Euphoria Season 3 Episode 7 delivers brutal death twists that left viewers reeling

The seventh episode of Euphoria Season 3 sparked intense online discussion after it brought a grim turning point for several of the show’s central characters, most notably Nate Jacobs, whose violent death is now reshaping the series’ trajectory ahead of its finale.

SPOILERS AHEAD

Euphoria Season 3 Episode 7 Explained

Titled Rain or Shine, the episode continues the darker, more criminal tone that defined much of the season’s five-year time jump. While earlier series focused heavily on coming of age, addictions and emotional instability, the latest chapter takes the HBO drama into much more brutal territory involving debt, organized crime, exploitation and psychological breakdown.

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At the center of the episode is Nate Jacobs, played by Jacob Elordi, whose long descent finally comes to a terrifying conclusion. Nate’s financial troubles, coupled with a failed real estate venture and mounting debts to violent loan sharks, culminate in his kidnapping and imprisonment underground in a coffin. With only a narrow pipe supplying air, the sequence unfolds as one of the show’s most unsettling set pieces to date.

The episode eventually reveals that Nate dies after a rattlesnake slithers into the burial chamber and fatally bites him before rescue arrives. The scene immediately drew strong reactions online, with many viewers calling it one of the series’ most shocking moments. Several publications and fan discussions have noted that creator Sam Levinson appeared intent on presenting Nate’s death as a form of brutal karmic reckoning.

Alongside Nate’s downfall, the episode also charts Cassie Howard’s increasingly destructive behavior. Cassie, played by Sydney Sweeney, spends much of the episode trying to regain fame and financial stability after deleting her OnlyFans account and losing professional opportunities associated with her online image.

In one of the most controversial subplots, Cassie seduces a TV actor, manipulates his social media account and tries to gain public attention through scandal and voyeurism. Critics and audiences alike interpreted the plot as a commentary on internet celebrity culture, commodified intimacy, and emotional despair.

Meanwhile, Rue Bennett’s story takes a darker spiritual and psychological turn. Replayed by Zendaya, Rue becomes increasingly entangled in dangerous criminal networks while grappling with questions of redemption, faith, and survival. Reviews of the episode noted that the series continues to blur the line between emotional realism and operatic tragedy as it heads into its final chapter.

Read also | Ahead of Season 3 of Euphoria, here’s a quick Season 2 recap

Internet reactions to the episode

Audience reaction to the episode was sharply divided. While some viewers praised the show’s willingness to take narrative risks and deliver emotionally devastating consequences, others criticized the increasingly over-the-top violence and chaotic storytelling. Online discussion was dominated by debate over whether Nate’s death represented meaningful closure or shock value designed purely to elicit a reaction.

One viewer wrote: “Jacob elordi reading the script and finding out he’s finally going to run away from sam levinson #euphoria (sic)”

Others criticized creator Sam Levinson for what they saw as an abrupt and underdeveloped conclusion to Nate’s story, especially after years of exploring the character’s complicated family history, sexuality, and emotional instability.

“So this season they give Nate no story, ignore his sexuality, his family, his plot with Jules and choose to just kill him off! lazy boring yawning sloppy (sic),” another viewer wrote online.

Despite Nate’s long history of violence and manipulation on the show, several viewers have admitted to still feeling sympathy for the character’s brutal end.

“Despite everything Nate Maddy has done, I feel really bad for him. He didn’t deserve that ending (sic).”

Viewers particularly focused on Maddy’s actions during the episode, interpreting them as an act of sacrifice and loyalty despite the betrayal she previously endured.

“Even after everything Cassie Maddy did, she still took a bullet for her boyfriend and ended up with a lifetime of deadly debt. That’s loyalty. #Euphoria (sic)”

Another fan wrote: “you really gotta love this girl” maddy literally slept with alamo just to save cassie IM SICK #euphoria (sic)”

Elsewhere, viewers reacted with shock at the show’s increasingly fatalistic trajectory, as several characters appeared to be headed for disastrous outcomes ahead of the season finale.

“Nate is dead, Rue dies, Maddie dies, Cassie is still alive, Lexi is still a virgin, Cassie is a widow, one episode left (sic)”

Some reactions focused less on individual plot twists and more on broader criticism of the show’s treatment of women, violence and trauma.

“Does this show have one scene where women are not abused or humiliated (sic)”

Another widely shared reaction referenced the disturbing images surrounding the scene of Nate’s death.

“Naz dug a hole and put nat in a casket in his own country that’s crazy bruh (sic)”

Despite the controversy, the episode undeniably re-established Euphoria as one of the most aggressively discussed dramas on television. With only one episode left this season, the series now heads into its finale with unresolved questions surrounding Rue’s fate, Cassie’s future, and the emotional impact of Nate Jacobs’ death.