WARNING: This article contains major spoilers from The Handmaid's Tale season 6 and The Testaments by Margaret Atwood

The Handmaid's Tale has commenced its final season with an all-or-nothing approach as June Osborne (portrayed by Elisabeth Moss), Mayday, and her allies join forces to bring down the oppressive regime of Gilead.

Hulu has released the first three episodes of the sixth season, loaded with unforeseen plot twists that have left viewers on the edge of their seats.

The third episode, Devotion, concluded with a hopeful turn when Commander Nick Blaine (Max Minghella) facilitated the escape of June, Moira Strand (Samira Wiley), and Luke Bankole (O-T Fagbenle) across Gilead's border into Canada.

In a poignant moment, estranged lovers June and Nick seemed to be parting ways once again, opting to say "see you later" rather than "goodbye." The pair locked eyes one last time, walking away from each other.

This particular scene has sparked speculation among fans regarding its potential implications on Nick's storyline in the sixth season, reports the Mirror US.

A discussion on Reddit highlighted these concerns, with one participant commenting: "I hate to f***ing say this...but that "see you later," not goodbye scene felt like negative foreshadowing to me and now I'm worried that's the last time they will see each other.

"I've been team Nick since day one and when that scene was happening, I thought, f***, Nick is about to die."

However, another fan urged the original poster to watch the season's teaser trailer, while a third viewer confessed: "I just watched that and oh no."

Speculation about his fate has been rife. One Reddit user previously theorised: "I Think Nick going to die in season 6 of the handmaids tale because First of all we haven't seen much of him in the teaser trailers and the creators and producers are clearly pushing the June and Luke arch hard for the past 2 seasons plus we haven't gotten a lot of Nick screen time for going on 3 seasons now, Secondly the way how last season left off him punching Lawrence was a bad move he basically outted himself as involved with June! [sic]."

Another chimed in: "And he will probably say something to June like "At least someone will remember me and loves me and that counts" like when he told her they can put her on the wall and she said that to him. It will be something that would put a dagger in our hearts. Ugh [sic]."

A third lamented: "I just want them too to have a happy ending like a good closure for both of them if he dies with out talking to or seeing June one last time ima be p****d tf off [sic]."

Yet another viewer speculated: "I think the show wants people to think Nick will die and set him up as a tragic hero, and I could see him having to fake his death in this season.

"But every character who is in The Testaments is being set up to reflect who they are in the sequel, Nick included."

Another viewer concurred, speculating: "That's my theory as well! Nick will fake his death, so he can be deep undercover with mayday. I think they'll "kill him off" early on in the season, and it's going to be the most heartbreaking gut wrenching way, and then in the last episode he'll reappear to find or save June in someway.

"I also think there maybe another commander or someone higher up who is also part of mayday who will be the one to "kill him", but will also be the one to feed him information so he knows there every move [sic]."

A fellow fan endorsed this theory, stating: "I like this story line and it makes sense [sic]."

Those seeking clues about Nick's destiny might find some in Margaret Atwood's The Testaments, a sequel to The Handmaid's Tale set 15 years after the original novel.

Atwood has solidified some character arcs from The Handmaid's Tale in The Testaments, leading to expectations that the Hulu adaptation will follow her narrative.

Furthermore, as The Testaments is slated for a TV adaptation, The Handmaid's Tale needs to align certain plot points so that the conclusion of season six dovetails with the upcoming Gilead drama.

In The Testaments, it's revealed that Nick reunites with Nichole and collaborates with Mayday. However, those curious about June's fate will remain in suspense, as no confirmation about this storyline is given.

The Handmaid’s Tale season 6 will be coming to Prime Video on May 3 and Channel 4 later in 2025 in the UK