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Spoilers ahead for episode 3 of Euphoria Season 3 “The Ballad of Paladin.”
Despite his long breaks between seasons, Sam Levinson Euphoria It’s still an HBO show that gets the world talking. The third season finally airs on television (and streams with an HBO Max subscription) and begins years after the group graduated high school. Episode 3 was about Cassie and Nate’s wedding, but I was really moved and impressed with how the episode used the late actor Eric Dane after his ALS diagnosis. Let’s analyze it all.
Season 3 of Euphoria It’s here, and it’s already included tributes to deceased actors like Angus Cloud. Fans are still collectively mourning Dane, who passed away in February, just a month after he was diagnosed with ALS. And I think Sam Levinson deserves his flowers for how the show worked around the actor’s deteriorating health.
Euphoria found a way to incorporate Eric Dane’s slurred speech.
ALS is a devastating disease and one of the most common symptoms is difficulty speaking. While this has the potential to have Eric Dane return as Cal in Euphoria a challenge, Levinson found a creative way to make it work. Nate’s father was shown to drink heavily throughout the season, as a result of the loss of his business and status after the arrest. And with that small detail, the late actor’s altered way of speaking was able to not only make narrative sense, but also advance his character’s story.
While Eric Dane appeared briefly in episode 2 of this season, he really shined in episode 3, “The Ballad of Paladin.” Her scene opposite Hunter Schafer’s Jules was truly beautiful and came full circle for these two characters. Dane managed to bring his trademark charisma and talent to the screen, and his slurred speech worked for the character. I found this to be a beautiful example of life and art colliding, with Euphoria Season 3 is one of the late actor’s final acting credits.
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In the BTS clip that plays at the end of EuphoriaIn the most recent episode, Eric Dane himself talked about how special it was to return for the show’s third season on the air. That includes some fun improvisational moments that didn’t end up in the final version of Episode 3. The season premiere was dedicated to both him and Angus Cloud, who sadly passed away before Season 3 began airing.
I’m someone who has adored Eric Dane since he played McSteamy on Grey’s Anatomy, a show I still rewatch regularly. He holds a special place in the hearts of many fans, including his work on Euphoria. So seeing him return and giving him dignity and the opportunity to showcase his talent in season 3 made me feel surprisingly excited.
Only time will tell how many more episodes Cal will appear in this season, but as Nate’s job situation becomes even more dangerous, it would make sense for him to turn to his father for advice.
new episodes of Euphoria It airs Sundays on HBO as part of the 2026 television lineup. And I have to assume fans will still be excited to see Eric Dane on screen.
