15 Euphoria Theories That Will Scratch Your Brain

Was Nate financially backing Jules? Oh, this is getting interesting!
euphoria fan theories

Whenever Euphoria is the talk of the internet, everyone across social media is sent into a frenzy. This show isn’t your typical drama series. In fact, it gave us plenty of outstanding performances from the cast, especially Zendaya’s brilliant portrayal of Rue.

Euphoria is known as a bold and moving force among Gen Z, encouraging endless discussions and fan theories along the way. It constantly leaves viewers asking questions and connecting the dots. That’s what keeps the fandom alive.

For what it’s worth, I don’t want to keep you waiting. There may be no more Euphoria in the future (I know it’s bittersweet), but fans have come up with plenty of theories that make the show’s world even more fascinating. Some are surprisingly convincing, while others are completely unhinged—but they’re all worth talking about.

The Most Unhinged ‘Euphoria’ Fan Theories 

1. Lexi Howard Wrote Euphoria

It’s interesting to consider how Lexi has always been writing on her laptop throughout the series. It could be that she’s been drafting the story herself, symbolizing the way we see the show unfold on our screens. This theory gained traction after season 2, where Lexi wrote a play about the lives of her friends and family with remarkable accuracy and attention to detail.

It also supports the idea that Lexi never suffers the same fate as her friends, who are constantly fighting to survive. She’s never really caught up in danger, and no one ever seems to target or harm her. Perhaps it’s because she’s the one creatively bringing everything to life.

Lexi may come across as modest, but she also has a strategic mindset that makes fans believe she could be the one behind the story. While this isn’t actually the case, the pattern is convincing enough for fans to connect her passion for writing with her fascination for the people around her, making it easy to imagine she turned their lives into a story.

2. Nate Jacobs Killed His Third Brother

This theory might go off the rails, but let’s admit it—no one really knows what happened to Nate’s other brother. Reddit user u/gfrias believes the third brother may have been killed by Nate in a fit of rage, with their parents keeping it a secret.

There’s one scene where Cal says, “I mean, we all have secrets,” before taking the family photo and walking away. That line may support the theory, hinting that there’s something much darker behind the missing brother. It also raises the question of why another brother appears in the family photo but is never mentioned again.

Considering Nate’s violent nature and abusive behavior toward Maddy, some fans believe the theory isn’t completely impossible. Others argue it’s simply a continuity error or production mistake, and Sam Levinson never gave viewers an answer to the mystery.

Even Jacob Elordi admitted he didn’t know who the missing brother was supposed to be. Whatever the truth is, there simply isn’t enough evidence to prove the theory. Still, it’s one that made the rounds online and continues to puzzle fans.

3. Rue’s Narration Was Based on Her Memoir

As the narrator of the show, Rue could actually be telling the story through her memoir. Every character’s backstory is presented through Rue’s perspective, blending their experiences with her own. Looking back at Lexi’s play in season 2, it’s easy to compare the way Rue narrates her friends’ lives with how Lexi added creative touches to make the story more entertaining.

Some fans also believe Rue sat down with Lexi to recount everything that happened, with Lexi writing it all down for her. Their relationship works so well as storytellers that it’s easy to imagine one helping the other, leading many to believe the memoir could also reflect Lexi’s writing.

It’s easy to imagine that every narration from Rue comes directly from those memoir pages. However, there isn’t enough evidence to suggest Lexi added her own perspective. The clues supporting this theory are still pretty slim.

4. Nate Was Funding Jules’ High-Rise Apartment

This theory by u/gatafina is so convincing it almost feels like the rent is due. Could Nate be struggling financially because he’s secretly supporting Jules?

After Cassie told him about the floral arrangements she wanted for their wedding, Nate stepped back and admitted he couldn’t afford them. He even turned down the idea of using Cassie’s OF account to help pay for everything.

