There's a new Handmaid's Tale fan theory that claims Nick is a rebellious American spy.

Warning: This article contains MANY spoilers for The Handmaid’s Tale season three. If you’re not caught up yet, bookmark us and come back once you’re ready to properly debrief. Ready? Let’s go!

From the moment the long-awaited third season of The Handmaid’s Tale kicked off, we haven’t seen much of Nick Blaine – the father of June’s baby Nichole – at all.

And to be honest, we’re not very happy about it.

Watch the trailer for The Handmaid’s Tale season 3 below. Post continues after video.

Since his involvement in getting Nichole out of Gilead, Nick’s been notably absent, with the last time we saw the mysterious driver being when the Commander sent him to war.

Enter a new fan theory courtesy of the great people of Reddit, who suggest Nick has actually joined the rebels since leaving Gilead.

Hear them out:

Following on from the events of last season, we know that Nick was sent off to Chicago, where June feared he would be killed.

We also know Nick has every reason to rally against Gilead considering what he’s been through with June and of course, his child bride Eden.

This is where the theory comes in.

When Nick tells June he’s going to Chicago, one of the areas we know is where the biggest battles against Gilead is taking place, she’s pretty certain he’ll never come back.

“You’ll die,” she bluntly said when he told her and, bleak, June.

But while we don’t know how many rebels are out there, we do know that Chicago poses a significant threat to Gilead, and is one of the many glimmers of hope the series teases us with.

The theory is that Nick has actually joined rebel forces against Gilead after his deployment to Chicago, perhaps even becoming a spy for them.

"From the maps we know that American forces are standing their ground against the Guardians all along the West Coast, plus Texas and Florida," Reddit user Kspence92 writes in the very juicy thread.

"Could Nick be captured and perhaps defect to the US army and/or Mayday/Anti Gilead militia?,” they added.

Others agree that this could be a likely story line, with one adding that Nick may seek the rebels out of his own volition. Interesting.

“[Maybe he's] not being captured but seeking them out,” Reddit user oceaniadx wrote. “I’m excited to see what the rebel areas are like. Hopefully, we will.”

Reddit user kanjilal_s also suggested that Nick might be an “undercover agent like CIA or possibly an American agent there to bring down Gilead,” while NothappyJane added: “I think he’s a spy for other countries/resistance.”

It's all very compelling stuff.

BUT, and *MASSIVE SPOILERS FOR EPISODE 6 AHEAD* (which hasn't been released here yet) we're about to find out that Nick actually served Gilead before he became a driver. We learn this in a tense moment between Serena and June, E! reports.

"What did Nick do before he was a driver?" June asks Serena.

"He served Gilead," Serena says.

"He was a soldier in the crusade. We wouldn't be here without him," she adds.

Oh.

This is the very same Nick who has broken all kinds of laws and rules, repeatedly, to help and protect June. He's been a mystery to June (and all of us) this entire time, and we still don't really know his deal.

But what does it all mean?

Was he an Eye? Was he part of the resistance? What is he doing now?

WHO KNOWS.

What we do know is something big is happening in the episodes to come – and Nick Blaine is involved.

Bring. It. On.

You can catch up on the latest episodes of The Handmaid's Tale on SBS On Demand.

For more on this topic:

• The 7 things you may have missed in The Handmaid's Tale season 3, episode 5, Unknown Caller.
• "36 minutes into the new Handmaid’s Tale, I saw how refugees could be treated. It left me in tears."