In another world, HBO Euphoria you may have had a happy ending. However, that couldn’t be more true, says creator Sam Levinson.
“The honest conclusion is that people like Rue don’t make it,” he said in a behind-the-scenes video after the current series ended.
In Sunday night’s finale, Zendaya’s Rue Bennett dies of a fentanyl overdose after reusing a laced Percocet given to her by Alamo Brown (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje). That’s the first way Euphoria star Angus Cloud, who played Rue’s Fezco O’Neill, died in 2023 – and it’s also unfortunate Levinson believes he barely survived.
“People are going back. They’re passing out. They’re not ready to get clean, and they weren’t dying now that they’re full of fentanyl in this country,” he said. “I can say with absolute certainty that if I had gone through what I went through as a teenager now, I wouldn’t be here either. There’s no reason to wear that. I wanted to tell a story about Angus and people who weren’t given a second chance.”
Yes, she admits how hard it can be for viewers to wrap their heads around the choice, in part because of Zendaya’s magnetic performance that has kept audiences on her side despite her faults.
“Zendaya’s performance has been amazing and outstanding throughout these seasons,” he added. “We fell in love with this character, this flawed, angry girl, but with a good heart and trying to do good, at least sometimes.”
Rue’s death comes only 45 minutes into the finale, almost halfway through. In another story, things could have ended there. That would be “a normal, sensible television show,” Levinson joked Euphoria it is not.
Ali (Colman Domingo), Rue’s sponsor, finds her dead on her couch the morning after Alamo tells her to take time off to heal from her injuries from Laurie’s escape. He soon finds fentanyl-laced pills and prepares to take revenge on his killer.
“I knew I wanted to hear Rue’s death through her,” Levinson explained. “There is a type [feeling of] helplessness. Letting Coleman express that, to us as listeners, is very important. “
Ali does not remain helpless for long. After trying to quote-unquote sad for a few months – going to AA meetings, supporting others, and relying on her faith – she found that it wasn’t really working for her. Finally, a strong Ali tells his support group that he will no longer be able to attend the meetings, as he searches for a meaningful way to make a difference.
He then saw the barrel of his gun and, in the second shot of the episode, Ali kills Alamo with three bullets to the chest inside the Slipper.
“It was fun to take Ali out of the box and have her dance with the other actors,” Domingo said of Zendaya’s split.
It’s not exactly like the other characters are in the best place, either. Cassie (Sydney Sweeney) and Maddy (Alexa Demie) are in debt and trying to cover up the death of Nate (Jacob Elordi).
“Maddy has been very guarded, and I think that moment in the restaurant, I think she’s done. She’s really soft inside,” Demie said in the video.
Levinson thinks that, even though their reunion was somewhat forced, Cassie and Maddy are the true “love story” of Season 3.
“They’ve been through a lot together, and they’ve come to the end, all they get is each other and a lot of debt,” he said.
Meanwhile, Lexi (Maude Apatow) has an existential crisis after reading the Bible that Rue left at her house. He tries to talk to Cassie about it, but the sisters never have an emotional connection, and Cassie brushes him off. Jules (Hunter Schafer), who is still living in his sugar daddy’s apartment to pay for art school, is clearly grieving the loss as well.
“I’ve always been against utopian storytelling,” Levinson added. “I think ultimately I wanted to tell an honest story about addiction. I also wanted to tell a story about the grief and emotional trauma it can cause.”
