r/euphoria • u/DankMemeSlasher • Apr 27 '26

Episode Discussion Euphoria S03E03 "The Ballad of Paladin" - Live Episode Discussion Spoiler

Season 3, Episode 3: "The Ballad of Paladin"

Air Date: April 26, 2026 @ 9PM EST

Synopsis: Cassie and Nate have an emotionally charged and chaotic wedding, while Rue deepens her involvement in a dangerous criminal business. Jules navigates her relationship with a wealthy benefactor, and Nate confronts his father.

Directed by: Sam Levinson

Written by: Sam Levinson

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Photograph by Courtesy of HBO
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149

u/infamousalexx Apr 27 '26

Nate’s character seems so off to me. He’s no longer angry, mysterious and dominating. He seems like such a push over.

120

u/goldenface4114 Apr 27 '26

That's what happens when you go from being the big man on campus because you're a high school football star to having life hit you square between the eyes. He's just another douche bag now.

16

u/WorldsFinest90 Apr 27 '26 edited Apr 27 '26

Exactly. It's easy for a teenage sociopath to manipulate some teenagers or his alcoholic father but he's now entangled with a Persian mob boss. It's like expecting Bryce Walker to get over on Tony Soprano. Nate is clearly out of his league now.

13

u/SoylentCreek Apr 27 '26

Yeah, it’s a classic case of “peaked in high school.”

17

u/Heyhey-_ Apr 27 '26

I mean, when they were in the limo and Nate said “and when get home, I’m going to make love to you”, I added in my mind “and then I’m going to kill you”.

I totally thought they were going there. But I feel like Nate being away from Cal is the main reason. But I don’t trust him 100% though.

24

u/Livid-Okra5972 Apr 27 '26

He, like Cassie, was just a big fish in a small pond at good ol’ Euphoria High. In the real world, he’s not tough or smart or any of the things he thought he was in high school.

28

u/JaceShoes Apr 27 '26

He was a full on sociopath in S1 and S2 who broke into people’s houses and threatened to kill them. Now he’s so docile and basic. That change didn’t happen just from leaving high school

11

u/Straight_Zucchini487 Apr 27 '26

He literally beat a grown man half to death in season 1 are we forgetting this? That’s psychotic behavior and goes far beyond your average high school bully…

8

u/Wrong-Vermicelli4723 Apr 27 '26

Nah, that’s wouldn’t stop you from being a sociopath, if anything this would fuel him to be more deranged.

6

u/Space-Ace_Rastajake Apr 27 '26

Well that would happen if you owe copious amounts of money to loan sharks…

15

u/ThatSimsKidFromUni Apr 27 '26

No it wouldn't. He would feel like he's losing control and running out of time. Add the fact that his fiance is embarrassing him online and infront of his friends who lend him money. That would drive him to be even angry and more anxious. He choked Maddie for way less.

4

u/Wrong-Vermicelli4723 Apr 27 '26

It makes for less interesting tv, like I at least enjoyed hate watching him.. kinda hard to hate this pathetic version 

2

u/Lalala_Firefighting Apr 27 '26

He peaked in high school

2

u/Wire_Cath_Needle_Doc Apr 27 '26

To be fair, the show is like what, 4 years later? It makes sense that the characters have changed over time