Euphoria season 2 episode 3 recap: Is Rue a dealer now?

This week on Euphoria season 2, we get a deeper look into Cal’s past. Rue and Ali butt heads, Jules asks Elliot some personal questions, and Cassie desperately tries to get Nate to acknowledge her at school.

Read on to learn what happened in season 2 episode 3, “Ruminations: Big and Little Bullies.”

Euphoria season 2 episode 3 recap: What’s Cal’s backstory?

We flashback to what Cal was like senior year of high school. He was a popular wrestler who was very close with his friend Derek — the kind of person he could talk to forever or simply sit with in silence. His dad, however, was suspicious of their relationship — and perhaps rightfully so, considering they end up kissing at a gay bar one night.

However, Cal is also dating Marsha at this time. She pushes his boundaries, and he enjoys eating her out. When Marsha tells Cal she’s pregnant, though, he cries, realizing that his life as he knows it is over.

In the present day, Ashtray spies Cal sitting outside his home and makes him come inside so Fez can question him. Ashtray gets violent, hitting him in the head with the gun and knowing he won’t call the police due to him having sex with Jules. Cal apologizes, and they eventually agree to let Cal go if he promises to keep Nate out of their, Jules, and Rue’s lives.

Euphoria season 2 episode 3 recap: Will Gia tell her mom Rue relapsed?

Rue lays the groundwork for doing drugs with Gia again, mentioning she’s thinking about smoking weed again for her anxiety. Though Gia originally tells her she’s selfish for doing so, Rue gaslights her, saying she’s considering suicide without it. Gia agrees not to tell their mom because of it.

Rue tells Jules she thinks she and Elliot would get along, but Jules disagrees considering she knows Elliot wants to have sex with her. She tries to prove it by interrogating Elliot about his sexuality and how many girls he’s slept with, but eventually, he ends up turning the conversation back on her. Jules seems to soften and agrees to be friends with Elliot despite him not confirming or denying whether he wants to have sex with either one of them.

Things seem to be going well between the three of them. They play truth or dare, and Jules and Rue have sex behind a house. Jules and Elliot end up hanging out alone one night and have a conversation about whether Rue is a sexual person. Jules admits she hasn’t really seen that side of her yet. Elliot attempts to make Jules feel better — and even gets a little flirty towards her.

Meanwhile, Rue has the idea to want to start drug dealing so she can do drugs for free. Fez refuses to help her in this endeavor, but with encouragement from Elliot, she goes to Laurie’s house and proposes a plan: have minors sell the drugs with collateral from their phones uploaded to the cloud. If they get caught, they’d only risk a few months in juvie, but if what was on their phones got out, their entire lives could be ruined. Thus, they wouldn’t be inclined to snitch if things when south.

Laurie is impressed with the plan and offers to give her $50k worth of drugs to sell, but Rue decides to be responsible and only accept $10k to start. She warns Rue that, if she screws her over, she will kidnap and sell her to dangerous people.

Ali spies Rue biking home with her suitcase of drugs and tries to talk to her, but Rue disrespects him, saying she doesn’t want a lecture and that no one is looking for him to be a parent. Ali warns her if she keeps treating him like this, he’s done, and she asks if he’s going to hit her. When he doesn’t, she walks away.

Euphoria season 2 episode 3 recap: Are Nate and Maddy back together?

Cassie wakes up at four in the morning to spend three hours getting ready for school, both to clear her head and look good for Nate. Though he never acknowledges her, it’s her way of telling him she’s his. The only time he does spare her a glance is when she dresses exactly like Maddy.

Maddy admits to Cassie that she hates being single because Nate messed her up. Cassie tells her that she deserves someone better who truly loves her, but in actuality, she’s trying to convince herself of this — she’s been having sex with Nate in secret every Friday, but he won’t go public with her. Nate cancels on one of these dates last-minute, and it’s revealed he’s gone to visit Maddy instead.

In other news, Lexi is writing a play because she’s realized she’s an observer who thinks of life as a movie she’s directing. She doesn’t tell Cassie or almost anyone else, but it seems they’re going to find out soon enough. The principal agrees to let her put it on, and a ton of people show up to audition — including Kat’s boyfriend Ethan.

Speaking of Ethan, Kat has dinner with his parents and gets nervous when they ask her to tell them about herself. She admits she doesn’t know who she is at all, leading to an awkward meal. They’re clearly unimpressed with her.

What did you think about the episode? Comment below!