Warning: Contains SPOILERS for The Handmaid's Tale season 6, episode 8!

The Handmaid's Tale season 6, episode 8 features one big death, and while it was satisfying, I really wish that one element was different. The Handmaid's Tale is full of detestable characters, with the many Commanders who have spearheaded the oppression of Gilead deserving to be punished for their crimes. After several seasons of trying, June and Mayday are finally exacting their revenge. The Handmaid's Tale season 6, episode 8 sees the first batch of Commanders face their deaths, and while it is great, one character's death needed to have a slight change.

The Handmaid's Tale season 6 has focused on June and Mayday planning a major attack on Gilead, one that will hopefully take the country down. Originally, they wanted to attack Jezebel's, killing the Commanders that frequent the brothel. However, this didn't happen. Nick told Commander Wharton about the attack in The Handmaid's Tale season 6, episode 6, forcing June to pivot. In episode 7, June decides to lead an attack on the wedding of Serena Joy and Commander Wharton. In The Handmaid's Tale season 6, episode 8, this attack is finally carried out.

Why Commander Bell's Death Was So Satisfying

He Was An Especially Evil Commander

Commander Bell is finally killed off in The Handmaid's Tale season 6, episode 8, and it is one of the show's most satisfying moments yet. All of the Commanders are terrible, but Commander Bell stands out from the crowd when it comes to being an awful person. Timothy Simons' Commander Bell was introduced in The Handmaid's Tale season 6, with him being a patron of Jezebel's who favors Janine. Before the women in Jezebel's are slaughtered, Commander Bell decides that Janine shouldn't die, with him making her his own Handmaid.

Luckily, when the Handmaids take to the streets in episode 8, June goes to Commander Bell's house.

Commander Bell horribly abused Janine, even more so than the other Commanders abuse their Handmaids. When Aunt Lydia pays her a visit, Bell refuses to let Lydia see Janine. When Lydia does spot Janine through a window, she has been horribly beaten, showing how monstrous Commander Bell is. Luckily, when the Handmaids take to the streets in episode 8, June goes to Commander Bell's house. June stabs Commander Bell, with him slowly dying on the floor as June watches. While the death is gruesome, it is incredibly satisfying.

Firstly, Bell's violent end is satisfying because of how horrible he is. If June had killed any other random Commander, it wouldn't have been as satisfying. However, since season 6 went out of its way to make Bell especially awful, his death is all the more fun. On top of that, June's killing of Bell is also an act that saves Janine, with her being seen moments later. Janine has been in captivity throughout The Handmaid's Tale, and her reunion with June after Bell's death is a cause for celebration. However, it could have been even better.

Janine Killing Bell Would've Been Even Better Than June Doing It

It Would Have Given Her More Agency

Although it was nice to see Commander Bell die either way, June shouldn't have been the one to kill him. Instead, it should have been Janine. June and Commander Bell don't have any personal beef in The Handmaid's Tale season 6. While the audience hates Commander Bell, there aren't any personal stakes between June and Bell.

"Exodus" was rated 8.6 on IMDB.

However, Janine and Bell undoubtedly have personal stakes. They have shared the screen several times throughout season 6, and Bell's abuse of Janine gives her plenty of motivation to take revenge. Having Janine kill Bell rather than getting saved by June would have made her a more active character in The Handmaid's Tale.

Gilead has stripped the Handmaids of all their agency, and allowing Janine to choose to kill Bell would have given her some of that agency back. Commander Bell's death could have been even more powerful if June entered Bell's home and gave Janine the option to kill him, allowing her to free herself in The Handmaid's Tale.