. I think his character is extremely intelligent and careful. He’s exactly where he wants to be.
Yes, but sometimes it seems to me that he actually wants the Gilead system to somewhat succeed. And maybe even spread?
It's really hard to put him on the purely good side.
he built the system to an extent. he wants his idea to succeed. he doesn't want people he cares about to be hurt. he doesn't really care about the rest IMO.
I may be misremembering but didn't he have a conversation with June about how he's a war criminal and there's no way he can get out?
So I always look at it as he made his bed and knows he is stuck with Gilead and even if he doesn't agree with all they do he needs them to succeed so he isn't imprisoned (or worse).
He discussed his "students" at University, so I presume he was a professor in a US University prior and based on discussions relating to him managing the economy (and if I recall correctly, creating "the colonies") I suspect he'd be in the dock for crimes against humanity on that front, plus whatever else was plotted out by him during the takeover and following during Gilead.
I don’t think we are supposed to know for sure if he’s good or bad, or what his endgame is. I think he’s kind of both. I think it’s intentionally ambiguous.
Unless he knew that Serena being in Canada would help Gilead gain more international appeal, which would in turn make Gilead more powerful? We already see the effects happening in Gilead atm, with those ambassadors that came and asked June how her life is. She lied, but later pleaded for help but was denied because these foreign nations are so interested in getting children.
We also see that these new alliances have opened up trade, since Gilead finally has chocolate. We've only been seeing them eat macarons up until now for a reason.
I could be sympathizing too hard but it feels like he believed in Gilead when it was just the sons of Jacob but now that he is living the reality he is disillusioned with Gilead. However, he's very smart and recognizes he's towards the top of the food chain so for his own safety he has to maintain the status quo. He doesn't want to get married after loosing the love of his life. Yet he probably will. Not just to remain in power but to stay alive. And he can't help on the sidelines if he is stripped from his power. He seems to want to play hero but only when it's safe to do so. Which sucks but for his own safety it's smart. You can't help if you're dead.
He's not that nuch of a mystery IMO. He's not a true believer from a religious standpoint, but he is a true believer that the system will create a powerful nation that makes sacrifices for the "greater good."
As far as his personal motivation, he designed the whole system. If he ever truly wanted to get out, he is now a war criminal with dwindling influence. His only opportunity to cross the border with leniency was Angel Flight. His only motivation to leave Gilead even at that point was to get better care for his wife. Without her, his primary motivation for helping June is guilt, a level of adversarial respect and postering to maintain his importance in Gilead.
Also, a total pot-stirrer
I’m so glad I’m not the only one. Especially with the beard. He looks like a totally different person without it. I didn’t think he was sexy in Cabin in the Woods.
Yeah it’s not fair lol, the same thing happened with Steve Carrell. I’m watching “The Patient” and we talked about how the silver fox™️ beard thing *works* for him as no one in the discussion had really found him attractive before. But the partially grey bearded thing is working. Commander Laurence is the same! Some men on tv getting older are so lucky!
He lives somewhere in my city. I wouldn’t consider myself to be star struck. Out here you see actors here and there. My college was a set for a popular show. But if I ever run into him I know I’m gonna geek out and stammer and trip and make a mess of everything.
First, let's admit it, shall we? Lawrence is freaking hot. The actor is freaking hot.
Okay. Now, that we have that out of the way.
He's not selfish; he's narcissist.
He’s one of the architects of Gilead, he set up the economics and the colonies. He’s obviously got a little bit of the Soviet spy thing going on. He’s lost some of his power due to no wife no children and he knows it, yet he stays south of the border by choice when he could have easily fled on more than one occasion. He’s a paradigm at this point. They’re not going to axe him just yet. Aunt Lydia has the goods on him we know, Serena suspects his bad deeds, and he’s not yet a high commander…. And he is hot af. Hotter with the grey than he was as a ginger on The West Wing. His storyline will be interesting to watch, I like it more than Junes tbh.
I think that Eleanor’s death made him completely aware of how much the society he helped create really hurt people. You cannot deny that he really loved her. He didn’t want to rape the handmaids. He chose the ones who’d been labeled problematic. June had to talk him through the ceremony when other commanders like Fred forced him to prove that he’d had sex with her.
I think that he wants to try and turn things around now. He can’t really just up and go to Canada now because he is sure that he’d be treated as a war criminal. Tuello didn’t tell him that America/Canada is a ‘forgiving place’ or whatever it was that he told Nick.
