“Euphoria” ended its third season with a finale that leans into the show’s signature intensity, blending emotional turmoil and heightened drama. As the story reached its final chapter, tensions among the characters came to a head, delivering an unsettling farewell that stays true to the show’s tone.
Series creator Sam Levinson has confirmed that “Euphoria” concludes with Season 3 and shared how he brought the characters’ arcs to a purposeful close.
Warning: This article contains spoilers for the “Euphoria” series finale.
On May 31, Season 3, Episode 8 of “Euphoria,” titled “In God We Trust,” premiered, marking the end of the hit series. The show ended with multiple character deaths, including Rue (Zendaya), delivering a devastating final episode.
Laurie (Martha Kelly), the school teacher-turned-drug lord, found herself trapped as DEA agents raided her compound. Not wanting to face the consequences of her actions, she dies by suicide.
Rue met her end tragically after overdosing on pain pills laced with fentanyl, which was provided by the season’s main antagonist, Alamo Brown (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje).
As a result, Rue’s sponsor, Ali (Colman Domingo), seeks revenge. In a dramatic western-style shootout, Ali shoots Alamo to death at the Silver Stripper strip club. Alamo’s right-hand man, G (Marshawn Lynch), also met his end at the hands of Ali.
‘Euphoria’ Actors Discuss The Finale
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Akinnuoye-Agbaje discussed his character’s actions, saying, “He likes the Chess game. When he identifies that Rue is a snitch and a traitor, he’s already made up his mind that he’s going to deal with her in a way that best serves him productively, but also serves his sadistic nature.”
Akinnuoye-Agbaje noted that while he found Alamo an “amazing character” to portray on screen, he was pleased to say goodbye. “I’m happy to leave him with the voracious fans,” he added.
Kelly, on the other hand, said Laurie’s end affected her when she learned the outcome. While she admitted that it was “disturbing,” she also enjoyed doing a stunt. “I never do anything dangerous. I’m not Tom Cruise, but I love doing stunts,” she said, adding that she will never forget the experience.
Sam Levinson Had A Different End In Mind
In an interview with The New York Times’ podcast “Popcast,” “Euphoria” creator Sam Levinson said he had a different ending in mind when writing Season 3 in 2023. However, he changed the script following the death of Angus Cloud, who portrayed drug dealer Fezco “Fez” O’Neill. Cloud died of an accidental overdose in July 2023 at just 25 years old.
“Once he passed away, I had to reconceive the script and I thought, you can’t tell a story about addiction today without the very real consequences. Most people don’t get a second chance,” Levinson explained, adding that while he loved Rue, he also wanted the viewers to feel like they were “in the position of a family member who loses someone that they love.”
The “Euphoria” showrunner added that the series finale was a way to honor Cloud.
The Showrunner On Glamorizing Addiction
Elsewhere in the podcast interview, Levinson was asked about some “Euphoria” viewers possibly glamorizing drug use and addiction. Admittedly, the showrunner said it’s something he has thought about, and while the show displays the “seduction of these illicit behaviors,” they also expose the consequences.
While many lauded “Euphoria” for depicting the reality of substance abuse, some, including the anti-drug program D.A.R.E., criticized the show for romanticizing drug use and violence.
“I think it’s always a fine line. Have we gotten it right 100 percent of the time? I don’t know. But I think we have shown the psychological, physical, and spiritual consequences of addiction in all of its forms better than almost anything else out there,” Levinson explained, adding that having done so “helps him sleep at night.”
‘Euphoria’ Season 3 Is The Series’ Conclusion
Both HBO and Levinson have confirmed that Season 3 is the end of “Euphoria.” The show debuted its first season in 2019, followed by Season 2 almost two years later. The four-year gap between Season 2 and Season 3 was the result of personal tragedies, industry strikes, and scheduling conflicts for the main cast.
While Zendaya was already a household name when she joined “Euphoria,” several of her co-stars, including Sydney Sweeney, Jacob Elordi, and Hunter Schafer, saw their careers rise significantly after appearing in the series.
As for the show, Levinson said Season 3 wraps up the story. “In terms of the story that we set out to tell, which is a story about addiction and its consequences, this feels like the end to me.”
