TV news: Euphoria reaches its ‘shocking’ finale

‘Euphoria’, the generational HBO TV series written and directed by Sam Levinson, has finally reached its conclusion. 

It was an intense, emotional finale that left fans weeping and reflecting on the unexpected turns that the third season of the show brought with it. 

But most importantly, it was an ending that shocked its viewers, leaving fans enthusiastic and gobsmacked at the same time. 

Let’s break down the explosive ending of the show – spoilers ahead!

A wild, startling resolution

In episode 7, ‘Rain or Shine’, one of the main characters of the show, Nate (played by Australian heartthrob Jacob Elordi), is literally buried alive over unpaid debts and killed by the bite of a rattlesnake. 

The major death left viewers horrified, with many theorising that there would be more shocking demise to come. 

And they were absolutely right.

‘In God We Trust’, the last episode of the show, it was Rue’s (Zendaya) turn to finally say goodbye. 

After having been inadvertently exposed by Maddy (Alexa Demie) as a DEA mole, Rue is given Percocet pills secretly laced with fentanyl by Alamo (played by Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje), the villain in this last season who is a mob boss and owner of a strip club.

The episode results in a fatal overdose, with Rue slowly slipping away while lying on her couch. 

Her sponsor, Ali (the ever-sharp Colman Domingo), finally finds her the day after and goes after Alamo, killing him in revenge. 

The other protagonists of the show are not much better off either.

In the aftermath of Nate’s death, Cassie (Sydney Sweeney) decides to make use of their massive, luxurious house by transforming it into a boarding house for girls who aspire to be influencers and OnlyFans stars, the same line of work she was shown having at the beginning of the season.

Lexi, her sister (Maude Apatow), unaware of her brother-in-law’s whereabouts, decides to leave Cassie’s house and steps away from her newly established business (and life).

Maddy, recently employed against her will as Alamo’s sex worker, is involved in the shooting that gets him killed and, still reeling from the event, leaves the scene unscathed but traumatised.

Finally, Jules (Hunter Schafer), perhaps the most underused character of the whole season, pays homage to her former girlfriend, Rue, by painting her seemingly engulfed in flames. 

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A touching tribute

The last episode of ‘Euphoria’ also paid an emotional tribute to Angus Cloud, who played big-hearted drug dealer Fezco in the show. 

Cloud died in 2023, aged 25, as a consequence of a multiple drug overdose. 

In the show, Rue, hallucinating before passing away, imagines hearing on the news that her old friend Fezco has escaped from prison. 

Determined to reunite with him, she runs to find him, as memories of her old self pass her by. 

They finally manage to reunite and spend a few more moments together before the inevitable, heartbreaking end.

For the scene, Levinson used unseen footage of Cloud and Zendaya, filmed years ago.

“It’s footage that never made it into the show,” Levinson said.

“I thought, oh, it’d be great to use that footage and just see him again – and see the two of them.”

A truly special end for a show that, for better or for worse, truly sparked many controversial conversations over the years.

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