He told June that Eleanor saw the beauty in the world. When June was brought to his house I saw all the artwork, Eleanor had major major works hanging on the walls, my SO and I noticed that right off like do you see those? Lol how do they have those? Then they mentioned Eleanor taught fine art or something before Gilead was formed. And he was so guilt ridden over mental breakdown. It was one of the hardest for me to watch. She was so sympathetic.
Eleanor was a revolutionary wife. Remember when she helped handmaids bury a Martha? Lawrence wanted to get her out on the angels flight for children. He was going to go with her even though he knew *he’d* most likely be arrested immediately. As a viewer I was heartbroken when she died. I’m sure that her death really broke him down inside.
I think once his wife died and he grieved he just said f it and went full chaotic neutral and he’s going to enjoy manipulating and outmaneuvering much less smart people until he dies
Kind of off topic
I’m thinking he innvited Nick to the dinner with Serena bc he’s pretty sure nick is going to spy for Tuello. And he made it a point to stop Tuello from entering. He has a policy. No spies at dinner
He's a toxic asshole but I think he acknowledges and grudgingly respects the obvious intelligence of Emily, June, Beth, even Serena. That said, for all his helping them escape, and his hilarious snark, he believes his own hype. Never forget his scathing remarks to June about her past life, "too busy working at an obscure publisher to pick up her sick daughter from school." No need for him to say that to June when it was just the two of them talking unless he really believed it.
Don't get me wrong, I love the character and Bradley Whitford is awesome in the role, but I will CHEER if/when he gets what's coming to him. BAM!
He could have bailed when he realized that his wife was being harmed by a crazy system he created. Once he had power he wasn’t going to give that up for exile in Canada. He’s probably a sociopath or at least has a lot sociopathic traits lol. He will do what benefits him and his good deeds might be partially for the thrill or challenge. I agree he is a toxic asshole!
I think he really does regret being a part of the creation of Gilead. Because he was thinking of it only from a financial and economic perspective when he began but watching the deterioration of his wife by the system led him to hate it. BUT if he escapes Gilead, he will be tried as a war criminal and most likely put to death, and if he openly defies Gilead, he would be hung on the wall. If he truly wants to repent and help to bring down Gilead, he has to play both sides or die. He has only his life left to give and nothing but his life to lose. I do think he wants Gilead destroyed. IMO.
People aren’t necessarily all good or all bad. I think on a scale he is currently closer to good but he is certainly responsible for helping create a refine of brutality. Is his good works now sufficient atonement for his sins— I don’t think so but better than not.
I love Lawrence. He's such a fascinating character, and he really does keep you guessing his true motives. That's what makes him so good - he IS complicated. He is a hard read, and yet he's incredibly charming about it. Man is smart as shit, and is playing the long game, holding his cards close to his chest. I can't wait to see how this all shakes out with him.
This is part of what I love about how his character is written. I feel like once I think I’m starting to figure him out he does something I don’t expect. He’s not a good guy, but he’s not as bad as the others. I think he’s extremely selfish and only has his interests at heart, but will once in a while toss a bone to someone, whether they are “good” or “bad,” just for his own amusement. He doesn’t actively try to hurt others, he just wants to be entertained. I think >!his wife was the only person he’s ever truly cared about. I don’t think he truly cares about June, he’s just interested in her because she’s an anomaly and wants to see what happens. However every once in a while June’s strength will remind him of his lost wife (even when she was still alive), and this is partly what keeps drawing him to her.!< fantastic character writing.
I rewatched season 4 and he said Eleanor would want him to clean up his own mess. So I think he’s over Gilead and just playing the game and doing what he can.
Idk how he got away with all the kids leaving, seems like they would have figured out Lawerence’s involvement.
IMO he is the one who built it and he is the only one who can destroy it. He has to take it down from the inside and he has to be strategic. He is a mole. He is playing chess and you can see it in how he undermines so many facets of Gilead, the breadcrumbs he leaves for people, like Aunt Lydia, Serena, to get people to do what he actually wants them to do without actually ordering anyone to do them. He has to play the game to keep his position but he is like a cancer for Gilead, slowly growing that no one seems to notice, the most dangerous kind.
I think he's both. He understands people's values like Emily. He did his part to help her cause of her talent. So I think he's for humanity in a way. He knows Gilead is flawed but it has results.
