
Nate Jacobs, the main antagonist of HBO's Euphoria, is a popular student and star quarterback at East Highland High School. His character is marked by violent, manipulative, and abusive tendencies, particularly towards women. In the show, Nate is hospitalised after being punched by his arch-enemy, Fezco. While in a coma, Nate dreams about his ideal future with Cassie and Jules, revealing his complicated feelings towards the latter. Nate's father, Cal Jacobs, also plays a significant role in shaping his son's toxic masculinity and insecurities about his sexuality.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for hospitalisation | Punched by Fez |
| Show | Euphoria |
| Character description | Popular student, star quarterback of East Highland High School, abusive, toxic, manipulative, violent, insecure about his sexuality, hyper-masculine, charming, irresistible, domineering, intelligent, controlling, judgmental |
| Portrayed by | Jacob Elordi |
| Physical description | 6'7" European/White-American, 228 lbs, muscular, brown hair and eyes, light-skinned, stubble, mole on the left side of the chest |
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What You'll Learn
- Nate Jacobs is in a coma after being punched by Fez
- Nate dreams about his ideal future with Cassie and Jules
- Nate's father, Cal, shows interest in Cassie, mirroring his interest in Jules
- Nate sets Cal up to be beaten by Fez and Ashtray as revenge for sleeping with Jules
- Nate's character is marked by toxic masculinity and hidden insecurities about his sexuality

Nate Jacobs is in a coma after being punched by Fez
Nate Jacobs, a popular student and star quarterback at East Highland High School, finds himself in a coma after being punched by his arch-enemy, Fez. This event serves as a pivotal moment in the HBO series Euphoria, where Jacobs' character is known for his manipulative and abusive tendencies, fuelled by toxic masculinity and insecurity about his sexuality.
The physical altercation between Nate and Fez is a culmination of their antagonistic relationship. Fez, also known as Fezco, is one of the few characters who stands against Nate's toxic behaviour. Their rivalry is intense, and it ultimately leads to the violent encounter that lands Nate in the hospital.
While in a coma, Nate experiences dreams and reflections that reveal his complicated inner world. He imagines a future with Cassie, another one of his ex-girlfriends, and his thoughts drift towards Jules Vaughn, a past love interest. Nate's complicated feelings towards Jules are influenced by his father, Cal Jacobs, who also showed interest in her.
Nate's time in the hospital provides a glimpse into his psyche, exposing his fears and insecurities that have been driving his manipulative and abusive behaviour. It is a turning point in the series, as it forces Nate to confront his true self and the impact of his actions on those around him.
The incident also highlights the complex dynamics between the characters in Euphoria. Fez, driven by his own sense of justice, takes a stand against Nate, demonstrating the show's exploration of power, control, and the consequences that arise when these become distorted.
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Nate dreams about his ideal future with Cassie and Jules
Nate Jacobs, a popular student and star quarterback at East Highland High School, finds himself in the hospital after being punched by Fez. During his coma, he dreams about his ideal future with Cassie Howard, his ex-girlfriend, and Jules Vaughn, his former love interest.
In his dream, Nate imagines a future where he has overcome his toxic tendencies and insecurities about his sexuality. He sees himself as a supportive and caring partner to Cassie, free from the manipulative and abusive behaviours that marked his past relationships. Nate envisions a deep and meaningful connection with Cassie, where they share their hopes and dreams, providing each other with unconditional love and support.
As Nate's dream unfolds, Jules also appears in his ideal future. He pictures a world where the complicated dynamics of their past are left behind, and a fresh start is possible. Nate desires a genuine and authentic relationship with Jules, free from the manipulation and intimidation that characterised their early interactions. He longs for a connection built on trust, acceptance, and mutual understanding.
In his dream, Nate sees himself as a changed man, no longer driven by toxic masculinity and the need to maintain a hyper-masculine image. He embraces a more vulnerable and emotionally available version of himself, secure in his own skin and comfortable with his true feelings. Nate's ideal future involves breaking free from the expectations that once shackled him and embracing a life of honesty and openness with Cassie and Jules by his side.
However, as the coma ends, Nate is pulled back to reality, facing the complexities of his true relationships with Cassie and Jules, and the lingering shadows of his past actions. The dream serves as a stark contrast to the turbulent world of Euphoria, highlighting the dissonance between Nate's desires for a harmonious future and the challenges he must confront in his waking life.
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Nate's father, Cal, shows interest in Cassie, mirroring his interest in Jules
Nate Jacobs, the star quarterback of East Highland High School, is the primary antagonist in Euphoria. His character is marked by manipulative and abusive tendencies, notably towards his ex-girlfriends Maddy Perez and Cassie Howard, and his past love interest Jules Vaughn.
Nate's character is shaped by his father, Cal Jacobs, a prominent real-estate businessman with strict demands. Cal has had a significant influence on Nate's life, with his discovery of Cal's explicit videos at a young age impacting his behaviour and leading to his toxic masculinity and insecurity about his sexuality. Cal's actions have traumatized Nate, and his fear of confronting his father's severe trauma is one of his greatest fears.
