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Cal Jacobs’ (Eric Dane) relationship with his son Nate (Jacob Elordi) is one of the tensest in the HBO series Euphoria. The family is loaded with secrets, including Cal’s lying about his sexuality and cheating on his wife. But despite the toxicity portrayed in the Jacobs household, Dane has a surprising take on Cal’s relationship with his son. 

Jacob Elordi as Nate Jacobs; Eric Dane as Cal Jacobs in 'Euphoria'
Jacob Elordi; Eric Dane | Eddy Chen/HBO

Cal and Nate Jacobs ‘really do love each other’ 

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Dane explained his thoughts on Cal and Nate Jacob’s relationship in Euphoria. “I think they really do love each other,” says the Grey’s Anatomy alum. “They love the potential of what they could be and not the actuality of what’s going on.” 

Dane continued: “I’m his father, he’s my son. At the end of the day, it’s blood.” 

In his opinion, all Nate wants is a “father who’s paternal.” Plus, Dane says Cal’s desires are for his son to be happy. “I see how conflicted my son is,” Dane says of his role. ” I’m sure it tears [Cal] up.”

‘Euphoria’ depicts toxic masculinity through the Jacobs family 

Throughout season 1 of Euphoria, Nate Jacobs exudes the kind of toxic masculinity that makes your skin crawl. He talks down to his girlfriend Maddy (Alexa Demie) and sometimes gets physical with her. Eventually, fans learn Nate’s toxic behaviors spawn from how his father treats him. 

In Euphoria Season 1, Episode 8, Nate and Cal get into an explosive argument that results in a physical fight. Cal overpowers Nate, who explodes with hate and screams in anger. 

The tension between Nate and Cal continues in Euphoria Season 2. Now that Nate has the video of Cal sleeping with the underage Jules (Hunter Schafer), Cal is at his mercy. Meanwhile, Cal tries to do right by his son and go after Fezco (Angus Cloud), who put Nate in the hospital in the season 2 premiere. 

‘Euphoria’ fans find Cal and Nate’s relationship ‘sickening’ 

After seeing Nate and Cal’s relationship unfold in Euphoria Season 1, fans took to Reddit to dissect how “sickening” they found it. “I think Nate is absolutely disgusted with his father’s tapes,” wrote one Reddit user. 

“He has seen his father perform sexual acts and be violent towards people, all the while being married to his mother. Nate has never been able to express this to Cal, because obviously such a conversation would break apart a family.”

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In the season 2 episode “Ruminations: Big and Little Bullys,” fans got a glimpse of Cal’s high school years. The episode detailed Cal’s exploration of his homosexuality with his high school best friend, Derek (Henry Eikenberry). But when Cal finds out Marsha (Rebecca Louise) is pregnant, he succumbs to “doing the right thing” and suppresses his attraction to Derek. 

This fan also linked Nate’s outburst on Cal in season 1 to his own frustrations with his sexuality. “I think Nate is having such a hard time accepting his sexuality because of the aforementioned tapes,” they continued, citing how Nate’s sexual fantasies mimic his father’s — a thought that terrifies him. 

“Overall, Nate hates his father’s influence on his life,” the Euphoria fan theorized. “He feels like Cal drove him to become a sick, twisted pervert.”

See if Cal’s relationship with his son evolves. New episodes of Euphoria air Sundays at 9 PM ET on HBO.

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