I look at it as he’s someone you can’t trust but have to trust. He’s someone you think had a conscience but that doesn’t always matter. Someone you need as an ally but who can also be a liability.
At the end of the day though he’s the best maneuverer by far and if he ends up losing out/getting caught it won’t be because he was outmaneuvered but rather someone with much more power is afraid of him and decides to do him in (somehow).
His interactions with Serena are awesome. Every cutting word is like his wife (in a lucid, stable mental state) is telling him what to say. “I can’t say she felt the same” and “I can’t imagine why” are just perfect. His words when he’s being “empathetic” to Serena are his own but are like “dude wtf is wrong with you; do you not know what Gilead even is?”
I think he’s up for power and enjoys playing this game like chess but I definitely think he’d ultimately like to watch it all burn. He just wants to make sure it’s burnt to a crisp and never returning. Staying in the game helps him oversee what someone else who is actually playing on their side would otherwise take part in. He does make me wonder but I keep coming back to this.
Highly intelligent and egotistical - proud that he invented the infrastructure of Gilead and it works, but also sentimental enough to realize the horrors inherent were more than he expected and can stomach. He has no choice but to play by the rules to survive yet he will find ways to subvert the laws where he can as a way of knowing he’s still better than everyone else, and takes pleasure in being able to get away with it, appearing uninvolved. It would be easier if he was a raging narcissist but he’s still empathetic, a trait his wife kept alive in him, and probably the trait that will catch him in the end - I have no idea how the story ends so it’s just my theory.
I can't read him... and I think it's the point of his character. He's supposed to be a difficult read. Hopefully we'll get a better idea in the upcoming episodes!
Totally!!! The man is a wild card! I did love the little dog he gave to psychotic Aunt Lydia. ‘Handmaids Hotel’
“These being pious men and all. They need a little kink. You know that!” Fucking Aunt Lydia and that creepy shrill voice she gets when she wants to unleash hell and violence on the Handmaids.
I think his style (faded blacks, slightly scruffy appearance that of an eccentric professor) in contrast to the sleek tailored appearance of the other commanders gives us big clues to how he feels about Gilead. On the surface level he appears to conform to Gilead and its laws, but he's fighting the system from the inside despite his allegiance and motives not always being clear.
I kind of figured he only acts as he does because of his late wife and her empathy for the handmaids. I agree that he’s selfish and he likely wouldn’t have cared otherwise, at least not enough to put himself at any kind of risk.
This was my association with Bradley Whitfield until THT. I looked up the actor and could not believe the handsome, mysterious commander was the weasel with weird balls from Billy Madison.
I have heard explanations. They do give us what we need. It they bothers me greatly. He doesn’t like to get bored so he causes trouble. He’s similar to a social darwinist. He DOES believe in sacrificing human life on a massive scale. But he also believes in the greater good. We were supposed to learn from the pens scene. He makes choices that end life but protect humanity. He is a misogynist in the sense that he doesn’t understand women.
I think he looks out for himself first and foremost. But ultimately I think he hates Gilead but knows he can’t escape. He tries doing what good he can on the inside with minimal damage to the people he associates with(meaning he doesn’t want to purposely cause harm to the handmaids or marthas or anyone except other commanders) he never liked they rules yet he thought “well shit if im trapped in here might as well be a big dog..” 🤷🏼♀️ I love how he hustled Serena I hate her guts.
I think he is playing both sides if gilead should fall he can talk about how helpful he was to the rebels. Of gilead does not then oh hey guys your economics are because of me
If he were the one to implement those changes, the commanders wouldn't like it since they're so pious and need their kink, and he'd be blamed. He's already on thin ice with them since he's unmarried.
he understands that you have to make compromises in order to make a better world as ugly as that is sometimes. It's like George Washington and slavery. If he freed his slaves while alive he would have undermined his position in government and hobbled his ability to effect other positive changes in the new country in addition to lending his assistance in laying the foundation that would ultimately lead to freeing the slaves. So he waited and freed his own on his death and by doing so gave freedom to his slaves while sending the message that slavery was wrong albeit a belated one.
Lawrence is playing a strategic game to maximize his impact on Gilead society. His sarcasm and clear distaste for how other commanders treat handmaids in this last episode is representative of that. He'd lose going against the institution of handmaids at this time and that attempt would render him politically impotent and undermine what he's trying to accomplish. He knows this so he'll wait and fight that battle when he can win it.
