Nate Jacobs’ Euphoria Season 3 Downfall Shouldn’t Be Like This

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The following article contains spoilers for Euphoria season 3 and discussions of graphic violence.

Nate Jacobs from Euphoria is arguably the show’s most deserving of a downfall. As a privileged former football star, he dominated East Highland High School through intimidation and didn’t hesitate to punish anyone who challenged him.

Nate from Euphoria has hurt almost everyone around him, especially the women he’s involved with. He’s manipulated Jules, treated Cassie poorly, and physically attacked Maddy, even though he claimed to love her. He’s also caused significant harm to men like Tyler Clarkson and even his own father, Cal.

The start of Euphoria season 3 showed that Nate was still doing well for himself, even five years later. He’s living in an over-the-top, strangely colored mansion, is engaged to a beautiful woman, and drives a Cybertruck. He’s also taken over his father’s successful business. But it quickly becomes clear that Nate’s lavish lifestyle is funded by a mysterious investor named Naz, who now expects to be repaid.

The tension explodes at Nate and Cassie’s wedding when Naz unexpectedly arrives and confronts Nate, demanding repayment of a debt. But Naz is quick to act, not just talk. As Nate carries Cassie into their new home, Naz is waiting with a pair of shears, and in a shockingly violent scene – later called “Euphoria’s Red Wedding” – he cuts off Nate’s pinky toe.

The latest episode of Euphoria, “Kitty Likes to Dance,” showed that the toe was saved, but Nate’s reputation took a hit. Cassie leaves town to chase her acting dreams in Hollywood, leaving Nate feeling lost and owing over a million dollars. Trying to solve his financial problems, Nate makes a heartfelt but unsuccessful request to the local zoning board, hoping they’ll approve his Sun Settlers construction project.

There’s a moment where the character actually gets on his hands and knees, a stark display of how far he’s fallen. While seeing Nate bruised and humbled sounds good in theory, the scene ultimately felt awkward and didn’t deliver. It highlighted that the villainous version of Nate Jacobs is much more compelling than the broken, defeated character we see in season 3 of Euphoria.

Nate Jacobs Should Be Brought Down By The Women He Wronged, Not A Random Villain

Nate’s decline in season 3 feels unsatisfying because his downfall is caused by a character we don’t connect with – Naz. He’s new and unsympathetic, so viewers aren’t invested in his conflict with Nate. Interestingly, scenes where Cassie challenges Nate’s masculinity are more compelling than the controversial toe scene. This highlights that what audiences really want is to see Cassie, a past victim of Nate’s abuse, finally get her revenge.

It seemed like Maddy was planning something dramatic – she famously appeared at her ex-boyfriend’s wedding in a stunning revenge outfit. But it turns out her focus is now on Cassie, and she’s currently handling Cassie’s career.

So far this season, Maddy and Nate haven’t even spoken to each other. It’s possible Maddy is secretly planning revenge, but even if she is, it won’t be against the same person who hurt her in high school. Honestly, at this point in the show, trying to take Nate down feels pointless because he’s already defeated himself.

Nate Jacobs’ Euphoria Character Arc
Season 1 A volatile bully who abuses almost everyone in his life, particularly his girlfriend, Maddy Perez.
Season 2 Secretly sleeping with Cassie while looking to reconcile with Maddy. After Lexi humiliates Nate in her play, he acts out by exposing his father’s sexual past with minors to the police.
Season 3 Married to Cassie and living in the suburbs. Like his pinky toe, Nate is hanging on by a thread as he owes over $1 million to Naz.

Things are likely to get harder for Nate before they improve. The trailer for the next episode of the show reveals him feeling down and isolated. Unfortunately, his problems aren’t over, as it appears Naz’s crew will continue to torment him.

Whatever drive and cleverness Nate used to manipulate Tyler into taking the blame for attacking Maddy at the carnival seems to be missing in season 3 of Euphoria. Earlier in the season, Maddy pointed out that Cassie was a big star in a small world. Now, Nate feels like the opposite – insignificant, and it’s hurting his character. With most of the characters reconnecting, Euphoria is finally starting to feel like its original self, and it’s time for Nate Jacobs to step up and be a part of the drama again.

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2026-05-05 20:39