Is Elliot Trying to Break Up Rue and Jules on Euphoria?

Published on 1/25/2022 at 2:50 PM

In just three episodes, one of Euphoria's newest characters, Elliot (Dominic Fike), has established himself as an important player in season two of the HBO series. Despite his initial connection with Rue (Zendaya) in the season premiere, by episode three, "Ruminations: Big and Little Bullys," Elliot has grown close with Jules (Hunter Schafer) as well, and the nature of his relationship with the girls becomes increasingly murky with every passing episode. Naturally, Euphoria fans have started to theorize about all the reasons Elliot may be wheedling himself closer to (if not in between) the fledgling couple, who only just reconnected after Jules left Rue for the city.

Is Elliot genuinely interested in friendship, or is something more sinister at play? These are four of our favorite Euphoria fan theories about the true nature of Elliot's relationship with Rue and Jules.

Elliot Legitimately Likes Rue and Jules as Friends

While it feels like almost everyone in Euphoria has secrets to hide and ulterior motives, that may not be the case for Elliot. "Rue, Elliot and Jules' friendship is so adorable euphoria writers better not mess it up," tweeted a fan. "Yoe I know its kinda toxic but I stan Elliot, Jules and Rue's friendship," another fan tweeted. In other words, there's a chance Elliot truly just wants to be friends with Jules and Rue.

Elliot Is Interested in Both Rue and Jules Romantically

Thanks to Zendaya's interview with Variety, we know Elliot, Jules, and Rue spend a lot of time together in season two. "[I]t's crucial that Elliot exist and that he be the person that is honestly the catalyst for a lot of things that just have to happen," she tells the outlet. But in what capacity?

Several fans think Elliot might want to take his relationships with both Rue and Jules to the next level. But one fan on Reddit is convinced Jules and Elliot will end up hooking up first because Rue is too preoccupied with drugs. "I think RuexElliotxJules will have every intention of a threesome but ultimately Rue will be so strung out . . . that Jules and Elliot will hook up on their own," they write.

Elliot Is Manipulating Rue and Jules to Break Them Up

After Rue backs out of her plan to go to the city with Jules, she relapses. But in the first episode of season two, Jules is back in Rue's life — and Elliot is in it too. On the one hand, Elliot is Rue's secret-keeper and sometimes her provider of drugs. On the other hand, Jules has Rue's heart. One fan theory from Reddit puts Elliot between Rue and Jules.

Elliot knows Rue enjoys his company because they hang out and do drugs together, but he knows Jules is holding her back. That may be why he slyly plants seeds of doubt about Jules and Rue's relationship in Jules's head when they're hanging out alone together in episode three. If the couple break up, it could lead to Rue taking her drug use further with Elliot.

Rue Will Watch Elliot Die, Creating Distance in Her Relationship With Jules

One fan theory paints a dark ending for Elliot. YouTuber Turtle With an Appetite made a video about Elliot's possible impending death. "Not sure if it's this season or another, but he's totally gonna die," says the Euphoria fan.

Turtle With an Appetite believes Elliot and Rue's conversation about whether there's a stronger emotion than love (Rue's answer: "loss") serves as foreshadowing. They think Elliot's death may be necessary for Rue's addiction storyline and overall character development. If Elliot overdoses, it would be a full-circle moment for Rue, whom Elliot is there for when she thinks she's overdosing in the season two premiere.

Another fan theory from TikTok furthers the "Elliot has to die" theory. This fan believes clips of Rue and Elliot dancing in season two promos foreshadow Elliot's death because they mimic the scene of Rue dancing with her father in season one.

Watch Euphoria on HBO on Sundays at 9 p.m. ET to find out how Elliot's story unfolds.