Fans are convinced that the latest episode of HBO’s Euphoria includes a nod to Grey’s Anatomy. (Warning: Minor spoilers for Euphoria and throwback spoilers for Grey’s Anatomy ahead.)
Eric Dane, who plays Cal Jacobs on the dark HBO drama, is perhaps most known for his role as Dr. Mark Sloan (Dr. McSteamy) on Grey’s Anatomy. The character was Dr. Derek Shepherd’s (Patrick Dempsey’s) former bestie, but they had a falling out after McSteamy slept with Derek’s wife, Dr. Addison Montgomery (Kate Walsh). In the Grey’s Anatomy universe, both characters are dead. RIP.
But the only thing McSteamy and Cal Jacobs had in common up to this point is Dane’s handsome face. In Euphoria, Dane plays the very problematic father of teen psychopath Nate Jacobs (Jacob Elordi). The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. In Euphoria season one, Cal had sex with Jules (a minor, played by Hunter Schafer), taped the encounter without her consent, and was an all-around piece of human garbage.
In season two, things don’t get much better. After Nate was assaulted at a party over his own actions against Jules, Cal uses intimidation and bullying techniques to hunt down and stalk more teens! However, in episode three, which aired on January 23, fans were given a little more backstory that helps explain—but absolutely does not excuse—Cal’s unchecked anger.
This is where Grey’s Anatomy fans took notice. Back in his own high school days, Cal had a best friend he was deeply in love with but ultimately could not be with due to a homophobic society and the fact that Cal got his high school girlfriend pregnant. This best friend/lover’s name was Derek.
Fans on Twitter immediately noted the possible nod towards Dane’s former television gig—and they thought it was pretty damn rude of creator Sam Levinson. “The writers naming Cal’s best friend Derek is really evil,” one fan tweeted. Another user tweeted, “Cal’s best friend’s name being Derek though?! Sam Levinson knew what he was doing.”
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“The way Cal’s childhood best friend was named Derek & all I could think about was them,” another fan tweeted alongside a photo of the two fictional doctors. One fan even suggested Grey’s Anatomy could have been Cal’s future if Nate’s mom never got pregnant. There are definitely some serious flaws to that logic, but it’s a good joke.
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