*Warning: This article contains spoilers for Euphoria season 3 episode 3, The Ballad of Paladin*
It’s the moment that many Euphoria fans had been waiting for and while the third season so far has been underdelivering in a variety of ways, some may think of this third episode as a bit of a turning point for the new season.
Throughout the filming process for Euphoria season 3, paparazzi pictures had teased a wedding, and as the trailers for the anticipated third instalment dropped, we soon realised it would be the wedding of Cassie (Sydney Sweeney) and Nate (Jacob Elordi) we’d all be witnessing.
Their love story is far from the stuff of fairytales, but in typical Cassie fashion, she was determined to get her happy ending. In the season opener and subsequent second episode, we saw how Cassie was intent on getting the wedding of her dreams, starting up an OnlyFans career to fund her lavish $50,000 flowers and make sure that no expense was spared on what she wanted to be her happiest day ever.
Along with inviting old school friends, including Nate’s ex Maddie (played by Alexa Demie), many fans probably thought that Maddie would somehow turn the day on its head – but actually, the anticipated nuptials take a drastic turn because of Nate’s dodgy dealings.
It turns out that taking over his father’s company hasn’t been a bed of roses, and from the start of the season, we could already hazard a guess that things weren’t going well for Nate on the financial side of things. This third episode is when the chickens come home to roost, though, as it becomes clear that Nate has some pretty hefty loans that he’s been dodging paying back.
While the wedding reception is underway, Nate is confronted by his loan shark, who jokes that he hasn’t received an invitation. Nate is visibly surprised to see him there amongst his friends and family, but it’s only the beginning of the sinister intrusion.
“I used to be your husband’s friend,” he says as he brazenly approaches Nate at his head wedding table. “I’m gonna make him his worst f**king nightmare.”
Nate continues to smile at the room, but Cassie’s mask starts to slip as she’s left visibly upset, with her sister asking her if she’s alright.
As Nate finally confesses to Cassie about his dire financial situation after retching in the bathroom, the pair take to the floor for their choreographed dance. The whole routine only gets more sad as Cassie is left facing the very real prospect that her new husband is in serious trouble. But as Nate is known to do, he puts out the growing fire in his relationship and soothes Cassie’s fears so that she can enjoy the day she’s seemingly been waiting her entire life.
Pretty much on the verge of or in tears for most of the day, things finally start to look up for Cassie as the newlywed couple returns home and Nate crosses the threshold with Cassie in his arms. But their joy is short-lived as they enter their home to find the loan shark in question – and his henchmen – there to truly send Nate a clear message.
What ensues is a bloody and violent scene as Cassie gets caught in the crossfire. Nate is viciously beaten up, and there appears to be no happy ending in sight as Cassie is left bawling, with her husband repeatedly trying to run, only to be dragged back to the brawl.
But are Cassie’s tears directed at the severity of the violence, fear of the situation and the men around her, or simply because her day has been ruined? I’d think it’s a mixture of all three, but when it comes to Cassie, who actually knows.
What that means for the couple going forward is also anyone’s guess, especially when it comes to how Sam Levinson continues to craft his characters and their stories. But seeing as Nate is in need of money quickly, Cassie’s temporary OnlyFans solution may become a more permanent one – but doing it out of necessity rather than want may take the autonomy out of things. Could things grow to be a bit more sinister than just some revealing pictures on the internet? It’s highly possible.
As Nate has been delivered quite the warning and reality check, the stakes have never been higher, and so, if he underdelivers or doesn’t manage to pay his debts on time, we’re sure the consequences will be unthinkable.
Many fans have never been a fan of Cassie and Nate getting together anyway, so perhaps this plot development is merely a reminder that their relationship has been cursed from the outset. One thing’s for certain, though, and that’s the fact that finally, they both appear to be on the same page as Nate has been left with no choice but to be honest with his wife.
We’ll just have to wait and see how things pan out for Cassie and Nate and whether they’ll get their happily ever after – something tells us it’s unlikely.
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Euphoria season 3 is airing weekly on HBO Max, Sky Atlantic and NOW. Catch up on seasons 1-2 on HBO Max and NOW.
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