‘Euphoria’: The Wild Fan Theory That Elliot Is the Third Jacobs Brother

The Jacobs family is at the forefront of Euphoria Season 2, especially the mysterious third brother. After Cal Jacobs’ (Eric Dane) emotional monologue in episode 4, he takes a family photo of his wife and three sons. That photo has Euphoria fans speculating about the long-lost Jacobs brother, who some think could be Elliot (Dominic Fike).

‘Euphoria’ hasn’t addressed the third brother

Fans first noticed the third Jacobs sibling in season 1 of Euphoria. The family portrait features three young boys: Nate (Jacob Elordi) when he’s 11-years-old and his older brother Aaron (Zak Steiner). But there’s never an explanation for the third sibling, who appears to be younger than Nate in the photo. 

Throughout season 1 and the four episodes of Euphoria season 2 that have aired, only Nate and Aaron exist. “We haven’t seen him,” Elordi told Entertainment Weekly. 

“I don’t know where he went. I had the same questions when I got to work. I was like, ‘You do realize that there’s different child in this picture?’ And everyone just didn’t really say anything.”

Elliot could be the missing Jacobs brother, ‘Euphoria’ fans say 

The mysterious Jacobs brother has once again popped up in Euphoria Season 2, confirming the character isn’t an oversight by showrunners, who included the family photo in the recap before episode 4. “I’m telling y’all Elliot is the missing child,” says one TikTok user. 

“We all have secrets,” Cal says as he removes the photo from the wall. Could Elliot be his child from an extra-marital relationship?

Another fan pointed out Rue’s (Zendaya) description of Nate in season 1, episode 2. “He knew he had anger issues, he just couldn’t trace back to what caused it,” Rue says as Nate walks past the picture. Whether that was a subtle hint from showrunners or a total fluke remains to be seen. But Nate could resent Elliot as a symbol of his parent’s failed marriage.

The third Jacobs brother might already be dead

Since Euphoria began, fans have speculated that the third Jacobs brother is dead. Some are still standing behind that theory. 

“I agree with the theory that the youngest brother passed away,” said a Redditor in the thread about Elliot being a Jacobs. “That’s why there is so much tension[,] why none of them can be emotional, [and] why Cal took that picture with him.” 

They continued their theory: “The youngest died somehow when Nate was supposed to be watching him and he probably didn’t shed a tear at his funeral or something and that’s why Cal said ‘you’re my biggest regret.'”

“Maybe Nate accidentally caused his death and that’s why Cal hates him so much,” commented another Reddit user.

“I think Cal is projecting his own guilt onto Nate,” mentioned another comment. “That’s why he hates both his kids. I think you’re right though that the third child died and they’ll reveal how in a later season.”

Dane also believes Cal meant something else when he told Nate he was his biggest regret. “I think they really do love each other,” he told Entertainment Weekly. “They love the potential of what they could be and not the actuality of what’s going on.” 

Elliot might die in ‘Euphoria’ Season 2 according to fans 

Euphoria fans like Turtle with an Appetite think Elliot could die of an overdose before the second season ends. The fan points out that Elliot is a likable character, making him a prime candidate for getting killed in the HBO series. 

Plus, there’s Rue and Elliot’s conversation about feelings of love and loss — a conversation that could foreshadow Elliot dying from an overdose. If Elliot is the third Jacobs brother, his death will add another layer of tragedy to the narrative. 

Watch new episodes of Euphoria on Sundays at 9 p.m. ET.