In the show, Nate has a nightmare where he pictures Jules in the same outfit they first met, hugging him in his father's motel room. This mirrors the reality of Cal and Jules' encounter in the same location. Nate also dresses Cassie in a combination of Maddy and Jules' clothes, specifically dressing her like Jules to have sex with her, mirroring Cal's actions.
Nate's complicated feelings towards Jules are further entangled with his father's interest in her. While Nate is in the hospital, he dreams about his ideal future with Cassie but imagines Jules in the process. He also pictures his father hitting on and showing interest in Cassie, just as Cal had done with Jules. This mirrors Cal's behaviour in pursuing younger women and the complicated dynamic between Nate, Jules, and his father.
Nate's fear of his father and his desire for revenge are also evident in his actions towards Jules. He threatens to put her in jail for distributing child pornography, likely as a form of intimidation to keep their mutual secret hidden. Nate's trauma and complicated feelings towards his father, Cal, are projected onto his relationships with Cassie and Jules, creating a toxic and manipulative dynamic.
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Nate sets Cal up to be beaten by Fez and Ashtray as revenge for sleeping with Jules
Nate Jacobs, the star quarterback of East Highland High School, is a popular student. However, he has a deeply ingrained sense of violent behaviour due to his ideologies regarding toxic masculinity, his upbringing, and the struggles he faces with his sexuality as a result. His character is marked by manipulative and abusive tendencies, notably towards his ex-girlfriends Maddy Perez and Cassie Howard, and his past love interest Jules Vaughn.
Jules Vaughn is also the reason why Nate ends up in the hospital. Jules and Nate first meet on the street in their Californian town. Nate catcalls Jules, causing her to fall off her bike when she retaliates by flipping him off. Jules then gets invited by Kat Hernandez to a party hosted by Nate's friend McKay. However, she decides to meet with "DominantDaddy", who is later revealed to be Nate's father, Cal Jacobs, with whom she engages in intercourse at a motel before heading to the party. Nate, who has a complicated relationship with Jules, later confronts his father about his short affair with her and calls him out for filming her without her consent.
Nate's life is heavily influenced by his stern father, Cal Jacobs, a prominent real-estate businessman with strict demands. Nate's character development is significantly shaped by his father, whose double life instills in him a need for control. Nate's insecurities about his sexuality fuel his toxic masculinity, leading him to harm others for personal gain. Nate's father's perception of masculinity and his own struggles with his sexuality drive him to maintain an image of hyper-masculinity, which often results in aggressive and violent behaviour.
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Nate's character is marked by toxic masculinity and hidden insecurities about his sexuality
Nate Jacobs, a central figure in HBO's Euphoria, is a popular student and the star quarterback of East Highland High School. His character is a mix of toxic masculinity and hidden insecurities about his sexuality. Nate's toxic masculinity is evident in his hyper-masculine persona, where he portrays himself as charming, irresistible, and domineering. He routinely dominates people, both physically and sexually, to maintain his image of masculinity. His manipulative and abusive tendencies, particularly towards his ex-girlfriends Maddy Perez and Cassie Howard, further mark his character as toxic and villainous.
Nate's insecurities about his sexuality stem from his upbringing and the struggles he faces with his father, Cal Jacobs. At a young age, Nate discovered his father's explicit videos, revealing a side of his father that conflicted with his public image. This discovery instilled in Nate a need for control and a fear of not fitting into the heteronormative view of masculinity. He becomes judgemental of others, especially those who do not conform to traditional gender roles, and uses his good looks, social status, and anger to mask his own emotions and insecurities.
Nate's relationship with Jules Vaughn further highlights his toxic masculinity and insecurities. When Jules, who embodies the typical girl Nate is attracted to, displays her authentic self, Nate feels jealous and self-hatred. He resorts to manipulation, blackmail, and even physical aggression in his interactions with Jules, showcasing his inability to handle his own insecurities healthily.
Throughout the series, it is implied that Nate might not be strictly heterosexual, indicating a deeper struggle with his sexuality. His father's double life and homosexual impulses further complicate Nate's sense of self and masculinity. Nate's actions are often fueled by testosterone and shame, driving him to maintain an image of leadership and masculine perfection.
In summary, Nate Jacobs' character in Euphoria embodies toxic masculinity and hidden insecurities about his sexuality. His need to portray a hyper-masculine image, coupled with his manipulative and abusive tendencies, marks him as a villain. Meanwhile, his struggles with his sexuality and fear of not fitting into heteronormative standards drive his actions and insecurities, shaping his character's development throughout the series.
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Frequently asked questions
Nate Jacobs was in the hospital after being punched by Fez.
Nate Jacobs is a main character in the first and second seasons of Euphoria. He is portrayed by Jacob Elordi.
Nate Jacobs is the star quarterback of East Highland High School. He is popular and initially comes across as a classic "bad boy jock" archetype, but with violent and manipulative tendencies.





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