Euphoria Season 3 Kills Off a Major Character Before the Finale in a Chillingly Stylish Send-Off

If you thought Euphoria might calm down as it neared the end of its third season—well, joke's on you. The latest episode really went for it, wiping out one of the show's main players in a way that manages to be both completely bonkers and, honestly, a bit cruel. You can probably guess this isn’t going to be a cheerful recap.

The Big Exit: Nate Goes Out in Style (Sort Of)

So, here's the headline: Jacob Elordi’s Nate Jacobs is no more. Yes, really. Nate gets buried alive by loan sharks (as you do), and then, just for good measure, gets bitten by a rattlesnake while stuck underground. Someone definitely had their morning coffee when they wrote this bit.

It all kicks off with Nate’s dodgy business ventures catching up with him—he’s a million dollars in the red, and some very unfriendly people (Naz and his crew) want their cash back. Their solution? Kidnap him, dig a shallow grave under a construction site, stuff him in it, and feed a tiny air vent to the surface for good luck. Not exactly a gentle warning.

Let’s Talk Kidnapping and Ransom

Turns out, Nate’s not the only one in trouble. The loan sharks decide to up the ante and nab Cassie (Sydney Sweeney) as well, giving her a 72-hour deadline to magic up the ransom. Cassie, panicking (understandably), ropes in Maddy (Alexa Demie) to help—Maddy then drags in Alamo (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje), who tries to play the hero by shooting Naz at the money drop. Unfortunately for Nate, none of this quick thinking matters: a rattlesnake has already made itself at home in his grave and sorts him out before anyone even finds him.

The Gory Details (and Some Behind-The-Scenes Oddities)

• Nate’s fate: Buried alive under a construction site, with a rattlesnake crawling in through the air vent. No one makes it out in time. Grim.
• Cassie’s deal: 72 hours to gather the ransom, in a desperate rush that ends in more disaster than success.
• Maddy’s role: Calls on Alamo, who eliminates Naz but still can’t rescue Nate in time.
• Snake wrangling: The production used a boa constrictor with a fake rattle for scenes inside the coffin with Elordi. For shots featuring the actual vent, there was a real rattlesnake on set, endearingly named (by the crew, not the characters) 'little b----'.
• Bonus drama: The episode also slips in a flashback showing Ali’s backstory, with Natasha Lyonne appearing as another addict. Meanwhile, Rue’s attempt to pinch cash from Wayne’s safe completely unravels when Faye lets out a scream and wakes up the house. Nothing goes smoothly for anyone this week.

Cast and Crew Reactions

Jacob Elordi didn’t seem too upset about his character’s demise, at least in the behind-the-scenes video after the episode dropped. His take: 'Nate is someone who's made so many mistakes and made so many dark choices... It's a cool way to go.' He also called being on Euphoria 'amazing', which sounds like a fair summary if you like snakes and high-stakes drama.

Julio Perez, the show's editor, talked about trying to make the whole burial scene as claustrophobic as possible, to really put viewers in Nate’s shoes—or, well, his coffin. Mission accomplished—I suspect a few people needed to step outside for air after that one.

Social Media and What’s Next

Clearly, the Euphoria social team was feeling emotional—they posted a simple: 'Did you know that I loved you?' on X (formerly Twitter), which says it all if you’re a fan of the show’s particular brand of heartbreak.

If you’re wondering what comes next, the finale lands next Sunday, 31 May 2026 on HBO Max. Can’t say I’m expecting anyone to get a happy ending at this rate.