Euphoria season 3’s much-anticipated wedding episode ends with horrifying scenes – but what next for Cassie and Nate?

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*Warning: This article contains spoilers for Euphoria season 3 episode 3, The Ballad of Paladin*

Many fans of Euphoria were eagerly anticipating this episode, and while the third season hasn’t quite lived up to expectations so far, some viewers feel this one might be a positive shift for the season.

During the filming of Euphoria season 3, photos taken by paparazzi hinted at a wedding. When the first trailers were released, it became clear that the wedding would be between Cassie (Sydney Sweeney) and Nate (Jacob Elordi).

Cassie’s relationship isn’t a classic romance, but she was set on having the wedding she always wanted. The first two episodes of the season showed her working hard to achieve her dream wedding, even starting an OnlyFans account to pay for everything – including $50,000 worth of flowers – and ensure her big day was perfect.

Many viewers expected drama when Nate invited old friends – including his ex-girlfriend Maddie – to his wedding. However, the wedding doesn’t fall apart because of Maddie, but because of Nate’s own questionable actions.

Taking over his father’s business has been more difficult than Nate expected. From the beginning of the season, it was clear he was facing financial problems, and in this episode, those issues finally catch up to him. We learn he owes a significant amount of money that he’s been avoiding paying.

As Nate’s wedding reception gets going, he’s unexpectedly approached by a dangerous loan shark, who pretends to be offended he wasn’t invited. Nate is shocked to see him among his loved ones, and this is just the first sign of trouble to come.

He walked right up to Nate’s table during the wedding reception and said, ‘I was friends with your husband. And I’m going to make his life a living hell.’

Nate kept smiling, seemingly unfazed, but I could see Cassie starting to crumble. She looked really upset, and her sister noticed right away, asking if she was okay. It was painful to watch.

After a difficult moment where Nate reveals his financial struggles to Cassie, they begin their first dance as husband and wife. The dance becomes increasingly poignant as Cassie realizes the seriousness of Nate’s situation. True to form, Nate manages to reassure Cassie and calm her fears, allowing her to savor what should be a dream come true.

Cassie spent most of the day close to tears, but her spirits lifted when she and Nate returned home, with Nate carrying her inside. However, their happiness was quickly shattered when they discovered the loan shark – and his associates – waiting for them, making it clear Nate had crossed a line.

A brutal fight erupts, and Cassie finds herself caught in the middle. Nate is severely beaten, and the situation looks hopeless as Cassie breaks down in tears. Her husband desperately tries to escape the chaos, but is pulled back into the fight again and again.

Is Cassie crying because of how violent everything was, because she’s scared of what’s happening and the men involved, or just because her day has been completely ruined? It’s probably a combination of all those things, but when it comes to Cassie, it’s hard to say for sure what she’s really feeling.

It’s hard to say what the future holds for this couple, particularly with the way Sam Levinson develops his characters and storylines. Given Nate’s financial troubles, Cassie’s quick fix with OnlyFans might become a long-term solution, but being forced into it could take away her control. There’s a real chance things could escalate beyond just sharing revealing photos online and become something more troubling.

Let me tell you, Nate’s just gotten a seriously harsh wake-up call, and the pressure is on. The stakes are incredibly high now, and honestly, if he doesn’t deliver – or can’t pay what he owes – I’m predicting some truly awful consequences. It’s a ticking time bomb, and I’m on the edge of my seat to see what happens.

A lot of viewers never liked Cassie and Nate’s relationship to begin with, so this latest development feels like confirmation that it was doomed from the start. What’s clear is that Nate is finally being honest with his wife, and it seems like they’re both starting to see things the same way.

It remains to be seen what happens with Cassie and Nate, and if they’ll find happiness together, but things don’t look promising.

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New episodes of Euphoria season 3 are released every week on HBO Max, Sky Atlantic, and NOW. You can also watch seasons 1 and 2 on HBO Max and NOW.

Authors

Morgan CormackDrama Writer

Morgan Cormack writes about TV and streaming drama for TopMob. Before that, she was an Entertainment Writer at Stylist. She also has experience in content marketing and freelancing, and holds a BA degree in English Literature.

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2026-04-27 05:07