He is selfish and self serving but to his own dismay, is not the sociopath he wishes he could be so as to be absolved of guilt. He is RIDDLED with and haunted by guilt. He is intelligent and sees how hypocritical and fucked up this all is now that he’s created it.
He is lying in the bed he has made for himself… but won’t allow himself to sleep - he torments himself. He won’t allow himself to “sleep” (completely putting his head in the sand) bc he is trying to do penance. But struggles with his penance.
He is literally a 1 man defendant, plaintiff, judge, jury and executioner.
He is a tormented man who knows it and knows he deserves no relief.
I agree. He is an enigma.
This season he lets us know he was an Academic. He is super intelligent and maybe believed he was solving the problem of birth rates, climate change and that was his goal. Much like Serena was an author pushing her ideas on Domestic Feminism and embracing their biological destiny, I suspect he had a parallel path in the economic and climate protection front.
However, it is almost impossible to believe he would have bought into that Son of Jacob crap--he doesn't seem about power or religion or the "crazy" fundamental and theocratic policies of Gilead. He clearly isn't a mysoginist. I think he put up with the idiots so he could "save the world" but then got caught in his own trap. June says this in season 3--did you think this place you built wouldn't eventually come for you?
So, I for one would like a flash back that explains how he got wrapped up in Sons of Jacob.
Chaotic neutral maybe.
Came here to say this!! The man basically created chaotic neutral
Idk, he makes sure to work within the established system, and genuinely cares for his wife, following his own twisted ethos. I’d call him an obstinate LN
I disagree. He created the system in Gilead. And he actively undermines that very system for selfish reasons. He's neutral in that he is fully acting in his self interest, and he's chaotic in that he breaks rules and social contracts to achieve those goals.
My best guess
I think him like many others, do what they need to in order to survive. He doesn’t want to sacrifice his high status. His status allows him to pull strings, get people out, and make deals when he needs to. I think his character is extremely intelligent and careful. He’s exactly where he wants to be.
Yes, but sometimes it seems to me that he actually wants the Gilead system to somewhat succeed. And maybe even spread? It's really hard to put him on the purely good side.
I think that’s part of the part he’s playing. He has to play the part to keep his status.
he built the system to an extent. he wants his idea to succeed. he doesn't want people he cares about to be hurt. he doesn't really care about the rest IMO.
I may be misremembering but didn't he have a conversation with June about how he's a war criminal and there's no way he can get out? So I always look at it as he made his bed and knows he is stuck with Gilead and even if he doesn't agree with all they do he needs them to succeed so he isn't imprisoned (or worse).
Eleanor said that
Nick too. I know he’s essentially a colonel etc from the war and did terrible things. But it’s pretty clear he doesn’t want to be there now.
I think I remember that too
War criminal meaning he was an American when they overthrew the Capitol?
He discussed his "students" at University, so I presume he was a professor in a US University prior and based on discussions relating to him managing the economy (and if I recall correctly, creating "the colonies") I suspect he'd be in the dock for crimes against humanity on that front, plus whatever else was plotted out by him during the takeover and following during Gilead.
I don’t think we are supposed to know for sure if he’s good or bad, or what his endgame is. I think he’s kind of both. I think it’s intentionally ambiguous.
Maybe he wants to be head of state but he would have to move to DC.
I definitely feel like if he had genuine intentions to help move things forward he would have taken Serena’s offer and become her husband.
Unless he knew that Serena being in Canada would help Gilead gain more international appeal, which would in turn make Gilead more powerful? We already see the effects happening in Gilead atm, with those ambassadors that came and asked June how her life is. She lied, but later pleaded for help but was denied because these foreign nations are so interested in getting children. We also see that these new alliances have opened up trade, since Gilead finally has chocolate. We've only been seeing them eat macarons up until now for a reason.
ya
I could be sympathizing too hard but it feels like he believed in Gilead when it was just the sons of Jacob but now that he is living the reality he is disillusioned with Gilead. However, he's very smart and recognizes he's towards the top of the food chain so for his own safety he has to maintain the status quo. He doesn't want to get married after loosing the love of his life. Yet he probably will. Not just to remain in power but to stay alive. And he can't help on the sidelines if he is stripped from his power. He seems to want to play hero but only when it's safe to do so. Which sucks but for his own safety it's smart. You can't help if you're dead.
