Full Breakdown
Nate Jacobs’ Rattlesnake Death in *Euphoria* Season 3
5/26/2026, 2:22:41 AM
Core Event
Episode 7, “Rain or Shine,” buries Nate Jacobs (Jacob Elordi) in a wooden coffin on his construction site. A ventilation pipe provides limited air, but a rattlesnake slithers down and bites him, killing him before Cassie Howard (Sydney Sweeney), Maddy Perez (Alexa Demie) and Alamo (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje) can rescue him. The backhoe later lifts the coffin, revealing his bloated body.
Background & Context
Season 3 follows Nate after loan-shark Naz (Jack Topalian) forces him to repay a $1 million debt. At his wedding Naz severs Nate’s toe; later Cassie’s OnlyFans income is cut, leaving a 72-hour deadline. Maddy becomes Cassie’s de-facto pimp, and Alamo is enlisted to intervene.
Key Figures & Groups
Nate Jacobs – antagonist turned victim; Cassie Howard – ex-fiancée with the $1 million; Maddy Perez – Cassie’s ally; Alamo – crime boss who kills Naz; Naz – loan-shark; Sam Levinson – creator.
Why It Matters
Levinson frames the scene as karmic retribution, moving *Euphoria* from teen melodrama to adult consequence. Nate’s removal clears the primary antagonist, forcing the remaining characters to confront a new power vacuum.
Official Statements & Responses
Levinson told *Esquire* he asked, “How can I give the audience what they want, but make it so horrific they question it?” He recalled hearing Otis Redding on a drive when the image of a rattlesnake entering a burial pipe formed. Elordi called the coffin “quite peaceful” and said the ending felt like “a cool way to go” for a character with many dark choices.
Criticism & Opposition
*ScreenRant* and *The Daily Beast* called the death “excessive” and “under-developed,” arguing it prioritized shock over story. Social-media users split between seeing poetic justice and decrying “Looney Tunes-level violence.” Some reviewers noted the episode bypassed deeper exploration of Nate’s arc.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
*Hollywood Reporter* and *Deadline* say a real rattlesnake was filmed for exterior shots, while *NME* and *The Daily Beast* report a non-venomous boa constrictor with a fake rattle performed the in-coffin bite. No official clarification has been issued.
Verbatim Quotes
- “There’s this kind of funny thing where I know what the audience wants in terms of justice or karma and with that in mind, I always think, ‘Well, how can I give it to them?’” — Sam Levinson, *Esquire*
- “How can I give them what they want, but make it so horrific and anxiety-inducing that by the time it happens, the audience isn’t so sure they wanted it?” — Sam Levinson, *Esquire*
- “That was a cool way to go. Nate was someone who has made so many mistakes and made so many dark choices,” — Jacob Elordi, HBO
- “it’s quite peaceful in there.” — Jacob Elordi, HBO
What’s Next
Episode 8, “In God We Trust,” will examine the fallout of Nate’s death, focusing on Cassie’s finances, Maddy’s ties to Alamo, and Rue’s spiritual path as the series nears its possible conclusion.
