'The Handmaid's Tale': O-T Fagbenle on Luke's Relationship With June and Hunt for Their Daughter (Exclusive)

etonline.com:

sees several of the main characters taking action, particularly Luke, played by O-T Fagbenle. Often relegated to the sidelines with the series largely focused on the struggles of his wife,  June (Elisabeth Moss), the latest episodes show how he’s no longer a passive participant in the fight against Gilead as they both figure out a way to free their daughter, Hannah, from the oppressive nation.

With episode 5, “Fairytale,” now streaming on Hulu, Fagbenle talks to ET about Luke’s confrontation with Serena (Yvonne Strahovski), his reconnection with June and their mission to bring Hannah home. “Luke realizes he can’t do the same things,” the actor says of the character’s previous attempts to fight from the sidelines, adding that now his “focus is on June and Hannah.”[: Spoilers for the first five episodes of season 5.]Following Serena’s use of their daughter in the funeral for Commander Waterford (Joseph Fiennes), things really start to change for Luke. “Serena really comes into high focus,” Fagbenle says, with Luke realizing that she’s “both an obstacle to getting Hannah back and an obstacle to getting June back, you know, mentally and spiritually.” Given the widow’s newfound, growing power and her plans for a Gilead cultural center in Canada, he finally takes action.

For the first time, he’s able to wield his power within the system to keep her from opening the embassy. But it’s only a temporary pushback. “Luke’s been banging this form of bureaucracy for a long time and it’s provided really poor results,” the actor says, comparing his efforts to June’s. “June has been acting out, taking risks.” Now, Luke has to do the same, especially following his confrontation with Serena, which really puts things into focus for him.