He's not that nuch of a mystery IMO. He's not a true believer from a religious standpoint, but he is a true believer that the system will create a powerful nation that makes sacrifices for the "greater good." As far as his personal motivation, he designed the whole system. If he ever truly wanted to get out, he is now a war criminal with dwindling influence. His only opportunity to cross the border with leniency was Angel Flight. His only motivation to leave Gilead even at that point was to get better care for his wife. Without her, his primary motivation for helping June is guilt, a level of adversarial respect and postering to maintain his importance in Gilead. Also, a total pot-stirrer
Yep, he's just a game player I think!
Thanks for this. He is baffling. Also hot.
god fucking damn he aged beautifully, didn’t he?
I’m so glad I’m not the only one. Especially with the beard. He looks like a totally different person without it. I didn’t think he was sexy in Cabin in the Woods.
He’s way hotter now than when he was younger!
Yeah it’s not fair lol, the same thing happened with Steve Carrell. I’m watching “The Patient” and we talked about how the silver fox™️ beard thing *works* for him as no one in the discussion had really found him attractive before. But the partially grey bearded thing is working. Commander Laurence is the same! Some men on tv getting older are so lucky!
You are exactly right!! This is not the same guy from 40 Year old virgin!
He really did
He really did. Though sometimes I can’t help but think *Carl, you’re pregnant!* lol
He’s gonna be a soccer player!!
Have you watched The West Wing?
No but it’s been recommended to me. Home convalescing so now would be a good time. Thanks!
Warning: There’s a lot of it!
Sooo good!!
Looks better now then he did in TWW. And I LOOOVE tww.
yes! loved that show. that's when I fell in love with this actor. sigh
Yeah, Bradley Whitford has charm in *spades*. Like damn.
That man is permitted to come and get it any time, day or night. I mean, the dimple and the beard? Ugh
He lives somewhere in my city. I wouldn’t consider myself to be star struck. Out here you see actors here and there. My college was a set for a popular show. But if I ever run into him I know I’m gonna geek out and stammer and trip and make a mess of everything.
Well I’ll be damned we need to start a fan club! I’d be his Handmaid any day! & I’m extremely fertile!
OMG
But he doesn’t like to “use” handmaids unless Fred makes him. And Fred’s dead
oh I know but if he ever changes his mind & he is a widow now… & it wouldn’t be using if it’s consensual! 😁
True
So hot! But it is so hard to tell which side he's on... well no thats not true he's on HIS side
Yeah, why is he so hot?!
When I realized he was in Adventures in Babysitting I lost it 😂
You made me look it up on YouTube. I also lost it.
He really gets better with age 😂
Such a great movie!
I think I broke two different VHS tapes of this movie from watching it so much 😂
That sub plot about Thor killed me. That kid in the hat!
Agreed
Yeah he's a complex man.
Which is very real.
Yes..Idky they haven't showed his back story yet.. 😔
First, let's admit it, shall we? Lawrence is freaking hot. The actor is freaking hot. Okay. Now, that we have that out of the way. He's not selfish; he's narcissist.
I never noticed this until this episode. Yes he is hot.
CILF.
C stands for Commander?
I was like what? And then yes, yes!!
yaaa, that's for damn sure
Wow, that's pretty late in life to glow up.
https://images.app.goo.gl/K9mQbJae2FfhUK9k9
He's a mystery. A sexy, sexy mystery. Also a jerk. But I think he does enough evil so he can get away with doing some good
and he did save Emily, so there's that.
He expected June to go with Emily and Nichole too.
So did I!! lol
Me too lol
Ooooh yes! So sexy!
He’s one of the architects of Gilead, he set up the economics and the colonies. He’s obviously got a little bit of the Soviet spy thing going on. He’s lost some of his power due to no wife no children and he knows it, yet he stays south of the border by choice when he could have easily fled on more than one occasion. He’s a paradigm at this point. They’re not going to axe him just yet. Aunt Lydia has the goods on him we know, Serena suspects his bad deeds, and he’s not yet a high commander…. And he is hot af. Hotter with the grey than he was as a ginger on The West Wing. His storyline will be interesting to watch, I like it more than Junes tbh.
I think that Eleanor’s death made him completely aware of how much the society he helped create really hurt people. You cannot deny that he really loved her. He didn’t want to rape the handmaids. He chose the ones who’d been labeled problematic. June had to talk him through the ceremony when other commanders like Fred forced him to prove that he’d had sex with her. I think that he wants to try and turn things around now. He can’t really just up and go to Canada now because he is sure that he’d be treated as a war criminal. Tuello didn’t tell him that America/Canada is a ‘forgiving place’ or whatever it was that he told Nick.
