Euphoria Season 3 Has Officially Failed Nate Jacobs

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At the start of the show, Nate Jacobs from Euphoria was a fascinating character. Discovering his father’s secrets as a child deeply affected him, leading to troubled behavior and a harmful way of treating people, especially in relationships. But Nate wasn’t just a bad guy; his complicated relationship with his father and his own insecurities made him a more complex figure.

Despite the intricacies of Nate’s personality, his disturbing actions weren’t excused or justified. Instead, his complex character allowed viewers to understand the origins of his harmful behavior. The details of his life made him feel incredibly realistic, and that’s what made him so terrifying.

Though he’s now a major star, Jacob Elordi gave what many consider his best performance in the first two seasons of the show. He brilliantly portrayed Nate as someone who could be incredibly charming, but also quickly become aggressive. Elordi made both sides of Nate’s personality feel genuine and believable.

Okay, so Nate’s arc in Euphoria wasn’t just about a troubled kid – it was genuinely compelling. He wasn’t just reacting to things, he actually drove the plot forward. Remember how he went undercover online to dig up secrets about his dad? That led to his complicated relationship with Jules, and ultimately, he was the one who exposed his father’s wrongdoing. It was a surprisingly proactive storyline amidst all the drama.

The show hinted at a compelling direction for Nate’s story in season 3, but those ideas were completely abandoned. His journey felt disconnected from what was set up, as if it were a different show altogether. Ultimately, his arc concluded after seven episodes, with “Rain or Shine,” leaving a mixed impression.

Nate Acted Completely Out Of Character In All Of Euphoria Season 3

When Euphoria season 3 began, Nate and Cassie were engaged, and Nate was now running his father’s construction company. Their engagement hinted at an escalation of Nate’s previously abusive behavior, setting the stage for a potentially dark and violent story about a troubled couple who first connected in high school.

Throughout the third season, Nate consistently treated Cassie with tolerance, patience, and kindness. While their home and shared goals created a somewhat strained atmosphere, Nate never seemed to pose a danger or threat to her.

Despite Cassie’s behavior potentially harming Nate’s business – like openly discussing their money and causing a disruption at their wedding – Nate remained remarkably calm, showing no obvious anger. This was a significant change from his earlier self; while still holding onto some traditional ideas about manhood, his reactions in season 3 were much different than when he physically assaulted Maddy in public over a smaller issue in season 1.

Nate Did Nothing To Advance His Story In Euphoria Season 3

Rather than exploring their relationship – which had been a key part of Nate’s growth since the start of the show – season 3 of Euphoria mostly kept Nate and Cassie separated. Nate’s main storyline focused on the money he owed due to a failed building project and the intimidating Naz, who threatened to harm him until the debt was paid.

The plot ultimately destroyed Nate’s character, trapping him in a cycle of hopelessness. This prevented any examination of his previous desire to be in control and maintain order.

Even with his updated character, Nate still wasn’t central to the events of season 3. In the first two seasons, he actively drove the plot forward – he investigated and reported his father, and that investigation then allowed him to manipulate Jules.

Okay, let’s talk about Nate in Season 3. Honestly, he just felt…stuck. He didn’t really do anything to fix the mess he was in, even as things got seriously intense with Naz. It was all just pleading and hoping Cassie would somehow magically solve everything for him. It was frustrating to watch, because he didn’t take any real agency, and just let things escalate around him. He was desperately hoping for a rescue, but didn’t seem capable of rescuing himself.

Nate’s Death Shows Just How Much His Character Has Changed

In the episode “Rain or Shine”, Naz escalated his threats against Nate in a terrifying way. Having already harmed Nate by cutting off a toe and a finger, Naz now buried Nate alive in a coffin on one of his abandoned construction sites, providing only a small pipe for air. He then gave Cassie a 72-hour deadline to pay him, threatening that Nate would die of thirst if she didn’t.

However, before any of that could occur, a rattlesnake managed to get into Nate’s air pipe, crawled down, and bit him. By the time Cassie and Maddy finally dug him out, he had already passed away.

Revealing this death at the end of season 2 would have felt jarring, given the direction Euphoria had taken before season 3. It was a storyline more fitting for a crime drama, and didn’t align with the themes of abuse, relationships, and family issues that had previously defined Nate’s character arc.

Season 3 of Euphoria feels very different from previous seasons, leaning heavily into the style of a Western crime thriller. Nate’s death highlighted this change in tone, but more importantly, the way his death was presented revealed a lot about his character – and not in a good way.

Nate’s death in season 3 highlighted his desperation and his reliance on Cassie working as a sex worker to solve his problems – traits that defined his storyline. His final scenes didn’t reflect the strong, complicated character he was in the first two seasons.

Watching the third season of Euphoria felt tense, like something bad was inevitable, especially concerning Nate and his unpredictable behavior. His death in the episode “Rain or Shine” confirmed that the complex, compelling character we knew from earlier seasons is truly gone.

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2026-05-25 21:19