Euphoria Season 3 Episode 7 Explained: How Nate Jacobs Dies in Rain or Shine

The penultimate episode of Euphoria Season 3, titled Rain or Shine, ended with the death of one of the show's main characters. Nate Jacobs, played by Jacob Elordi across all three seasons, is dead. Sam Levinson's series has never been shy about extreme imagery, but Nate's exit is the most consequential character beat of the season so far.

This piece explains exactly what happens, how the death plays out, who is behind it, what the episode confirms about the show's larger arc, and what it sets up for the season three finale. Spoilers follow.

How Nate Jacobs dies in Rain or Shine

The death is constructed across the episode rather than dropped in at the end. Nate is kidnapped by Naz, a character introduced earlier this season, and buried alive in a coffin on the site of one of his stalled real estate developments. A narrow air pipe runs from the coffin to the surface, which is the only thing keeping Nate alive.

Naz contacts Cassie and tells her that she has 72 hours to deliver one million dollars, or Nate stays in the ground. Cassie spends much of the episode trying to put the money together. Nate, in the coffin, panics, screams, and pounds on the lid. The Levinson direction stays uncomfortably close in those scenes, which is the point.

The kill itself comes through the air pipe. A rattlesnake works its way down the pipe and into the coffin. Nate sees the snake in the dim light. The snake rears back and strikes him in the neck. The bite is venomous. The episode lets him die in real time, with the camera holding on his face and the only audible sound being his panic. The closing minutes cut to Cassie weeping over his body once it is dug up. Nate Jacobs is dead by the end of Rain or Shine.

Why this death matters for the season

Nate has been the show's most reliable engine of dread since the first season. His arc through Season 3 has been a long slow fall, from the controlled, dangerous senior of seasons one and two into a failed real estate developer who lost control of the people and money around him. Killing him in episode seven of an eight episode season is unusual. The show has chosen to use its biggest character death as the setup for the finale rather than the finale itself.

That means the finale, Episode 8, will be about everyone else's reaction. Cassie's grief is the most direct line. Maddy, played by Alexa Demie, has a long history with Nate that the series has been deliberate about leaving unresolved. The Jacobs family at large, including Nate's father Cal, are still in the story. The finale has room to be both a wake and a reckoning.

Who is Naz and why does she kill Nate

Naz's motivations have been laid out across the season in pieces, and Rain or Shine fills in the rest. The character is positioned as someone whose life was damaged by Nate's pattern of violence and coercion, and the kidnapping is framed as a deliberate act rather than a snap. The ransom demand to Cassie is part of the structure. The snake in the air pipe is implied to be intentional rather than coincidence, though the episode is careful to leave room for the reading either way.

That ambiguity is doing real work. Euphoria has been clear that Nate's death is not framed as a hero moment. It is framed as a consequence. The show is not asking the audience to celebrate.

How Sam Levinson has talked about the death

The series creator has spoken publicly about the choice to kill Nate, framing it as the natural end of a character whose pattern was always going to catch up with him. Treat his comments as authorial context rather than as a sequel hook. The intent is clear. Nate's arc was a finite one, the show told it in full, and the death closes the loop.

The new Season 3 faces, briefly

Season 3 has added several recognisable actors to its bench, and that has driven a lot of the wider conversation alongside the Nate plot:

• Natasha Lyonne joined the cast this season, with a recurring presence rather than a one episode appearance.
• Homer Gere, the son of Richard Gere, has a notable role in Season 3, his most prominent screen work to date.
• Existing cast members including Zendaya, Hunter Schafer, Sydney Sweeney, Maude Apatow, Alexa Demie, Eric Dane, and Colman Domingo all return.

Each of those additions has the room to land more cleanly now that the Nate plot has resolved.

How many episodes are in Euphoria Season 3

Eight. Rain or Shine is episode seven, which makes the finale, Episode 8, the closer. The season has been releasing weekly on HBO and Max in the United States, with the finale due the week after Rain or Shine.

Is there a Season 4 of Euphoria

Not officially confirmed as of late May 2026. HBO has not announced a renewal for a fourth season, and Sam Levinson's other commitments make scheduling difficult. Treat any specific Season 4 reporting as speculation until HBO publishes confirmation. The honest answer is, we do not know yet.

Where to watch Euphoria Season 3

In the United States, new episodes air weekly on HBO and stream on Max. Internationally the show is available on the equivalent Warner Bros Discovery streaming service in each market, which in many cases is Max, and in others is a local broadcaster carrying HBO content. To check what is available on your services, use Discover.

Frequently asked questions about Euphoria Season 3 Episode 7

Does Nate Jacobs die in Euphoria Season 3?

Yes. Nate Jacobs dies in Season 3, Episode 7, Rain or Shine. He is buried alive by Naz and killed by a snake bite to the neck inside the coffin.

How does Nate die in Euphoria?

A rattlesnake works its way down the air pipe leading into the coffin Naz buried him in. The snake bites him in the neck. The bite is venomous and Nate dies before he can be rescued.

Who kills Nate Jacobs?

Naz is the character responsible for the kidnapping and the burial. The show frames her as motivated by Nate's past pattern of violence rather than acting at random.

How many episodes are in Euphoria Season 3?

Eight episodes. Rain or Shine is episode seven, so one episode remains.

Will Jacob Elordi return to Euphoria?

Not as Nate Jacobs, no. The character is dead. Whether Elordi returns in any other capacity, such as a flashback or a dream sequence, has not been announced.

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