Who Does Nate Really Love: Maddy, Cassie, or None of the Above?

Published on 2/2/2022 at 7:00 PM

"Euphoria" season two is giving us a lot of full-frontal nudity, but it's also making fans question Nate Jacobs's (Jacob Elordi) heart. Aside from wondering if the toxically masculine character even has a heart, "Euphoria" fans are getting curious about whether Nate could actually be in love with one of his classmates on the HBO series. In the first four episodes of "Euphoria" season two, we've seen Nate explore a fling with Cassie Howard (Sydney Sweeney) and reignite whatever spark was left between him and Maddy Perez (Alexa Demie). So, is Nate actually in love with one of them? Both of them? Does he just like the way they make him feel? Or is he in love with someone totally different? These are some of our favorite fan theories about Nate's love life.

Does Nate Really Love Maddy on "Euphoria"?

There's no doubt Nate's relationship with Maddy has been toxic from the beginning, but they're inexplicably drawn to one another regardless. In season two, episode four, Maddy finally tells Nate she's actually in love with him, and she goes on to reveal that he tells her he loves her and even asked her to have children with him while fighting in the hot tub at her birthday party.

While there's a chance Nate genuinely loves Maddy, since they're clearly drawn to one another, in the back of many fans' minds is the fact that Maddy still has Nate's dad's DVD in her possession, which could be problematic for Nate, Cal (Eric Dane), or both of the father-son duo.

Many "Euphoria" fans think Nate continues to lead Maddy on because she has the DVD, but there's more to their complicated relationship than that. "To a degree, she challenges him," one Reddit user says. "She also has the recording of his father and Jules therefore he feels the need to keep her on his 'good side.'"

Does Nate Really Love Cassie on "Euphoria"?

Nate's relationship with Cassie is riddled with issues, the least of which is he's using her to keep himself entertained while he tries to navigate his messy relationship with Maddy. Some fans think Nate might get caught up in a similar situation to his father's, believing Cassie might be pregnant.

"No cause what if Cassie gets pregnant the same way Marsha did and Nate ends up stuck just like Cal before he gets the chance to come out," one fan on Twitter says. Like Cal, who was in love with his best friend Derek but chose to stay with Marsha and start a family, Nate's life could follow a similar path if Cassie gets pregnant in season two of "Euphoria." While there's no reason to believe she is pregnant, their storyline going in that direction would certainly be a full-circle moment.

Does Nate Really Love Jules on "Euphoria"?

In a blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment from Nate's fantasy about a picture-perfect life with Cassie, images of Jules taking nude photos appear. Some fans think this could mean Nate is really in love with Jules and working overtime to suppress those feelings. "The only person he's ever showed any real feelings toward has been Jules but he projects those feelings onto Cassie," one "Euphoria" fan says on Reddit. "Cassie being cis doesn't threaten his macho heteronormativity."

Does Nate Actually Love Anyone on "Euphoria"?

It's no secret Nate Jacobs is a garbage human. According to some "Euphoria" fans on Reddit, he toys with women's emotions and only cares about being in power. "I feel like he doesn't genuinely want either of them & found himself caught up in everything," one "Euphoria" fan theorizes, categorizing Nate as a cheater and abuser.

In reality, Nate needs to focus on himself and address his issues before he gets into yet another toxic relationship.