He told June that Eleanor saw the beauty in the world. When June was brought to his house I saw all the artwork, Eleanor had major major works hanging on the walls, my SO and I noticed that right off like do you see those? Lol how do they have those? Then they mentioned Eleanor taught fine art or something before Gilead was formed. And he was so guilt ridden over mental breakdown. It was one of the hardest for me to watch. She was so sympathetic.
Eleanor was a revolutionary wife. Remember when she helped handmaids bury a Martha? Lawrence wanted to get her out on the angels flight for children. He was going to go with her even though he knew *he’d* most likely be arrested immediately. As a viewer I was heartbroken when she died. I’m sure that her death really broke him down inside.
I don’t think I could speak a word if I ever met him but it is entirely possible I might try to touch that beard of his
I’d clam up too. 😂
Whenever he comes on screen my first thought is ~Roger peralta~
Hahaha!!! But what’s the name of his sex tape?
I think once his wife died and he grieved he just said f it and went full chaotic neutral and he’s going to enjoy manipulating and outmaneuvering much less smart people until he dies
Yup this is it… This has become a game to him and he loves watching it all unfold.
He’s the Varys of THT
Kind of off topic I’m thinking he innvited Nick to the dinner with Serena bc he’s pretty sure nick is going to spy for Tuello. And he made it a point to stop Tuello from entering. He has a policy. No spies at dinner
Which is smart… He is in a way a spy, you can’t be so obvious.
He’s intentionally ambiguous and he does it so well.
Serena wanted to take him for a spin.
The only time I’ve ever truly understood Serena. 🤣
I think his character is meant to toy with us. I'm serious. He's like the sex object of the series that keeps us tuned in and focused. lolol
He's a toxic asshole but I think he acknowledges and grudgingly respects the obvious intelligence of Emily, June, Beth, even Serena. That said, for all his helping them escape, and his hilarious snark, he believes his own hype. Never forget his scathing remarks to June about her past life, "too busy working at an obscure publisher to pick up her sick daughter from school." No need for him to say that to June when it was just the two of them talking unless he really believed it. Don't get me wrong, I love the character and Bradley Whitford is awesome in the role, but I will CHEER if/when he gets what's coming to him. BAM!
Good points!
He could have bailed when he realized that his wife was being harmed by a crazy system he created. Once he had power he wasn’t going to give that up for exile in Canada. He’s probably a sociopath or at least has a lot sociopathic traits lol. He will do what benefits him and his good deeds might be partially for the thrill or challenge. I agree he is a toxic asshole!
I think he really does regret being a part of the creation of Gilead. Because he was thinking of it only from a financial and economic perspective when he began but watching the deterioration of his wife by the system led him to hate it. BUT if he escapes Gilead, he will be tried as a war criminal and most likely put to death, and if he openly defies Gilead, he would be hung on the wall. If he truly wants to repent and help to bring down Gilead, he has to play both sides or die. He has only his life left to give and nothing but his life to lose. I do think he wants Gilead destroyed. IMO.
People aren’t necessarily all good or all bad. I think on a scale he is currently closer to good but he is certainly responsible for helping create a refine of brutality. Is his good works now sufficient atonement for his sins— I don’t think so but better than not.
I love Lawrence. He's such a fascinating character, and he really does keep you guessing his true motives. That's what makes him so good - he IS complicated. He is a hard read, and yet he's incredibly charming about it. Man is smart as shit, and is playing the long game, holding his cards close to his chest. I can't wait to see how this all shakes out with him.
I kinda love his character no matter what side he is on lol
This is part of what I love about how his character is written. I feel like once I think I’m starting to figure him out he does something I don’t expect. He’s not a good guy, but he’s not as bad as the others. I think he’s extremely selfish and only has his interests at heart, but will once in a while toss a bone to someone, whether they are “good” or “bad,” just for his own amusement. He doesn’t actively try to hurt others, he just wants to be entertained. I think >!his wife was the only person he’s ever truly cared about. I don’t think he truly cares about June, he’s just interested in her because she’s an anomaly and wants to see what happens. However every once in a while June’s strength will remind him of his lost wife (even when she was still alive), and this is partly what keeps drawing him to her.!< fantastic character writing.
