Is Nicholas Really Leaving Loot? Fans Point to These Clues
Loot Season 3 pumps the brakes in Episode 5 Joyride, swapping breezy laughs for a gut-punch as Molly and Nicholas reach an emotional crossroads — and a subtle reveal has fans convinced Joel Kim Booster’s Nicholas could be bowing out for good.
Loot takes a little detour in Season 3, Episode 5 — the one titled 'Joyride' — and it is not just about jokes this time. The episode leans into the Molly-and-Nicholas dynamic, and the way it plays out has fans convinced Nicholas might be out the door.
So... is Nicholas leaving?
Short answer: there is no official confirmation. Long answer: Episode 5 heavily tees up a choice that could send him to Korea.
Here is what the show lays out. Earlier this season, Nicholas passed on an acting gig written for a Korean-American role. Now that same team has circled back and wants him for a spin-off series. It is a big career swing, but it also might pull him away from Molly — who, as the series reminds us, leaned on Nicholas at a pretty pivotal time in her life. Maya Rudolph plays Molly Novak, and the episode puts both of them at a crossroads: he has to choose between ambition and loyalty, and she has to decide whether to keep him tethered or back him even if it means letting go.
Why fans think he is gone
The way Episode 5 ends, it sure sounds like Nicholas could be packing for Korea sooner rather than later. That vibe has fans spiraling a bit on social media. On Apple TV's Instagram promo for the episode, one viewer put it simply:
'I loved this episode but I hope it doesn't mean we won't see Nicholas again.'
Another fan chimed in that they loved getting the backstory of Molly and Nicholas's friendship — which, to be fair, the episode does really well.
The tonal switch-up (and why it worked)
Loot is usually pretty zippy and joke-forward, but 'Joyride' dials it down for something more grounded. It is a noticeable shift, and it actually lands — the episode is emotional without getting syrupy, and that deeper note seems to be winning people over even as it fuels the speculation about Nicholas's future.
Where Joel Kim Booster fits into all this
Joel Kim Booster plays Nicholas. You have seen him as Noah in Fire Island, and earlier this year he popped up in Bravo's Love Hotel. With last week’s episode setting up a very plausible exit ramp for his character, the fan anxiety makes sense. Again, though: no one has confirmed he is leaving Loot. Until that happens, I would not declare it a done deal.