What’s even more interesting is that in season 3, The Ballad of Paladin, Nate unexpectedly interacts with Jules. Their secretive relationship has led some fans to believe he’s still connected to her—or simply wants to maintain control over her. That’s what makes the theory seem believable.

Some fans also believe Nate is drowning in debt while trying to keep the family business afloat. Instead of putting borrowed money back into the construction business, the theory suggests he’s secretly using it to pay for Jules’ apartment.

However, this theory has since been debunked. The person actually paying for Jules’ stylish apartment is her official sugar daddy, Ellis, played by Sam Trammell. Poor Nate.

5. Alamo Manipulated Big Eddy

People online have debated whether Eddy secretly works for the DEA or if he completely walked away from Alamo. However, the most convincing theory suggests he stopped being one of Alamo’s trusted men after the van incident.

Reddit user u/CompleteSomewhere36 explained that Alamo remained hostile toward Eddy after he failed to protect the safe during the raid. He blamed Eddy for what happened. According to the theory, Eddy believed the drugs were still hidden inside the van and delivered it to Laurie, only for the DEA to raid it and find nothing. Fans believe this was Alamo’s punishment, and that he didn’t care whether Eddy ended up arrested—or even killed.

6. Rue Was An Unreliable Narrator

A lot of what we see in Euphoria may be true, while some parts could be only partly accurate. Without Rue’s narration, how do we really know what happened? There may be inconsistencies in the way events are told, making Rue both our guide and someone whose perspective we constantly have to question.

Her drug use could have clouded her memory, distorted certain events, or caused her to miss important details.

Some fans argue that whenever Rue is high, her judgment can’t be trusted. But it’s hard to completely dismiss her version of events. After all, she boldly exposed Cassie and Nate’s relationship in front of Maddy—and she was right.

Cassie calling her a “drug addict” may have been an attempt to discredit her, but overall, Rue didn’t lie. She was spitting facts!

7. Cassie Was Using Maddy All Along

Maddy helped Cassie rebrand, grow her audience, and earn a million bucks. She risked everything to help Cassie become successful. Their sisterhood continued to grow, building on the bond they had since they were little.

But finding out that Cassie deleted her OF account left Maddy completely disappointed. Reuniting with someone you’ve known for so long gave them a chance to start over and move forward with a positive outlook. When Cassie messed things up again, Maddy didn’t hold back, pushing her to get it together.

Although we don’t really see any clear evidence that Cassie was using Maddy, their sisterhood is so strong that they always find their way back to each other and would fight battles together until the very end.

8. Magick Had Built-In Camera Around Her Neck Brace

We’ve all been asking the same question: Why was Rosalia wearing that neck brace the whole time? Was she hiding something?

The explanation is that she was involved in an accident that severely injured her neck. However, the way she carries herself throughout the series has led some fans to believe there’s more to the story. Supposedly, she’s keeping the brace on to strengthen her lawsuit and receive compensation.

Online observers weren’t buying the “lawsuit” explanation, though. Some noticed that the flower in the center of the brace resembles a hidden camera, leading to theories that she’s secretly gathering evidence to expose Alamo’s operation.

There aren’t many scenes to expand on this theory, but it’s certainly an interesting catch. More than anything, what stood out was her defiance.

9. Rue Has Been Dead All This Time

Many fans pointed out that Rue narrates the story in the past tense, leading them to believe she’s actually been dead since season 1. Everything she’s telling us has already happened…it’s her story from beginning to end.

On TikTok, one fan suggested that Rue’s “seven minutes” sequence foreshadowed her death. The dreamlike feeling when she visited the house, her reaching for her mother’s hand only to end up embraced by her father, all seemed to hint that this was her final moment. Some also noticed that the narration fades during these scenes, suggesting fentanyl prevented her from speaking as she slipped into the afterlife. Others even compared it to the Titanic recreation during the bow scene, with Rue as Jack and Jules as Rose.