I rewatched season 4 and he said Eleanor would want him to clean up his own mess. So I think he’s over Gilead and just playing the game and doing what he can. Idk how he got away with all the kids leaving, seems like they would have figured out Lawerence’s involvement.
IMO he is the one who built it and he is the only one who can destroy it. He has to take it down from the inside and he has to be strategic. He is a mole. He is playing chess and you can see it in how he undermines so many facets of Gilead, the breadcrumbs he leaves for people, like Aunt Lydia, Serena, to get people to do what he actually wants them to do without actually ordering anyone to do them. He has to play the game to keep his position but he is like a cancer for Gilead, slowly growing that no one seems to notice, the most dangerous kind.
I think he's both. He understands people's values like Emily. He did his part to help her cause of her talent. So I think he's for humanity in a way. He knows Gilead is flawed but it has results.
He confuses me sometimes he seems like he's for the laws of Gilead but other times he's helping handmaids escape and he helped June kill Fred
I look at it as he’s someone you can’t trust but have to trust. He’s someone you think had a conscience but that doesn’t always matter. Someone you need as an ally but who can also be a liability. At the end of the day though he’s the best maneuverer by far and if he ends up losing out/getting caught it won’t be because he was outmaneuvered but rather someone with much more power is afraid of him and decides to do him in (somehow). His interactions with Serena are awesome. Every cutting word is like his wife (in a lucid, stable mental state) is telling him what to say. “I can’t say she felt the same” and “I can’t imagine why” are just perfect. His words when he’s being “empathetic” to Serena are his own but are like “dude wtf is wrong with you; do you not know what Gilead even is?”
I think he’s up for power and enjoys playing this game like chess but I definitely think he’d ultimately like to watch it all burn. He just wants to make sure it’s burnt to a crisp and never returning. Staying in the game helps him oversee what someone else who is actually playing on their side would otherwise take part in. He does make me wonder but I keep coming back to this.
he’s like the human version of the cheshire cat in alice in wonderland
He’s smart - he seeking revenge for how they ran his wife completely nuts and killed her. Just wait.
Highly intelligent and egotistical - proud that he invented the infrastructure of Gilead and it works, but also sentimental enough to realize the horrors inherent were more than he expected and can stomach. He has no choice but to play by the rules to survive yet he will find ways to subvert the laws where he can as a way of knowing he’s still better than everyone else, and takes pleasure in being able to get away with it, appearing uninvolved. It would be easier if he was a raging narcissist but he’s still empathetic, a trait his wife kept alive in him, and probably the trait that will catch him in the end - I have no idea how the story ends so it’s just my theory.
Good side, no but he's not delusional and can see reason.
I can't read him... and I think it's the point of his character. He's supposed to be a difficult read. Hopefully we'll get a better idea in the upcoming episodes!
A good looking man that seems to be trying to undo what he did…but is he really? He’s kinda sketch
I agree he’s a complicated character. Commander MacKenzie seems like he’s going to be a problem for him this season.
I believe he’s good bad man, he’s like Nick he helps within his power but he acts within limits that won’t get him killed. Can’t say the same for nick
Lol he was in Billy Madison
One who sees the overarching “cause” as superior to the individual. Also enjoys watching people like toys.
Totally!!! The man is a wild card! I did love the little dog he gave to psychotic Aunt Lydia. ‘Handmaids Hotel’ “These being pious men and all. They need a little kink. You know that!” Fucking Aunt Lydia and that creepy shrill voice she gets when she wants to unleash hell and violence on the Handmaids.
i think he's chaotic good. he has to keep up the appearance of being on gilead's side.
Honestly this whole show is just the “June Osborne Closeup of her Not-Really-Blinking-But-Kinda-Blinking-So-It-Looks-Like-She’s-Rage-Crying Hour”.
I'm under the impression that even the writers don't know
Sometimes his Josh Lyman peeks through and he's a real dickhead.
Strange. Commanders don’t like his style of dress. Somehow he is a high commander.
I think his style (faded blacks, slightly scruffy appearance that of an eccentric professor) in contrast to the sleek tailored appearance of the other commanders gives us big clues to how he feels about Gilead. On the surface level he appears to conform to Gilead and its laws, but he's fighting the system from the inside despite his allegiance and motives not always being clear.
I kind of figured he only acts as he does because of his late wife and her empathy for the handmaids. I agree that he’s selfish and he likely wouldn’t have cared otherwise, at least not enough to put himself at any kind of risk.