It’s a haunting theory that suggests Rue has been telling the story from beyond the grave all along.

10. Angel Was Cooperating With the DEA

There’s a theory that Angel never actually died and was rescued by the DEA instead. She was supposedly being taken to rehab by Alamo, but fans believe something much more sinister was about to happen.

Some viewers noticed that the car outside looked identical to a DEA vehicle, leading them to believe Angel escaped with the agents. They may have recruited her to provide information and act as an insider on the operation she once worked for.

The theory gains a little more support when Magick later tells Rue that Angel escaped from rehab, making the idea seem at least somewhat plausible.

11. Laurie’s I.D Collection Was Evidence Against Alamo

One question that immediately comes to mind is why Laurie has all those IDs locked away in her safe.

In Season 3, Kitty Likes to Dance, the Silver Slipper was stormed by armed men who stole all the money from Alamo’s safe.

Some fans believe they may have taken the IDs as well. This connects with episode 7, when Rue and Faye discover the collection, including Angel’s ID. Could Laurie be holding evidence against Alamo? Despite their complicated relationship, some believe they’re still involved in secret negotiations and exchanges. It also raises the possibility that the rehab operation isn’t a place for recovery at all, but something much darker.

At the end of the day, it’s all about power, leverage, and knowing who to trust—even in the most dangerous situations.

12. Maddy Was Going to Die

Some fans believed Maddy was heading toward a tragic ending after she became involved with Alamo.

This theory suggested her death was foreshadowed through symbolism. In one scene, Maddy leans against a wall with three mounted deer heads above her.

Supporters believed this represented how she became Alamo’s prized possession—something to be displayed and controlled. It also reflected his belief that he’d never let another woman outsmart him.

At the same time, Maddy was always careful and resourceful. She knew how to protect herself and wasn’t someone who was easily fooled. That’s probably what helped her survive.

13. Bishop Was Actually the Final Boss

Despite turning against his boss, Bishop could still emerge as the series’ silent assassin and ultimately become the real mastermind after Alamo’s downfall. His calm, quiet demeanor has made fans suspicious, as it often hides far more than it reveals.

Reddit user u/Free-IDK-Chicken believes Bishop isn’t who viewers think he is. While many praised him for helping Maddy, others argue he actually left her trapped with Alamo’s dangerous intentions. That could mean he’s still loyal to Alamo—or that he’s slowly beginning to question everything.

14. Laurie Was Just Protecting Rue

There isn’t much reason to believe Laurie is protecting Rue. After all, she spent the previous season threatening her, and if there’s one thing Laurie has always wanted, it’s control over Rue’s life.

She’s manipulative and constantly pushes Rue toward bad decisions. She’s never shown genuine kindness, and everything Rue receives from her comes with a price. If Rue can’t pay her debt, Laurie is more than willing to hand her over to someone else to make sure she gets her money back.

Laurie is also deeply involved in trafficking, making it clear that nobody is exempt from her rules—not even Rue. She’s willing to cut anyone off whenever it benefits her, especially those who refuse to stay under her control.

15. Rue Was a Human Trafficker

This theory remains completely unproven. In fact, Rue has always been portrayed as the victim. There’s no scene suggesting she’s involved in trafficking. Instead, she was trafficked herself and suffered terrible abuse because she couldn’t repay the money she owed.

There’s very little to support this theory. If anything, Rue has always been shown as compassionate, and that’s something we can see in her actions throughout the series.

Did any of these theories convince you? Let us know your thoughts in the comments! It would be rude not to.

Share
Tweet
Pin
Share
Share
Email
  • kenneth Wayne Visaya

    Kenneth is a rising junior in college with an interest in writing entertainment and culture. He has also been published in national publications, where he wrote personal essays about pop culture and nostalgia. He loves books, music, TV, movies, and anything considered pop culture. Although he studies politics, his real abode is always for culture and entertainment.

Subscribe
Notify of

0 Comments