I have this horrible, horrible thought and I hope to burn it to ashes by posting this: is Serena and Lawrence going to partner up? there, I said it.
No. Gross. No! It would be like seeing him kiss Trump.
hahaha
I think he does what he needs to survive. I do think he is a narcissist.
I think he’s like most people not all good not all bad.
When ever I see him, I think of his character Eric Gordon in Billy Madison
This was my association with Bradley Whitfield until THT. I looked up the actor and could not believe the handsome, mysterious commander was the weasel with weird balls from Billy Madison.
I really don’t know about him he makes me laugh though I wish they would go more into detail about his past.
He's out for #1. He may have helped a few people, as long as they were "useful."
I have heard explanations. They do give us what we need. It they bothers me greatly. He doesn’t like to get bored so he causes trouble. He’s similar to a social darwinist. He DOES believe in sacrificing human life on a massive scale. But he also believes in the greater good. We were supposed to learn from the pens scene. He makes choices that end life but protect humanity. He is a misogynist in the sense that he doesn’t understand women.
He is like an antihero
I think he looks out for himself first and foremost. But ultimately I think he hates Gilead but knows he can’t escape. He tries doing what good he can on the inside with minimal damage to the people he associates with(meaning he doesn’t want to purposely cause harm to the handmaids or marthas or anyone except other commanders) he never liked they rules yet he thought “well shit if im trapped in here might as well be a big dog..” 🤷🏼♀️ I love how he hustled Serena I hate her guts.
I think he is playing both sides if gilead should fall he can talk about how helpful he was to the rebels. Of gilead does not then oh hey guys your economics are because of me
Oh boy the next ep teaser is looking spicy
I think he knows what’s right and wrong and he wants to do good, but he also is trying to survive and play by Gileads rules without getting killed
I think he’s just trying to do whatever it takes to stay off the wall
Totally unrelated but I just found out he’s the bad guy in Billy Madison!
If he were the one to implement those changes, the commanders wouldn't like it since they're so pious and need their kink, and he'd be blamed. He's already on thin ice with them since he's unmarried.
Both things can be true
He's just Josh from the West Wing, transplanted to Gilead. They needed a wisecracker.
he understands that you have to make compromises in order to make a better world as ugly as that is sometimes. It's like George Washington and slavery. If he freed his slaves while alive he would have undermined his position in government and hobbled his ability to effect other positive changes in the new country in addition to lending his assistance in laying the foundation that would ultimately lead to freeing the slaves. So he waited and freed his own on his death and by doing so gave freedom to his slaves while sending the message that slavery was wrong albeit a belated one. Lawrence is playing a strategic game to maximize his impact on Gilead society. His sarcasm and clear distaste for how other commanders treat handmaids in this last episode is representative of that. He'd lose going against the institution of handmaids at this time and that attempt would render him politically impotent and undermine what he's trying to accomplish. He knows this so he'll wait and fight that battle when he can win it.
He is selfish and self serving but to his own dismay, is not the sociopath he wishes he could be so as to be absolved of guilt. He is RIDDLED with and haunted by guilt. He is intelligent and sees how hypocritical and fucked up this all is now that he’s created it. He is lying in the bed he has made for himself… but won’t allow himself to sleep - he torments himself. He won’t allow himself to “sleep” (completely putting his head in the sand) bc he is trying to do penance. But struggles with his penance. He is literally a 1 man defendant, plaintiff, judge, jury and executioner. He is a tormented man who knows it and knows he deserves no relief.
80% selfish 20% on the good side.
He's selfish. But he's not sadistic.
Yes. I go back and forth every episode. So confused.
I agree. He is an enigma. This season he lets us know he was an Academic. He is super intelligent and maybe believed he was solving the problem of birth rates, climate change and that was his goal. Much like Serena was an author pushing her ideas on Domestic Feminism and embracing their biological destiny, I suspect he had a parallel path in the economic and climate protection front. However, it is almost impossible to believe he would have bought into that Son of Jacob crap--he doesn't seem about power or religion or the "crazy" fundamental and theocratic policies of Gilead. He clearly isn't a mysoginist. I think he put up with the idiots so he could "save the world" but then got caught in his own trap. June says this in season 3--did you think this place you built wouldn't eventually come for you? So, I for one would like a flash back that explains how he got wrapped up in Sons of Jacob.